After a regular well slightly spirited drive, the car smells like antifreeze in my garage. No leaks, no steam, no stains on the floor. Yesterday, I looked at the reservoir and it was almost to the bottom. It was just topped off last November.

I told him I looked at the oil and there was no antifreeze in it. Suspected a cracked block but he said there would have been a warning light.

The service writer could find nothing wrong and to bring it back if it persists.

Anyone out there with any insight?

Thanks!

 

Some folks have reported problems with the water pump if memory serves

 

You're not going to have a warning light for headgasket/block issues. Not until you're past the point of no return. The coolant has to be going somewhere if it is truly getting low; so if its not leaking you must be burning it.

Make sure you always check the reservoir at the same time (hot/cold) as that will make a difference.

 

Have the system pressure tested after a cold soak to see if it loses pressure so the leak(s) can be found.

If the system has a slow leak, there is usually a stain around the leak in the form or dried coolant.

 

Have same issue, smell coolant, had to add about 12 oz to the system, but no visible signs of a leak. Taking mine in next week. I'm told the water pump or small coolant tubes under the supercharger are likely culprits. Hope my local dealer is one of the better ones and can find the problem.

 

Let me know what happens. I'm going to get ahold of another dealership in the meantime.

 

XK forums, that in later years use the same AJ engine, reported that coolant pump leaks are very common. There were dozen revisions to the pump design, apparently around 2016 they finally solved it.

 

If memory serves, I believe the water pump issue was confined to the 5.0 litre engine.

 

Gee, I hope the pulled the prior ones off the shelf!

 

Get it pressure tested. Only way to find out where the leak is. Too many plastic pieces IMO!

 

They did pull them off the XK shelf...and then put them on the F-Types.

 

Turned out my leak was the water pump, got it replaced under warranty...

 

Thanks for chiming back in. Same here. Water pump. Getting the car back tomorrow. Oh, and I asked him whether he put in the updated one and not the old one. Do they have different part numbers? "Be sure you don't pull the same old one off the shelf." He said it was ordered.

 

Water pump, known issue

 

bringing mine in Tuesday. dealership topped off coolant twice over the summer... they said it is due to air in the coolant and the system is belching. right.....

 

Already got the result.... definite coolant leak. Wow what a shock!

 

I will be keeping an eye on my coolant level before my warranty expires in March 2018
A recent check showed down to minimum, I topped up to maximum as per handbook and will monitor.

I also noticed another TSB for possible loss of coolant

Issue:Coolant expansion tank pressure caps leaking causing residue around the tank neck.

Action: Please ensure when expansion tank pressure caps are removed and refitted, a minimum of 3 audible clicks are heard when refitted

 

Well… what they got in there today they found that the water pump was leaking too. What a shock! I told them they would probably find that but they didn't believe me. Score one for the forum and zero For the dealership!

 

I took another long drive and got stuck in rush hour traffic. Despite replacing the water pump I could still smell some antifreeze. It wasn't as bad when I got home. I'm hoping its just some residue burning off. I'm going to keep an eye on it and check the coolant level often.

 

The smell was worse in mine on the drive home, then got progressively better. I assume air purging from the system. Keep and eye on your coolant level, but I think you'll be fine.

Unless of course, Jag put the same faulty pump in as a replacement