Good questions. Some years ago when having problems with my auto I was told it had to be LRN402. Apparently the USA v6 versions had a different auto oil, the dextron stuff, due to LRN402 having some chemical or content that was said to be banned in the USA. Hence no “agreed” import of that oil. All this came from researching on the web, and seeing info from different sources saying the same thing. Stumbled across someone having problems and him wanting to move to UK spec oil, as the other stuff was said to have not been as good. Talk amongst several owners and their garages about this, but consensus was to use our red stuff. Not sure what damage the other stuff caused, but they didn’t last as long as our auto’s. This was in the USA.
In the uk garages had problems with rover 825’s (I think) as this had the Jatco fitted (different ratio’s I guess) and they were using the same oil as they did previously, on the rover 800’s (I think). The oil spec in the newer auto’s had changed and it was said that not all garages had realised, or the norm was to use the same one as they’d always used in auto’s for many years. They damaged some auto’s by doing this. Not all rover garages involved. Result was a reconfirmation of what oil to use. When looking for oil myself, I found many suppliers saying they couldn’t supply their own as they didn’t have the correct spec. Then found the LR dealers would sell it to the public. Didn’t realise they did that. LR dealer tech told me he’d been on a course for the Jatco one day when we took mine for a test drive. His words were along the lines of whatever you do, don’t use the wrong oil. They’ve had many, which they claim are contaminated by using the wrong stuff. History has taught them to replace and give the recon agent the problems.
Have contacted Jatco in the past but don’t have he emails anymore. They said the LRN402 was the right part number to use, and didn’t offer an alternative. So that sort of left me stuck with thinking.. all these said to be bad cases, in several areas, must have something in common. That being their wisdom of LRN402 being the preferred oil. I’ve had many owners contact me saying their oil is black, and not red. Their garage has said this is the fault, and ask me why. I’m told you can’t burn oil to make it black. I don’t know, and couldn’t say for sure. I’m a bit lost with this, and the final straw came when a local LR independent known for rebuilds and custom tuning etc said it was all bollocks and they used dextron. Unfortunately they weren’t able to quote on time for my auto replacement, as they subcontract Freelander auto replacement to another garage. They also subcontract cam belts on the v6 too, quote they repair main dealer **** ups, and up their business which fails to gain my confidence. What he really meant to say was he didn’t know what he was talking about.
When asking dextron direct if their oil is suitable for the LR service list of half changing the oil at 60k miles, they didn’t reply, on many occasions. I would like to have the opportunity and proof to change my opinion, but it all seems to point to use as god, shorry land rover intended – LRN402 auto oil. That said I’ve also been told you can use the ford oil, as they have the Jatco in the galaxy, by a Freelander owner who insisted at the time it was ok. In his replacement auto the garaged fitted the red stuff. Could all be hyp, but I feel there’s something there. Garages seem to confirm this, along with many cases on the web. Many quote the Jatco as being unreliable, but the car industry seems to think it’s reliable. LR dealers do too. Common factor for wrong oil is wrong level plug too. As said, would like to have a different opinion, but history dictates LRN402 is the only way forward. It will be for me regardless as I’m not going to be the one to test any other oil.