Ive read a lot about the water pump issues on the X351s, My question is are there any pre warning signs to be aware of before failure?
I ask this because lately what I believe I smell radiator fluid after a drive and then parked in the garage.
I have carefully looked and have not seen any fluids in the engine bay or on the ground.
Appreciate any input..

 

I too was smelling coolant for about 6 months. I informed my service advisor and they did a pressure test. The test came back showing no leaks. I said to them then why am I smelling coolant. I don’t drive the car often. It got to the point to where I had to bring my car in for them to take a look at it. I took it to the dealer because the car was telling me coolant level low. They topped it off and 3 days later I was back at the dealer with the same issue. This time I was seeing coolant dripping. Pressure tested the system again and found the thermostat housing wasn’t properly sealed. I asked them why not replace the pump. My advisor stated they can only replace the pump when it actually fails!! I still smell coolant though. Even on the loaner they gave I smelled coolant!

 

I'm on pump #4. I have always smelled coolant before, usually intermittent at random for weeks with no other evidence so I had kind of gotten complacent. Three out of four I got around to replacing it before any other symptoms appeared. The last time,however I did barely go a few days tho between the first whiff and a screeching bearing so I'd recommend not to wait too long. The XF at least has an engine undercover with pig mat that collects and absorbs minor leaks (environmentally friendly that way). I assume the XJ is the same so you may not see drips on the ground. But at least its a super easy job on this motor compared to many others.

 

Thank you!!

 

Thank you,
Good advise on the pressure test.

 

Yes keep an eye on the fluid level. But I also smell hot coolant and always have since I got the car. Even my previous S-Type R had the same small. So maybe I am overly sensitive to this smell since I am always on the look out for it?
.
.
.

 

Coolant smell lingers for a long time. If you have a leak and fix it, youre likely to still smell coolant for months. At least thats my experience

 

X260 but same s/c v6 with a water pump failure about 2 hours ago..

No warning signs..
No smell..
Just the Red Coolant Light and a heart attack.

I know how quickly these aluminum heads warp if overheated..

Dodged a bullet but 56k seems to be their maximum lifespan..

New part# pump and hoses will be installed under 5 year Factory 69k Warranty..
Should be good for another 5 years.

Amazing cars..

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...0/#post2514975

 

The 5.0L engine water pumps are notorious for failing. If they are going to fail it is usually between 30k and 50k miles (but not always). Age also plays a factor as the the pump itself and the entry and exit pipes are all manufactured out of plastic. I have owned a 2012 XK and currently own a 2013 XKR. Both have suffered from water pump failure under warranty. My XJR 575 has not suffered from this malady.

A word to the wise if you should experience overheating stop!!! (as soon as and where it is safe to do so) do not drive anywhere. Get your car towed to where it is serviced or risk "cooking" your engine. Not good, and very expensive to replace. Err on the side of caution. And get the faulty pump replaced. It will save you grief and money in the long run.

 

That was one of my next questions, Is is guaranteed that all and every water pump will fail on the XJRs? Wondering what approximate percentage is of the pump failures.
Thanks for your input

 

You can't expect this Forum to give you an accurate answer to your question. Owners complain when something breaks; they never complain if it ain't broke!

Water pump replacement is not a big deal. But failure to stop when the hot engine warning light comes on can lead to a catastrophic engine failure.

If worrying about a possible water pump failure keeps you up at night, then maybe a Jaguar isn't for you. Or maybe any vehicle with an internal combustion engine. You'll have no water pump worries with an EV.

Don't worry, be happy!

 

You don't have to worry about your water pump if you have a temperature gauge.

See this thread for how I added temperature and voltage gauges to my XJ in 2015 for $20.00:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ndroid-155074/

 

Good advice from Stuart! Especially the gauge display if you really want to avoid future problems. Stay on top of it!
.
.
.

 

I have a 2011 XJL NA V8 that has 54,500 miles. I have only had the car of a month and have always smelled antifreeze after a drive so I am thinking of just replacing most everything in the cooling system less the radiator. After reading several post it seems that an issue is not far away and I want to be proactive. It seems part cost are not high and I can learn a little about my car as I will do the work myself. Is this a good plan and should I do the front and back parts of the motor?

 

The front water outlet and rear heater pipe between the cylinder heads are both known failure points and should be replaced at the same time.

 

Is it OK to buy parts at a place like Rock Autoparts, or should I go more main line like NAPA?

 

Some of the parts you can only get from a Jaguar dealer or specialty Jaguar parts supplier. But I'd say go ahead and get a water pump from the aftermarket because the factory unit has proven itself over and over again (regardless of part #) to not be any less likely to fail. And like the 4.0L engine before, Jaguar's early water pumps were problematic and the aftermarket came out with a solution before Jaguar did. You can also get a much, much better warranty aftermarket. Depending where you buy it, you can get a "lifetime" warranty on the water pump or like on Amazon, you can pay an extra $15 and get a three-year warranty. From the Jaguar dealer, its going to cost three or four times as much with only a one-year warranty (which I've had to invoke). There's at least a couple of different manufacturers in the aftermarket but I can't tell you which is best because I've only tried one so far, a Beck Arnley.

I would tho suggest to get the little plastic tube behind the water pump from Jaguar tho. I bought one from the aftermarket last time and upon examination, it had a seam from the molding process in a very stupid place where it would have caused it to leak like a sieve - basically unusable. I could have sent it back but it was cheap enough I wound up just using the o-rings that came with it and re-using my previous tube, which was only as old anyway as the previous water pump. Somebody posted that there was an aftermarket tube made of aluminum now but I haven't seen or used one. Also, as I recall, the little tube comes with one of the special funky o-rings and you need to order a second. Be sure and lube that o-ring before installation because jimmying the pump on, without lubing the o-ring, it may not seat correctly and would leak right away BTDT.

 

Pdupler thank you for the great information on the parts and assembly notes. Everything helps and there is so much good information in the forum and great people to help guide...So glad I became a member.

 

Woops spelling I am such a dyslexic person...corrected...did not know I could edit after posting

 

Rock Auto offers parts from many suppliers and manufactures, some better than others.

If you want to make sure you have the actual repair manual for your car to work from, Jaguar Land Rover allows owners to subscribe to the same official tools that the dealership use, I suggest you subscribe for whatever period of time you want. They offer subscriptions for access to single models or multiple, from a single day, a week, a month or a year.

Home | TOPIx (jlrext.com)

Rock Auto does have the aluminum connection (with one of the 2 seals) between the pump and oil cooler:

2012 JAGUAR XJ 5.0L V8 Oil Cooler Line | RockAuto

and the seal by itself:
2012 JAGUAR XJ 5.0L V8 Water Pump Seal / O-Ring | RockAuto

But if you buy the Uro coolant pump from Rock Auto, it has one of the seals, or if you buy the Rein pump kit, it includes a plastic connector (like original) and both seals.

But for the two very important parts that NBCat identified, you can only get them from a Jaguar dealership. Usually on-line dealership sales have better prices than the local dealership.
Here's one I use:
Select Parts Category - 2012 Jaguar XJ | Jaguar Virginia Beach