5.0 XK Coolant top ups

[New Relic]

I'm finding I need to top-up the engine coolant rather more than I've ever done in any car I've previously owned.

At the last fill, I replenished 75ml after about 300 miles.

There are no tell-tale puddles on the garage floor. No other untoward signs to give anything away, one way or another...

Anyone got any views on this, and is it "normal" ?

Edited by New Relic on Monday 23 October 14:36

[Tacchino]

I would suggest no normal.

I'm 7,500 miles since the last service and haven't needed to top up ..... checked today and still fine!
Further investigation would seem prudent as any failure is going to hurt.

[Northern.N]

Not a good sign.
Do you have an undertray?

The coolant pipe known as the “valley pipe” can cause grumbles but not a common thing at all on the 5.0.
I’d take it to an Indy for a check over matey.

[Piersman2]

I would suggest you get the water pump checked - pronto.

I've a 5.0 XKR, and a 5.0 RR , the same engine.

The RR started losing a bit of water back in the summer and I thought I'd 'keep an eye' on it. The water pump utterly shat itself a few hundred miles later whilst on the way down the M4. Thankfully I was able to get to my destination, just. AA truck to get home. I replaced the pump myself, not too bad a job on the whole, the old one was completely destroyed, the bearing just wasn't there anymore.

If the XKR ever displays any sign of losing water I will be replacing the pump immediately. Sitting in traffic in the RR with steam pissing out from all three sides of the bonnet is not an experience I want to repeat in the Jag.

[New Relic]

Thanks to all who posted on this.

The notion of the water pump throwing its hand in, is interesting. At least I haven't heard CHG mentioned....

[w824gb3]

Water pump. Well known weakness on the 5.0

[Piersman2]

w824gb3 said:

Water pump. Well known weakness on the 5.0

Indeed, It's about the only issue that the non S/C engines commonly have, the S/C engines have the S/C coupler as an additional weak point.

[tvron]

Any idea on mileage this problem might show itself?