For several months my 2002 3.0 X-type has been producing the occasional burning oil smell which comes in through the air vents while the windows are closed. Jaguar agents checked the oil pan gasket and underside of the car and there are no signs of any oil leaks there.
I suspect it is a leak at a cam cover. Is there any way to determine this without removing any parts?
Are there any other places where oil could be leaking and burning?
How big a task is it to replace the camshaft cover gaskets?

 

Just a thought but if by any chance your oil filter is a little loose it may cause some drips on the exhaust. Maybe check there as well.

 

Sounds like the oil filter is not quite tight enough and is leaking. This is a common problem especially after an oil change and you get a little bit of oil on the exhaust manifold.

As for finding the location of the leak, your best bet would be to find an oil additive that has a fluorescent dye in it. You can then put this into the motor, drive for say 50 miles/75 KM, and using an ultraviolet light at night, you can see where any oil leaks that have recently added oil are. Then you can trace it back to where the oil is leaking out and know exactly where the trouble spot is.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. It turns out there is no leak at the oil filter. As it is also not the sump gasket that is leaking, where else could the burning oil smell be coming from ?

 

If the transfer box has recently been topped up any excess oil blows out through the vent on top of the box and runs down past the right hand drive shaft onto the exhaust. Or it could be the right hand drive shaft oil seal itself.

 

David: Just spitballing...... perhaps what you smell is burnt rubber. Check the serpentine and water pump belts. They should be supple, not 'cooked', glazed or cracked from slippage, a bad tensioner or bad idler pulley, bad bearings on the power steering, alternator, or AC pulleys.

 

I too have a burning oil smell, and what it is was the oil pressure sender was leaking. Then the oil dripped on the the exhaust ( and the serpentine belt) and then burned. When facing the car with the bonnet open, the sender should be on the left side toward the rear of the engine. It's very difficult to see, but you might be able to follow the wire to it.

I have a new sender for mine, but have not put it in yet.

 

As a rule, the oil that is dripping on the exhaust will be above the exhaust manifolds, or the front pipe. If the oil smell goes away after you are moving, I would look at the lower exhaust pipes. If it is still coming in while driving, I would look at the rear exhaust manifold first, and the front manifold after that. I have no reason why the techs would be looking at the bottom of the engine, unless they didn't understand the physics of gravity. If you are smelling it, it should be visible with the car running, and the accessories off, like the AC....good luck.......Mike

 

IMT O rings?

 

If oil is leaking from an IMT valve, then replace the PCV valve so less oil finds its way to the intake, in addition to sopping up oil puddled in the intake IMT ports.

If oil is leaking from the pressure sender / switch, this picture shows the location - the black connector circled yellow. It's behind the AC compressor, which is removed in this pic. The nearby grey connector is the oil temperature sensor. Source: Jaguar Motor Project: May 2006

 

I think you'll find that nearby grey connector is the oil temperature sensor. The coolant temperature sensor is on top, between the cam boxes.

 

astromorg: You are correct. I messed up because the identical part # LNA1600AA is used for the water temperature sensor atop the engine and the oil temperature sensor by the oil pressure switch. Should have checked the JTIS. Thanks for setting me straight.