I haven an XE from 2016. 2L Diesel. I am the first owner. 160000KM.
When the car is warm and I stop at a redlight or else when it is below 900RPM it shows "Engine Oil critically low" that goes away again once it gets above 1500RPM. Videos attached. No other alarms. In independent Garage and the Jaguar Dealer say it is the timing belt.

I have a quote from the independent workshop for the timing chain replacement for 11 000EUR - but they said this is informational only because Jaguar would not give them the parts they need.

My question is: Given that the car is 100% mine and that I have all the time in the world (months, a year, ...) how realistic is it that I buy all the tools needed and change the timing chain myself? What would that cost in tools? Where could I find instructions? And, ... where would I buy the required parts given that the independent workshop claims that even they cannot get the parts?

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Anybody telling you it is the timing belt is talking total tosh, the Ingenium engine has a timing chain as you rightly say. The biggest problem with a worn timing chain and otther parts you'll also need, is the position of the chain, which lies at the rear of the engine, so access is only possible once the gearbox is removed. So it is a very labour intensive job compared to the chain being at the front. The parts for replacing the timing chain and associated parts comes as a kit of parts, and the garage you have been to, and the Jaguar dealer should have no trouble obtaining them. Quite why they say they can't could be their way of telling you they don't want the job. Jaguar made changes to improve timing chain life in late 2019, so the parts you get should be the latest ones. There is no change to fitment, they are back-compatible. This is also a well-known and documented Ingenium engine fault, so I suggest you find somebody who seems more knowledgeable about the problem. It might be worth contacting some UK Jaguar specialists.

I believe the petrol versions of the Ingenium engine don't suffer this problem, and the reason, or part of the reason, may be that the petrol versions don't have a balancer shaft. It may be the additional load this places on the diesel engines which contributes to the problem.

How often have you changed oil and filter whilst you've owned the car ? The Jaguar service intervals are ridiculously extended, and I'm convinced this contributes to the problem. I have changed the oil on my 2017 XE every year, so about every 10k miles which is half the Jaguar interval. So far no problem, but my car is only on 68k miles (109k kms) so maybe I have an unpleasantsurprise to come !

However, the fault doesn't seem to point to engine oil being low so it seems you need to ask these people what makes that fault indicate timing chain wear.

 

I also think the code you get is not timing chain related. Go to a different shop. Also the price quoted for timing chain replacement is rediculous. It is a 2 day job max and €400 in parts.

I did it myself at 200k km. The chain was slightly longer, no drama. It took a chain set (many offerings on Ebay) and some kit. You need also a car lift, the transmission has to be taking out. You also need some special tools, which block the movement of the cams. You can also find these on Ebay.

It is a bear of a job, but doable. My shop asked €3000 for the job.

I also agree on the oil change interval, I can hear a different sound of the engine after a 10.000 km oil change. It is smoother.

But: I think you have a different problem.

regards,

Adam

 

I wish I was in the UK. Here in The Netherlands I have been to many garages---all of them rejected the repair as to complicated. I have been to the Jaguar dealer and contacted Jaguar directly. The outcome was that the car has 160000Km and should be disposed of. If I cannot afford a new Jag by now then I was never the right buyer. In any case, the price here is 11000EUR and I cannot pony up this money. The car is now standing in my backyard waiting for an attempt to be repaired by my son and me in March. We do not have a car lift but bought an engine hoist to get the engine out from the top. If you have any tips or instructions that would be highly welcome.

 

I’m from the Netherlands too. Caspers in Eelderwolde is a good independent shop. Give them a call. Groeten Adam

 

The "engine oil level critically low" message is nothing to do with the timing chain.
It's usually caused by the solenoid operating the piston oil cooling jet sticking open, so too much oil is directed this way, lowering the overall oil pressure in the engine. The electronics then erroneously interprets this low oil pressure as being due to a lack of engine oil.
It does need attending to fairly smartly, though, because it risks starving the turbo and crankshaft bearings of oil, hastening wear of them.
Although at 160,000 km the timing chain and tensioners will benefit from renewal, they may not actually need it. Certainly, renewing them will not turn off the "engine oil critically low" message.

 

Thanks, since this is the eassier repair I will try this first. Are you referring to the oil pressure solenoid or to the camshaft solenoid?