When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello all. I've recently bought my first Jaguar - actually my first British car - a 2014 F-Type 6cyl auto with 103Kmiles. I got it for $20K and had a wonderful four-hour drive home after buying it.
Maintenance was not well documented by the previous owners. So far I've had the engine oil/filter changed and front brake pads replaced.
The shop that has done the work has informed me of a seepage-leak of coolant on the cross-pipe and is recommending that I have that replaced. It is also being suggested that it might be wise to replace the water pump, other coolant system hoses, and thermostat at the same time, since these cars are known to have problems with the coolant system.
The spark plugs are due for replacement based on the miles, and even though a bit early (recommended at 144K miles), perhaps the accessory belt and supercharger belt - you know, while we're in there kind of thing.
I'd love to have input from other F-Type owners. Should I go ahead and do all of this, or wait until something breaks and fix it then?
You MUST have the cooling pipes replaced if there is any sign of leakage (and at this mileage even if there is no sign). Leave everything else aside until this is done. There are now metal rather than plastic pipes available. One of the reliable vendors of these pipes is EuroAmp and you can find them on line.
the interior of your car is Brogue (very nice)…you can easily redye the worn leather on the driver’s seat bolster.
Absolutely do everything coolant related. A catastrophic overheat is much more expensive than a little maintenance. This should include the oil cooler gasket and little pipe that goes to it from the WP. Manifold pipe, WP. Y Pipe and thermostat housing, overflow pipe and reservoir. You may want to do a radiator, have the shop check for cold spots. Do the belts because they have to come off to do the other work anyway. Do the plugs. It’s not the plugs that you need to worry about, it’s the plugs being seized in the heads. I’d also do a drop and fill of the transmission fluid (NOT A FLUSH).
Make sure the shop you use is JLR proficient. This is an easy job to get wrong. You want someone who the LR folks have adopted as their own.
You MUST have the cooling pipes replaced if there is any sign of leakage (and at this mileage even if there is no sign). Leave everything else aside until this is done. There are now metal rather than plastic pipes available. One of the reliable vendors of these pipes is EuroAmp and you can find them on line.
the interior of your car is Brogue (very nice)…you can easily redye the worn leather on the driver’s seat bolster.
Absolutely do everything coolant related. A catastrophic overheat is much more expensive than a little maintenance. This should include the oil cooler gasket and little pipe that goes to it from the WP. Manifold pipe, WP. Y Pipe and thermostat housing, overflow pipe and reservoir. You may want to do a radiator, have the shop check for cold spots. Do the belts because they have to come off to do the other work anyway. Do the plugs. It’s not the plugs that you need to worry about, it’s the plugs being seized in the heads. I’d also do a drop and fill of the transmission fluid (NOT A FLUSH).
Make sure the shop you use is JLR proficient. This is an easy job to get wrong. You want someone who the LR folks have adopted as their own.
They offer the supercharger gasket as a separate item.
I told them the mileage of my car (103K) and asked about the oil cooler gasket and this is their response: "We do not offer that separately from our engine rebuild gasket set. We’ve done about 2-300 engines and have never seen that gasket leak. I would recommend leaving the oil cooler bolted to the block unless it’s damaged"
I asked about other hoses and this is their response: "There are a lot of cooling hoses on these that are dealer only, but this kit covers all of the major failure points. The other hoses should be inspected while everything is out, but typically don’t need replacing."
Euroamp does not carry the belts and tensioners. Can you please recommend a parts source for these? I'm not comfortable with Parts Geek or Rockauto for these parts as I would prefer to talk to someone who knows what parts to recommend.
Are you having a shop do it or are you DIY? If a shop is doing it they will spec the parts needed. You can bring your own parts but they won’t warranty the work for parts failure.
I've been waiting to do the repairs until the extended warranty was transferred into my name. Not that I think any of this will be covered under the warranty, but there's always the chance.
If I want a Jaguar certified technician at a dealership to do the work, they will use OEM Jaguar plastic parts and warranty them for 1 year or 12k miles. Or they will use the aftermarket aluminum parts that I purchase at Euroamp and not warranty them. I spoke with the service advisor for quite a while on the phone and they have a good attitude about it. He told me they've used those Euroamp parts before and only had trouble with one of them not fitting correctly. He agreed that having an Aluminum part instead of plastic was better. But he also said he's done these repairs with Jag parts several times over the last couple of years and he hasn't had any of them come back. He said the Jag plastic parts should last another 60 - 80k miles and he pointed out that he can give me a warranty.
If I go to Eurofix European Auto Repair Middle Tennessee - Mechanic Near Me (eurofixonline.com) they will charge me a markup on the aftermarket parts and then cover everything with their 3-year 36K mile warranty. I guessing that the technician who does the work will not have done one of these repairs on a Jag before.
If you plan on keeping the vehicle, use the aluminium pipes for the water outlet and heater pipe. Definitely also replace the thermostat to engine hose to the newer version.
Since the maintenance history is not complete, have the gearbox serviced as well. ZF recommend having the gearbox serviced every 100,000 km (62,000 miles) with a fluid drain and replacement of the pan/filter.
If you plan on keeping the vehicle, use the aluminium pipes for the water outlet and heater pipe. Definitely also replace the thermostat to engine hose to the newer version.
Since the maintenance history is not complete, have the gearbox serviced as well. ZF recommend having the gearbox serviced every 100,000 km (62,000 miles) with a fluid drain and replacement of the pan/filter.
Thanks. So do you like the kit that Euroamp sells? Even with no warranty from the dealer on the service?
Yep, I did all of that piece by piece mostly on my own - the snout solid piece and gaskets for the s/c is icing on the cake...I am not a guru mechanic but to me this looks like the best kit to date.
While there do plugs and s/c fluid...what I did. Threads on this site for both. I plan to share this with my mechanic so he can get it all at one time going forward for others.
Yep, I did all of that piece by piece mostly on my own - the snout solid piece and gaskets for the s/c is icing on the cake...I am not a guru mechanic but to me this looks like the best kit to date.
While there do plugs and s/c fluid...what I did. Threads on this site for both. I plan to share this with my mechanic so he can get it all at one time going forward for others.
Best of luck. Nice find!
PS: Bolster might be able to be made good as new by a pro....dealers often have people that do this that are mobile....the key is not to mess up and darken the stitching (hence use a pro). No promises...but these types of people can work miracles.
Yep, I did all of that piece by piece mostly on my own - the snout solid piece and gaskets for the s/c is icing on the cake...I am not a guru mechanic but to me this looks like the best kit to date.
While there do plugs and s/c fluid...what I did. Threads on this site for both. I plan to share this with my mechanic so he can get it all at one time going forward for others.
Best of luck. Nice find!
PS: Bolster might be able to be made good as new by a pro....dealers often have people that do this that are mobile....the key is not to mess up and darken the stitching (hence use a pro). No promises...but these types of people can work miracles.
jb
I've decided to have Eurofix in Murfreesboro do the work for me. They are willing to use the aftermarket kit and they will offer me a 3-year 36000-mile warranty on the work.
What is s/c fluid?
I think I will have them change the accessories belt and the supercharger belt too. My car has 104k miles and I don't think either one has been changed.
Supercharger fluid....I changed mine at 55k....would recommend you do your fluid. Threads here on the process, volume to use, etc. I cannot remember the volume right now. (someone please post a reply with the volume to use - thanks!)
I got mine in a kit off ebay...pretty standard stuff. I got the volume off of this forum (noted above)....you don't use all that they send and you can overfill it...since the s/c is off/easy to access in this process it is a no brainer to do it as it adds virtually no labor. Normally it is a real PITA to access.
Here is the link I used. It has been fine now for 6k miles for what it is worth (I have no relationship with the seller - it came and works well):
Note, there are a lot of diff and zf8hp kits out there. I happend to get my stuff from Blauparts (Ravenol). Just an FYI. Also been running fine. And also noting I have nothing to do with that company save got the parts and they work great. I cannot comment on how good a deal they are, etc.
The ZF kit for example has the OEM filter/bottom, a filler hand pump, the fluids.....I have awd so did front and rear diffs too.....the rear was not fun looking at 50k....so I plan to do it ever 25k intervals....just me.
Enjoy the car. These are great things - take care of it. You got in super cheap.
Note, there are a lot of diff and zf8hp kits out there. I happend to get my stuff from Blauparts (Ravenol). Just an FYI. Also been running fine. And also noting I have nothing to do with that company save got the parts and they work great. I cannot comment on how good a deal they are, etc.
The ZF kit for example has the OEM filter/bottom, a filler hand pump, the fluids.....I have awd so did front and rear diffs too.....the rear was not fun looking at 50k....so I plan to do it ever 25k intervals....just me.
Enjoy the car. These are great things - take care of it. You got in super cheap.
I know I got into it cheap, and I was prepared for this $4K service that is coming up.
New Jaguar owner with maintenance question
