zf 8 speed oil change

[genpk]

Just bought a 2014 grand cherokee limited
3l diesel, 8 speed, love the car.
Its done 113,000km, drives fantastic but was going to get all the fluids done, specifically the transmission oil and filter.
Serms the pan is about $250 and the Lifeguard 8 fluid is about another $400 .
Ive heard Penrite do a BVM oil that may work and is alot cheaper.
Anyone used it ?

[willow]

I am ATM. 30000km all good.
The only small difference is the first to second gear change when cold is a little rough. Happens only the first change from cold, otherwise its much cheaper alternative.

[FamilyTruckster]

Originally Posted by willow

I am ATM. 30000km all good.
The only small difference is the first to second gear change when cold is a little rough. Happens only the first change from cold, otherwise its much cheaper alternative.

Same thing with mine. Only does it once first thing, then fine after that.

[genpk]

interestingly, i get that sort of change on the car currently first off cold but then runs perfectly.
i ve bought the Penrite BMv trans fluid and will get it changed next week.
I phoned a couple of respected Auto transmission places and picked their brains which fluids they use in these ZF 8 speeds and both did not use Lifeguard 8 oil,
one used a Gulf Western oil , the other some other brand.
One of these shops does work for Jeep dealers so it appears there must be a number of compatible oils out there.
I noted a local Jeep service specialist shop stated they only have ever used
Penrite oils in jeeps for everything from transmission( BMV) to gear boxes.

[Troutman]

Only concern I'd have using the Penrite is that you only end up actually draining half the fluid from the transmission and then finish up with half Penrite and half Lifeguard mix in there. Not sure mixing fluids is a good idea.

[genpk]

I also thought about that but it appears a number of people have used the Penrite BVM as a partial change (approx 5 litres drained) with no noticeable effects .
I believe its not recommended to do a full flush on the ZF 8 speed anyway.
I further notice that Penrite actually now have it listed on the BMV oil container that it is a replacement fluid for a number of vehicles and mentions lifeguard 6-8 amongst them.
Local Repco has 5 litres of Lifeguard 8 at $40 a litre.
Only issue is, being ive bought it used and dont know what fluid is the the transmission anyway i could be blending either type of oil.

[drover]

I doubt blending would matter, it happens more often than you think if you use different places to service your vehicle, most dealers will be using Castrol, Valvoline, Gulf Western or Penrite etc as their lube as they rarely only sell one brand nowadays so they wouldn't be stocking Mopar or other speciallity brands etc.
Looking all over the world as to what is used in these ZF's by Jeep, BMW and Landrover drivers it always seems like its Lifegard and they are all looking for alternatives, seem to be impressed that we have an alternative, I would doubt it about those other brands having a compatiable fluid....