Running an XJ8 - the first couple of years
Discussion
Put almost 1300 miles on the XJ8 last week in a trip to Scotland and back. I was in no rush on the way up to Edinburgh, so a 60mph cruise all the way up the A1 saw 35mpg (according to the OBC), and a very relaxed driver at the end of it.
I'm still very impressed at this car's ability to soak up the miles - almost 400 of them, and no back ache or tiredness at the end of it.
From Edinburgh there was some serious hoonage across Scotland to Fort William, Glen Coe and down to Glasgow. MPG plummeted but smiles broadened!
And the driving got even better across Northumberland and Yorkshire on the way home. The roads were fantastic: empty, twisty, challenging and great views for hours on end.
Back to normality and, other then being filthy inside and out, the car is all the better for the journey. No oil or water used and 29mpg overall.
Gratuitous shot on a tiny B road, just off the A82 in Glen Coe:
I'm still very impressed at this car's ability to soak up the miles - almost 400 of them, and no back ache or tiredness at the end of it.
From Edinburgh there was some serious hoonage across Scotland to Fort William, Glen Coe and down to Glasgow. MPG plummeted but smiles broadened!
And the driving got even better across Northumberland and Yorkshire on the way home. The roads were fantastic: empty, twisty, challenging and great views for hours on end.
Back to normality and, other then being filthy inside and out, the car is all the better for the journey. No oil or water used and 29mpg overall.
Gratuitous shot on a tiny B road, just off the A82 in Glen Coe:
The XJ deserves an update, if only because it has been piling on the miles (relative to a normal years' motoring for me - which is less then 5k for me), with regular trips Surrey-Oxford-Surrey and locally. It's survived the storms, but is in desperate need of a clean inside and out.
That'll have to wait a bit longer, until the weather improves. In the meantime I've treated it to 0.5 litre of oil, as the oil light was taking longer to go out than I recall i.e. not instantly but in a few seconds. The dipstick was reading half, so I figured a glug or two couldn't do any harm.
There's a been a strange smell of warm rubber every time I've got out after a journey. And that's not me ragging it
Nothing alarming, but I've smelt it once too often for it to be a coincidence of another car.
It's annual service is due in March and we won't be doing many miles before then, so I can ask my favourite indy to investigate then.
Ensconced in there on a wet day makes me remember why I like it so much - warm, powerful and very comfortable.
That'll have to wait a bit longer, until the weather improves. In the meantime I've treated it to 0.5 litre of oil, as the oil light was taking longer to go out than I recall i.e. not instantly but in a few seconds. The dipstick was reading half, so I figured a glug or two couldn't do any harm.
There's a been a strange smell of warm rubber every time I've got out after a journey. And that's not me ragging it
Nothing alarming, but I've smelt it once too often for it to be a coincidence of another car.It's annual service is due in March and we won't be doing many miles before then, so I can ask my favourite indy to investigate then.
Ensconced in there on a wet day makes me remember why I like it so much - warm, powerful and very comfortable.
timolloyd said:
the oil light was taking longer to go out than I recall i.e. not instantly but in a few seconds. The dipstick was reading half, so I figured a glug or two couldn't do any harm.
Oil light taking longer to go out has nothing whatsoever to do with your dipstick reading half.I'd keep an eye on that.
SV8Predator said:
timolloyd said:
the oil light was taking longer to go out than I recall i.e. not instantly but in a few seconds. The dipstick was reading half, so I figured a glug or two couldn't do any harm.
Oil light taking longer to go out has nothing whatsoever to do with your dipstick reading half.I'd keep an eye on that.
Thanks for the updates on your experiences, it makes good reading. These machines are lovely to my mind and I always like to see one out and about no matter what spec. I suppose there is an element of masochism in owning and persevering with jags of this vintage, they will throw up some big bills but we tough it out instead of running for the hills. Cars like these are far more than just transport, they are truly things of pleasure like the gift that keeps on giving.
I was mauled when my last Jag (2000 XJR) threw up an overheating problem and I foolishly handed it over to the main stealers, 10 days later a bill for £2k for the time it took their spotty yoof 'technician' to wrestle with its pipes and pumps, another £800 for front wheel bearings another time. I felt short changed from the experience and vowed to find a specialist next time. My old XJ-S 3.6 had previously cost me a grand and hassle, to get a back street gearbox place to exchange a recon auto 'box when that went one fine day.
I recently picked up a 2002 XK8 4.0 with low miles and low spec for daily duties, in spite of my past Jag bills. The XK is ultra serene and wafty, by no means would I call it sporty though, but that wasn't the aim. I just can't seem to rid myself of the need.
Keep your thoughts coming timolloyd, it's very encouraging.
Ephraim said:
I'm new to XJ8 ownership, but love mine already. It feels slow to me, but also comfy, refined and classy. I had it inspected at the same time as a full service at my local indy, and he reckons it's in excellent nick. Very pleased indeed. New tyres tomorrow.
Which tyres are you going for? There's another thread elsewhere, where an XJ8 owner was asking for recommendations.Ever get that feeling when approaching service time that the car feels tired and more rattle than usual? I do. Made a call to Surrey Jag Centre last week and booked it in for its 120k/12 year service next week.
Don't think it will be a moment too soon. Warm starts are proving reluctant and it cut out completely the other day after a cold start.
Plus the rear parking sensors and a persistent squeak from the front of the engine need looking at.
Actually looking forward to getting it into the garage and hopefully having that content feeling back again afterwards!
Don't think it will be a moment too soon. Warm starts are proving reluctant and it cut out completely the other day after a cold start.
Plus the rear parking sensors and a persistent squeak from the front of the engine need looking at.
Actually looking forward to getting it into the garage and hopefully having that content feeling back again afterwards!
OK, car back from the garage and I think all is well in Jaguar-world again.
The slight burning smell I had been experiencing was down to leaking cam covers, and oil reaching the exhaust. The squeak from the front of the car was the aux belt. Both problems sorted now, as well as a 120k/12 year service: oil and coolant plus filters as appropriate.
The rear parking sensors have also been sorted, with the added bonus that the rear bumper is now better aligned - it was always slightly out of shape with the rear wing on the offside.
The front subframes on these are prone to rotting out, but mine's been given a clean bill of health, save for some rubbing down and underseal, which they also took care of.
All I need now is for it to stop raining so that I can give it a long overdue clean...
The slight burning smell I had been experiencing was down to leaking cam covers, and oil reaching the exhaust. The squeak from the front of the car was the aux belt. Both problems sorted now, as well as a 120k/12 year service: oil and coolant plus filters as appropriate.
The rear parking sensors have also been sorted, with the added bonus that the rear bumper is now better aligned - it was always slightly out of shape with the rear wing on the offside.
The front subframes on these are prone to rotting out, but mine's been given a clean bill of health, save for some rubbing down and underseal, which they also took care of.
All I need now is for it to stop raining so that I can give it a long overdue clean...
Ever get that feeling when approaching service time that the car feels tired and more rattle than usual?
You need to stop using mineral based lube oil. Bog standard mineral oil is a mono grade product that is given its multi temperature viscosity performance by either the addition of long chain polymers or a hydro cracking stabilising and purification process in the refinery. Either way both processes get a mono grade mineral oil into multigrade specification when it leaves the refinery.
Unfortunately it doesn't stay that way and a multigrade 5-40 or 10-40 oil mineral oil will slowly break down back to its mono 5/10 grade state over time. This means new, artificially thick when hot oil will slowly become thinner at the same temperature and what went in as a 5 or 10-40 will drain out as a much thinner product - hence the increase in engine noise over time. The oil becomes incapable of maintaining it's hot 40 viscosity at temperature which means you have a thinner and therefore weaker film strength and less damping and shock absorption, especially around the cams and tappets and that's what contributes to the typically rattly tappy noise from a hot engine that's crying out for an oil change.
No matter how lube oil is labelled - Semi Synthetic, Part Synthetic or Long Life, if it's based on stock sucked out of the ground rather than a much more sophisticated oil manufactured in a lab then sooner or later it'll break down and then your chains, cams, buckets and piston rings are in danger of accelerated wear.
The only solution is a genuine full synthetic which will stay in multi grade specification forever, and finding the real deal product is complicated as historical legislation in the US means oil labelling by the manufacturer is allowed to be suspect to say the least. Its perfectly legal to label and sell a product as a "Synthetic" when really it's nothing of the kind.
Although it's come down in price over the years the real genuine full synthetic is still more expensive than mineral oil - but it'll pay for itself in reduced fuel consumption and longer engine life many times over.
You need to stop using mineral based lube oil. Bog standard mineral oil is a mono grade product that is given its multi temperature viscosity performance by either the addition of long chain polymers or a hydro cracking stabilising and purification process in the refinery. Either way both processes get a mono grade mineral oil into multigrade specification when it leaves the refinery.
Unfortunately it doesn't stay that way and a multigrade 5-40 or 10-40 oil mineral oil will slowly break down back to its mono 5/10 grade state over time. This means new, artificially thick when hot oil will slowly become thinner at the same temperature and what went in as a 5 or 10-40 will drain out as a much thinner product - hence the increase in engine noise over time. The oil becomes incapable of maintaining it's hot 40 viscosity at temperature which means you have a thinner and therefore weaker film strength and less damping and shock absorption, especially around the cams and tappets and that's what contributes to the typically rattly tappy noise from a hot engine that's crying out for an oil change.
No matter how lube oil is labelled - Semi Synthetic, Part Synthetic or Long Life, if it's based on stock sucked out of the ground rather than a much more sophisticated oil manufactured in a lab then sooner or later it'll break down and then your chains, cams, buckets and piston rings are in danger of accelerated wear.
The only solution is a genuine full synthetic which will stay in multi grade specification forever, and finding the real deal product is complicated as historical legislation in the US means oil labelling by the manufacturer is allowed to be suspect to say the least. Its perfectly legal to label and sell a product as a "Synthetic" when really it's nothing of the kind.
Although it's come down in price over the years the real genuine full synthetic is still more expensive than mineral oil - but it'll pay for itself in reduced fuel consumption and longer engine life many times over.
Interesting point on fully synthetic oil Steve. I notice from the receipts on the car I have just bought that it was serviced annually with Mobil 1. However at the last two services in 2012 & 13 they (Guy Salmon) switched to Shell Helix Plus. I gather this was the old name for Helix HX7, a semi synthetic blend. They still charged the same price for oil however (c £70+VAT for the 7 litres)
I'm not overly concerned as the car has only done 2k in the last two years. Come service time in August I will switch back to fully synth, probably Ford Formula F.
I'm getting the secondary timing chain tensioners changed next week so am hoping to see nice and clean engine internals given the low mileage on the car (56k) and annual oil changes. Fingers crossed.
I'm not overly concerned as the car has only done 2k in the last two years. Come service time in August I will switch back to fully synth, probably Ford Formula F.
I'm getting the secondary timing chain tensioners changed next week so am hoping to see nice and clean engine internals given the low mileage on the car (56k) and annual oil changes. Fingers crossed.
It's been a rough month or so in the Jaguar camp.
Annual service a few weeks back was fairly straight forward, but new rocker gaskets, an auxiliary belt and repairs to the rear parking sensors pushed the bill up. To be fair, very little of the work was essential, but I like to keep on top of everything.
Having taken the hit and pleased with the way it was all running, I've now discovered that some total ar$e clipped the o/s front wing and broke the front bumper, while it was parked in a church car park of all places! No note to claim responsibility, so it looks like another trip to the Indie to have it repaired.
The image below shows, sort of, how the bumper has popped out either side of the car. There's also a bloody great crack in the centre under the grill, and a scuff on the wing.
Fortunately, grill, lamps and internals seem to be OK.
Annual service a few weeks back was fairly straight forward, but new rocker gaskets, an auxiliary belt and repairs to the rear parking sensors pushed the bill up. To be fair, very little of the work was essential, but I like to keep on top of everything.
Having taken the hit and pleased with the way it was all running, I've now discovered that some total ar$e clipped the o/s front wing and broke the front bumper, while it was parked in a church car park of all places! No note to claim responsibility, so it looks like another trip to the Indie to have it repaired.
The image below shows, sort of, how the bumper has popped out either side of the car. There's also a bloody great crack in the centre under the grill, and a scuff on the wing.
Fortunately, grill, lamps and internals seem to be OK.
Long overdue update.
Had the bumper replaced back in May with a second hand replacement, suitable re painted and refitted by Surrey Jag.
Today was MOT day. Just over 7k in the past 12 months, which is almost double what I planned for when I bought the car back in 2010. However, we've had several trips to Oxford, from Surrey, in the past 6 months, and the big tour of Scotland last Summer. That alone was 1200 miles.
After last year's MOT required a new injector and two attempts at a pass, I approached today with caution. I should have booked it into Surrey Jag weeks ago, but ended up taking a £30 gamble with the local Kwik Fit. To be fair they were pretty good again, passing it and adjusting a headlamp along the way.
However, the certificate came with several advisories about corrosion near suspension mounting points, and an oil leak (which was picked up at the last service).
Surrey Jag assured me the oil leak was nothing to worry about for now, and I can barely detect any change in the oil level, while checking every few months, so I shan't lose any sleep on this for now.
The corrosion though, is frustrating. Surrey Jag have been cleaning and rustproofing the underside at every service since 2011. They mentioned some signs of corrosion at the latest service, but I got the impression this wouldn't be a problem for years. Kwik Fit were altogether more ominous, so this will need revisiting later in the year....and after the Jag has served its most important purpose as my wedding car!
Had the bumper replaced back in May with a second hand replacement, suitable re painted and refitted by Surrey Jag.
Today was MOT day. Just over 7k in the past 12 months, which is almost double what I planned for when I bought the car back in 2010. However, we've had several trips to Oxford, from Surrey, in the past 6 months, and the big tour of Scotland last Summer. That alone was 1200 miles.
After last year's MOT required a new injector and two attempts at a pass, I approached today with caution. I should have booked it into Surrey Jag weeks ago, but ended up taking a £30 gamble with the local Kwik Fit. To be fair they were pretty good again, passing it and adjusting a headlamp along the way.
However, the certificate came with several advisories about corrosion near suspension mounting points, and an oil leak (which was picked up at the last service).
Surrey Jag assured me the oil leak was nothing to worry about for now, and I can barely detect any change in the oil level, while checking every few months, so I shan't lose any sleep on this for now.
The corrosion though, is frustrating. Surrey Jag have been cleaning and rustproofing the underside at every service since 2011. They mentioned some signs of corrosion at the latest service, but I got the impression this wouldn't be a problem for years. Kwik Fit were altogether more ominous, so this will need revisiting later in the year....and after the Jag has served its most important purpose as my wedding car!
Top tip Ecurie, thanks.
In the meantime, the Jag has been hit again. I am getting seriously cheesed off now. The second time this year it has incurred bodywork damage with no-one taking responsibility. I think this time the perpetrator was attempting to steal the Jaguar badge on the bootlid, and made a mess of it.
Looks messy and expensive, but I need the car tip top for my wedding in August. Currently scouring eBay for a replacement black bootlid. Grrrrr....
In the meantime, the Jag has been hit again. I am getting seriously cheesed off now. The second time this year it has incurred bodywork damage with no-one taking responsibility. I think this time the perpetrator was attempting to steal the Jaguar badge on the bootlid, and made a mess of it.
Looks messy and expensive, but I need the car tip top for my wedding in August. Currently scouring eBay for a replacement black bootlid. Grrrrr....
Quick update - it's been a busy couple of months for the Jaguar. Mainly because it played an official transport role at my wedding, which speaks volumes about how great I think it looks.
I had the boot repaired a few weeks beforehand. Worth noting that apparently the body coloured scrolls that house the bootlid button and run along the top edge of the lid are quite hard to source, and not available from Jaguar. At one point I thought I was going to have settle for a chrome version, but an alternative popped up at the last minute and Surrey Jag fitted this while pressing out the dent.
On the big day it looked fabulous, adorned with white ribbon and ferrying us all between church and reception.
I had the boot repaired a few weeks beforehand. Worth noting that apparently the body coloured scrolls that house the bootlid button and run along the top edge of the lid are quite hard to source, and not available from Jaguar. At one point I thought I was going to have settle for a chrome version, but an alternative popped up at the last minute and Surrey Jag fitted this while pressing out the dent.
On the big day it looked fabulous, adorned with white ribbon and ferrying us all between church and reception.
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