I've recently been assembling parts to cure all my top end oil leaks/overhaul cooling system. Received some inlet manifold gaskets in the post today. As you can see they are both different:



Lining them up on top of each other, it's clear one is a slightly different dimension/length to the other:





Is one of these a dud? Does anyone have the measurements between the end holes so I can verify which is correct? There is a good 5mm difference so I can't see them both fitting.

 

Well that quality control went out the window.

The Pink were the first of the one piece style from Jaguar.

They replaced 12 individual gaskets, and were touted as easier to fit.

I had issues with some waaaaaay back, and simply cut them to make 12 individual gaskets and finished the task, as it was a Sunday, and who is open on a Sunday?, not Jaguar parts people, and this was also before the internet even.

I dont have measurements.

 

So do you think the browny pinky one is a genuine jaguar part, and the duck egg Blue one a poor quality pattern?

I think I've had a genuine water pump gasket from jaguar made out of the same blue material.

 

The pinky ones were what I got for many years. They were also the ones we had in stock when I was Parts Manager for Jaguar. The Pink ones were also the subjest of a tsb to go back and retighten the Inlet nuts after a few hours running, and on a semi regular basis, coz the Pink material "settled" somewhat, and the manifolds
"could" loosen off and vac leaks develop. Mine did settle a tad, and after 2 retightens I bothered not with that procedure again.

The Blue colour were Water Pump, Oil filter housing etc etc. All before the Gortex gaskets arrived.

The colour really means nothing. I have some inlet end plate gaskets in the shed, some are Pink, some a Brownish, some are Green/Blue. They are all the same, it is just how spare parts is.

The Parts Suppliers have sourced items from all over for a very long time, and that includes Jaguar. Whatever colour gasket material those suppliers have in stock is what is supplied.

The only real way is try each one over the studs and the one that slide down with a small amount of assistance is the real deal. The other one will be WAY off by the looks of your snaps.

 

Thanks for the info!
Sadly my car isn't yet in bits so I can't readily go and see which one is correct.
Does anyone reading happen to have an inlet manifold on the bench or an engine in bits, & could measure the distance between the two furthest stud holes for me?

Hopefully it's either 64 or 69mm (gaskets measured with a crude tape measure.

 

If gaskets are very old, or exposed to sun, I've seen them shrink, significantly. It may be that the larger ones are simply newer stock.

 

As Grant states here, l would highly recommend cutting them into individual units. I am not sure what year your car is but the gasket material left between each inlet gets in the way at the best of times, more so on the HE re. plug access.

 

Thanks Baxtor,

I forgot that little issue.

 

Just to add to the good advice you have been given is that the centre section of the gasket can be left in one piece ie you will have 5 pieces . As far as the difference in size , once the gasket is cut that it will be negligible , it may be a little tighter going over the studs.

 

Ok thanks everyone. I guess I will just try them out.