Castrol Import Multi-vehicle Atf

[RX in NC]

I'm searching for a suitable replacement for the factory fill of Shell ATF M1375.4 mineral oil that serves my 2005 Jaguar S-Type 3.0's German 6-speed ZF transmission. Compared to Toyota Type T-IV transmission fluid at about $5 a quart at my local Toyota parts counter, this Shell ATF mineral oil product sells for $57 a litre at the Jaguar parts counter and perhaps $50 a litre at the Mercedes parts counter. At those prices, just the fluid required for a transmission drain-and-fill on this car would run between $500 and $600. Outrageous and downright scary....

Castrol's website shows that their Castrol Import Multi-Vehicle ATF is an equivalent replacement for Shell ATF M1375.4 mineral oil (as well as for Toyota Type T-IV). While I would never consider using the Castrol ATF product while my car is still under factory warranty, I may consider switching to it once the warranty has long since run its course. The ZF transmission in my Jag is supposedly "sealed for life", but we all know that one should take any claim of a "lifetime transmission" with a grain of salt. I know that if we keep this Jag long-term, I'll eventually need to do a drain-and-fill on the transmission and dropping $600 on just the fluids required to do so is not particularly appealing to me....

So if any of you out there have any experience, positive or negative, with this Castrol ATF product in any of your import vehicles, please chime in here. Thanks in advance....

[nc211]

RX, in our mazda, I switched over to M1 multi-vehicle transmission fluid approx 12k miles ago (at 18k at the time). The car calls for MV specific fluild. The oem fluid put into the car is crap. Nor does the manual suggest change intervals, at any time. After 18k miles, it was burnt, under normal driving conditions too. I'm posting here, becuase we've discussed the different kinds of M-V fluids on the mazda site as well. Castrol received good comments across the board. But the M1 version receives the best by far. I did a "drian n' fill" about 1k miles ago, assuming the fluid would showing signs of breakdown after 10k miles of more spirited driving. I was stunned when the M1 fluid started flowing out, and was still cherry red and smelling new. The car performs a lot better with the M1 fluid as well, with much smoother shifts "in automatic and manual mode", much quieter, and a general overall improvement. However, it's the most costly of fluids though, at roughly $7 / quart.

[RX in NC]

Thanks for the feedback, nc211. I assume that that "M1" is Mobil 1 - correct?

Is the product mineral oil-based? Most domestic transmission fluids are not, and I'm looking for a suitable mineral oil-based transmission fluid alternative. Due to the extreme expense of transmission repair in this Jag, I believe it would be safer post-warranty to stay with a mineral oil-based fluid if I do indeed decide to deviate from the factory fill of the outrageously expensive Shell import product. I've spoken with the technical specialists at Castrol and they tell me that Castrol Import Multi-Vehicle ATF is indeed mineral oil-based (but I'll need proof of that before I actually use it). If Mobil 1 is mineral oil-based as well, then I will certainly add it to my list of potential transmission fluid options when I finally have to do a drain-and-fill on the Jag (which is hopefully still years away)....

[Lexusfreak]

If you want something other than Toyota Type IV fluid....I highly suggest Amsoil synthetic ATF which is compatible with type IV...I've used it for years & it's excellent stuff.

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atf.aspx