1969 Jaguar XJ6 Won’t Start

[DaimlerJ]

I’ve just bought replacement seals for the caps. I’ll be draining the tanks on Monday, have you got any suggestions for a suitable container? There’s 45 litres of a highly diluted petrol/water mixture in there (about 10 litres petrol max in there).

I’ll then wait for the seals to turn up and drain the tanks again once the new ones are on.

I’ve tried to prime the car a few times, but I haven’t cranked it very much thankfully and it still runs beautifully for a second with carb cleaner sprayed in the intake, so hopefully no damage done!

[stevieturbo]

I'd be removing the tanks and ensuring they are thoroughly clean and all water removed.

Likewise blowing any lines out and replacing filters.

[DaimlerJ]

stevieturbo said:

I'd be removing the tanks and ensuring they are thoroughly clean and all water removed.

Likewise blowing any lines out and replacing filters.

Hoping I can get away without removing tanks, but may end up having to. Good point re clearing fuel lines, any suggestions on what’s best to use to do that?

The filter will definitely be being replaced, along with the fuel pump.

[stevieturbo]

air line, whatever.

You must ensure all water is removed. Water can do very strange things if left in there.

[Peter3442]

If the tanks are corroded, I'd replace them and replace the fuel lines as well. The small rust particles are very difficult to flush out of the XJ's system and they cause havoc with pressure regulators and injectors.

[DaimlerJ]

Peter3442 said:

If the tanks are corroded, I'd replace them and replace the fuel lines as well. The small rust particles are very difficult to flush out of the XJ's system and they cause havoc with pressure regulators and injectors.

At this stage, I'd just like to be able to get it running long enough to get to my garage. It needs some work on the brakes, so might treat it as an excuse to treat her to two new tanks along with the rear brake discs! I'll get the garage to replace the fuel lines as well while there as a precaution, and probably some new injectors too just to start afresh.

I'm going to drain the tanks today. I still haven't got my new filler cap seal yet, but I think it's important to get that water out as quick as possible! I'll just have to drain them again when my new seals arrive (along with installing new fuel pump and filter, which I now have too).

I think I'll need fingers crossed for me

[DaimlerJ]

For anyone who’s interested, here’s what was in my fuel tank. Well that definitely explains why it wouldn’t start!

There’s meant to be a rubber seal between the filler neck and the body, which is totally missing on the tank that rain is getting into! Can’t believe I didn’t notice, but so much better finding out this way than being stranded somewhere when it rains. I’ll also replace the filler cap seals to be safe.

[DaimlerJ]

The good news though is that everything that came out was extremely clean, no debris or rust in it at all, so I’m hopeful the tank inside is ok (for now, I know it now won’t stay that way and will need replacing sooner rather than later).

[GreenV8S]

I was wondering whether those tubs are petrol resistant - but that won't be an issue from the look of things.

[DaimlerJ]

GreenV8S said:

I was wondering whether those tubs are petrol resistant - but that won't be an issue from the look of things.

I only stored it there before transferring it to more appropriate containers, more because I wanted to be able to see what came out of the tank. Like you say, it wouldn’t be an issue anyway, the first tub contained not a drop of petrol!