SEALED FOR LIFE

Q: Inspired by your own project car I’ve bought a Jaguar X-Type and although it was intended as a temporary cheap car between company wheels, I’m surprised by how much I like it! I’ve changed my plans and intend to keep it but I’m concerned about the stories of transfer box failure. I’d like to change the oil but it’s apparently ‘sealed for life’ and has either no fill or no drain, depending on what you read. Can I change the oil in it? Advice online is just conflicting.

A: You’re right about confusing information online and the reality is that although the unit was indeed marketed as ‘sealed for life’ it does have a fill plug. What it doesn’t have though is a drain plug which makes changing the oil awkward. Jaguar’s official method is to remove the prop and rear pinion seal of the transfer box and drain the oil that way but it’s possible to do it by using a workshop’ sucker’ tool and by raising the offside of the car. We’ll be doing the job on our own project car next month.