A good example of why we should remove those crankshaft plugs when rebuilding an XK engine and clean the oil galleries.

 

ewwwwwww

 

When the cars had no value some were shockingly neglected. People did not do regular oil changes etc. etc.

 

Some years ago I was at a Jaguar workshop and was shown the results of an incorrect engine overhaul in a MK2 by another workshop.
The crankshaft plugs had not been removed and debris build up had blocked the lubrication holes on a couple of the cranks.
The result was big end bearings running dry and lack of lubrication to the associated cylinders and pistons with severe scoring of the cylinder walls.
The workshop was making an assessment of the reason for the damage and costs to repair on behalf of the owner of the car who was sueing the workshop which had done the original overhaul.
This is just to let you know how critical this is when dealing with older Jaguar XK series engines.

 

It's amazing Bill. That awful second photo crankshaft only required cleaning and a 20 thou grind of all journals to get into spec. We won't talk about the cylinders. They had to be enlarged to maximum.

 

A good percentage (I will not make up a figure) of the engines cooling is down to the oil circulating, creating less friction and dissipating heat. More cooling is produced by the oil than the water but people still, with an older engine which has an over heating problem, turn to a Kenlowe fan. In my view a Kenlowe fan on the front of your radiator is like putting a plaster on a stress fracture in your shin. It might make you feel better but it not actually doing anything. You would be better off fitting an oil cooler to the engine than a Kenlowe. I always ran an oil cooler(the bigger the better) on my Lotus Seven and never had an over heating problem ragging it around a track or up a hill climb.
A good service routine, the right oil and if you can strip an old engine and clean all the oil ways you will reduce heat and prolong the life of your engine.

 

Absolutely Rob. When Band Aid stickers are required such as a Kenlowe fan. You should be looking for the root cause of the problem.

 

Most light aircraft engines which are air cooled also have oil coolers. Typical Lycoming and Continental "boxer" type engines.
My Pratt and Whitney R985 cubic inch (roughly 16 litres) radial engine in my CAC 25 Winjeel has a massive oil cooler.
If my memory is correct the VW beetle also had an oil cooler.
They must be doing something good for the engine!

 

Large capacity finned sumps & oil coolers a la Alfa Romeo are there for a good reason. Why you can drive them flat out all day without fear of engine damage.

10 litres of oil & finned alloy sump base right in the air-stream on a 4 cylinder twin OHC engine from 1300cc to 2 litres. And they are deep fins like a heatsink on a powerful Class A amplifier. Sumps are completely baffled as well.