XK 4.0 Engine Problems
Discussion
There are one or two very nice XK8/XKR's up for sale at the moment with very low mileages.
I seem to recall reading on here about excessive bore wear and timing chain problems on the earlier engines.
With low mileage cars it's possible that any engine problems haven't occured yet and so can anyone point me in the right direction on this topic.
I seem to recall reading on here about excessive bore wear and timing chain problems on the earlier engines.
With low mileage cars it's possible that any engine problems haven't occured yet and so can anyone point me in the right direction on this topic.
mph said:
There are one or two very nice XK8/XKR's up for sale at the moment with very low mileages.
I seem to recall reading on here about excessive bore wear and timing chain problems on the earlier engines.
With low mileage cars it's possible that any engine problems haven't occured yet and so can anyone point me in the right direction on this topic.
The bore problem has gone with better fuil now availableI seem to recall reading on here about excessive bore wear and timing chain problems on the earlier engines.
With low mileage cars it's possible that any engine problems haven't occured yet and so can anyone point me in the right direction on this topic.
The chain problem is still there if not already sorted, just bear it in mind when you have the car serviced and have them looked at, going to cost about £1,000 to do the job properly
Could use that as a barganing tool
The plastic cam chain tensioners were a problem from 97-2000. There are three versions of the tensioners. The first version were the ones that caused the problems. The second version was still plastic but beefed up and are more reliable. Jaguar did a third version of the tensioners which are metal in 2005.
So if it has the original tensioners then they will probably need changing for peace of mind. If it has the second or third version fitted then you should be OK.
So if it has the original tensioners then they will probably need changing for peace of mind. If it has the second or third version fitted then you should be OK.
plasticpig said:
So if it has the original tensioners then they will probably need changing for peace of mind.
If it has the second or third version fitted then you should be OK.
The second weren't much better, I know my replacement 2nd went after 40K miles, yes the third should be OKIf it has the second or third version fitted then you should be OK.
It is also generally recommended with the 4 litre that the water pump and thermostat are also changed for the later type when the tensioners are done.
The attached might be useful.
http://www.jagservice.net/jaguar_v8_secondary_tens...
The problem with the engines made until 2000 (about Sept IIRC)were to do with the liners being Nikasil; some petrol then available had high levels of sulphur which caused excessive wear, the liners were later replaced by steel ones.
There is a view that if an original engine still has the original Nikasil liners it shouldn't be a problem now as sulphur levels are now lower and if a problem was going to arise, it would have done so by now. There is also a view that an original Nikasil liner, provided it was not affected in the early days, will actually last longer than a steel one. Jaguar can carry out a 'blow by' test to see if engine is okay. If you google it you should find something - like this:
http://www.autocalculator.org/Car-Buying-Checks/ja...
Check the floorpans for rust, I looked at a late XK8 at a Jaguar dealer recently (1 ownwer, low mileage full dealer history etc etc) and was surprised at the poor state of the underneath. Nice and shiny on top though.
Dealer said that 'all we had to do was wash it and put it straight onto the forecourt'. That was quite possible, as I would have thought that they would have cleaned it up if they had seen it. Maybe they still had yet to 'inspect it', assuming they even do.
I was just being nosey and wasn't seriously looking, although a mint car might have tempted me. I was expecting better from a franchised dealer.
Good luck
The attached might be useful.
http://www.jagservice.net/jaguar_v8_secondary_tens...
The problem with the engines made until 2000 (about Sept IIRC)were to do with the liners being Nikasil; some petrol then available had high levels of sulphur which caused excessive wear, the liners were later replaced by steel ones.
There is a view that if an original engine still has the original Nikasil liners it shouldn't be a problem now as sulphur levels are now lower and if a problem was going to arise, it would have done so by now. There is also a view that an original Nikasil liner, provided it was not affected in the early days, will actually last longer than a steel one. Jaguar can carry out a 'blow by' test to see if engine is okay. If you google it you should find something - like this:
http://www.autocalculator.org/Car-Buying-Checks/ja...
Check the floorpans for rust, I looked at a late XK8 at a Jaguar dealer recently (1 ownwer, low mileage full dealer history etc etc) and was surprised at the poor state of the underneath. Nice and shiny on top though.
Dealer said that 'all we had to do was wash it and put it straight onto the forecourt'. That was quite possible, as I would have thought that they would have cleaned it up if they had seen it. Maybe they still had yet to 'inspect it', assuming they even do.
I was just being nosey and wasn't seriously looking, although a mint car might have tempted me. I was expecting better from a franchised dealer.
Good luck
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff