Jaguar Repair: XJ6 lubricants, hypoid gear oil, power steering fluid

Question
Howard,

 You've been very helpful to me on the Triumph forum with my TR7, I just picked up an 1984 XJ6 Vanden Plas, the engine oil is like black tar, what do you recommend - 10W40 or 20W50 ? How about synthetic ?  It has 112,000 miles.  I plan on driving it this winter where it will get to about -5 degrees F.

 Also wondering about the other fluids - what you would recommend for the auto trans, power steering and rear end.

  Thanks,

  Steve.

Answer
Hi Steve,

The engine oil should match the temperature of your area and the condition of the engine. If it were mine, I would use 10w30 or 10w40 for the engine and next summer switch to 20w40. Be sure to change the filter every time you change oil and pre-fill the filter about half full when installing it. Then unplug the white wires off of the coil and spin the starter until you see oil pressure before starting.

The transmission (automatic) takes type "G" according to Jaguar but here in the US we don't have a type "G" so we have been using type "F". However a local automatic transmission shop has told me that automatic transmission oil has changed recently so you might ask you local trans shop what to use in a Borg Warner "66" trans.

The rear end should get a Hypoid gear oil unless it has a limited slip rear end. (The XJ-6 in the US didn't come with a limited slip but they could be ordered or switched)

The power steering fluid takes standard power steering fluid as it is a GM pump.

Brake fluid is DOT 4 only

Howard