Can I ask a really dumb question ? Does the Intercoolers use the same fluid that is running through the main radiator? My shop guy said that the Intercoolers are Air to Air when they are really Fluid to Air. I ask all this because I believe there is a small leak from the passenger side Intercooler. Thanks

 

I'd say it would have to otherwise you'd have another tank in the engine bay for the intercooler fluid.

 

Yes it is the same - with a separate pump.

 

I had the same leak but it was window washer fluid from the passenger side headlight washer system. They replaced that side. Taste it and see if its sweet its antifreeze if its not its washer fluid.

 

Yeah... Um... DON'T TASTE IT..... Glycol is extremely poisonous.....

 

Smell it. Windshield washer fluid smells of methanol, hardly smells at all. Glycol smells strongly of plastic ( some say maple syrup but they're mistaken about that).

Better yet, just rub some brieky between fingertips. The washer fluid will feel very cool as the methanol evaporates. The glycol wil feel slightly slippery and greasy.

Both methanol and glycol are very poisonous. Do not taste ANY fluids coming out of your car.

 

Thanks guys......since it is a slow or small leak it is hard to collect, however, while standing for awhile without the motor running, there is no fluid on the floor.....only after coming back from a drive.

 

Jack it up and pull off the splash shield. Track the leak down and figure out the issue. How do you know it's from the intercooler? I know some have had leaking water pumps.

 

You have 3 systems in the car that contain coolant :
1) engine cooling - coolant is circulated by the pump driven by the main serpentine belt
2) interior heater - coolant is circulated by a dedicated electric pump
3) supercharger air cooling - coolant is circulated by a dedicated electric pump
The interior heater section and the supercharger section are connected to the engine cooling section by small hoses to allow for expansion therefore yes all 3 systems are connected together and will take fluid from the one reservoir.

The supercharger has a coolant radiator mounted in front of the main radiator, there is only one, no left or right. There are 2 intercoolers located on top of the supercharger, a left and right, thru which the coolant circulates to cool the air charge.

The above is my lay persons explanation only. I hope it helps.

You do have right and left engine oil coolers mounted just ahead of the front wheels but, of course, they contain engine oil.

As Blackcoog states, trace the leak to determine the exact source, no point in guessing.

 

Are you sure the fluid isn't just water condensing from the air conditioner? The drain for that will be on the passenger side. Are you losing coolant from the radiator expansion tank? It is a separate tank from the radiator but is located right on top of the radiator.

Also, are you sure 09XFSuper? I've never heard of the need for an electic pump to circulate the heater coolant since the heat has to come from the engine anyway. Pretty pointless to have separate pump since it is a full flow heater core, no control valve as far as I know. The coolant passing through the heater core has to flow through the engine first.

The intercoolers might benefit from a separate pump, although it is hard to see why. The coolant for those would benefit from not flowing through the engine first but it's hard to see how it gets through the radiator to cool down without also passing through the engine at some point. The intercoolers take heat out of the compressed charge but cannot radiate that heat except through the engine radiator, as far as I know. Where would the coolant going into the intercoolers come from?

 

Here is a link to show the non existant heater pumps Jaguar uses in many models.
JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

 

The supercharged cars do not have the expansion tank located above the radiator, the tank is located on the drivers side of the engine bay by the strut tower.

Yes there is a dedicated electric water pump for the interior heater, it is mounted on the radiator fan shroud on the passenger side.

The supercharger intercoolers (mounted on top of the supercharger) have their own dedicated radiator mounted in front of the engine radiator. The dedicated electric supercharger coolant pump is mounted to the passenger side of the supercharger radiator. This system operates independently with only a small hose connecting it to the main cooling system, essentially the main cooling system is the expansion tank for the supercharger cooling system.

Believe me, I have had my car apart and seen all if this with my own eyes. It is quite the cooling/heating/cooling system.

 

Not doubting you. Just surprised. Never seen it on any other car. My Audi has a reverse circulation coolant pump to keep the turbos fom overheating on shutdown due to heat soak.

 

Thanks 09XF for the very accurate description of the systems. You are right regarding the electric pump on the passenger side for the intercoolers. Another potential leak source. However, I am beginning to believe that perhaps Jagular is right in that the fluid may just be A/C condensation. It is not a lot of volume and when the car is just sitting in the garage there is no fluid on the floor. Do other owners of XFs see this condensation on the floor (passenger side)??

 

Yes, frequently, which is why I mention it as a possibility. Sometimes it even looks and feels a bit greasy because it comes from the AC evaporator which collects a lot of dirt.

 

Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, to name a few have heater pumps.

 

The cabin filter is supposed to prevent the evaporator and heater core from getting to grimed up I think.

 

It does and it doesn't. The water draining from the AC evaporator box can be less than clean. I wouldn't taste it to verify it was just water!

 

I am touched, Jagular, that you are still concerned about my health......and I promise to never taste the car fluids again....but at 80 what do I have to lose.

 

There's a big difference between tasting and drinking!
Provided you're not into seriously poisonous stuff licking a finger and spitting after will not hurt you.