XJR-s temperature gauge

XJR-s temperature gauge

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GiveItSomeWellie

Original Poster:

3,006 posts

195 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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Afternoon all,

Just starting to get the wheels in motion to get the XJR-s back on the road for 2019 and thinking about all the little bits that need doing.

When driving normally and once up to temperature, the gauge sits in the middle of the 'N'. I remember last year during the very warm periods achieved in the summer, the lower part of the temperature gauge would creep towards the top of the 'N' on the temperature gauge when sitting in traffic or slowing right down after a high speed run. Once you were up and running, the gauge would then come back down to normal after a couple of miles.

Terrible paint job, but it would sit roughly here on the gauge when in traffic after a run;



A bit of background;
  • Car has done 64k miles, not sure if it's the original radiator. 1991 build.
  • Car was sat for many years, but has been recommissioned, coolant system flushed once and coolant changed once more since.
  • Fans work as they should
  • It's had a new AC condenser so all the crap has been blown out of the gap between there and the radiator
  • It had a pair of new thermostats last year, though I have no idea what temperature they're rated for.
I have no idea what the temperature range of the gauge is, so I may well be worrying over nothing.

Is this a case of Jaguar electronics (the oil pressure gauge has a habit of dropping to zero for no reason occasionally), or am I in need of more work?

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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Worth getting a laser thermometer out and seeing what the actual temps are at the thermostat housing, top hose etc?

My 1992 facelift car was always uncomfortable over the N on the gauge. I swapped from 88C to 82C thermostats (figures from memory) and it was bang on the N.

GiveItSomeWellie

Original Poster:

3,006 posts

195 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Makes sense, I shall double check which thermostats have been installed and find an IR temp sensor thumbup

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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I believe David Marks the well known Jaguar beard recommends the lower temp stats for all V12s. Given their fondness for overheating I'm inclined to listen..

GiveItSomeWellie

Original Poster:

3,006 posts

195 months

Monday 1st April 2019
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Just to follow this up, we've had the radiator removed and inspected for potential issues. We found it to be the original, and it's in an absolute state! I don't know how it was able to keep anything even remotely cool given the state of it, the fins disintegrated at even the merest touch and a significant area was packed with dirt. Well, I suppose it goes to show just how good the rest of the system is working I suppose..

Having it re-cored this week, and its first test will be down to Brands Hatch this weekend so hopefully all will be well smile

Will report back.