Sorry for my ignorance... have not had to do much of anything to my 2008 XJ8. But noticed this quite oily
bit, whereas, the other side (driver in US) is very dry and clean. Picture does not quite capture it, but it is
oily around it and all the way down under as it drips to the ground.

I am flailing through parts diagrams and Barratt parts pictures, but not sure what I am looking at.

My guess is a cam sensor perhaps or maybe something to do with the VVT?

Would appreciate an ID of this part and maybe any advice/forum links to replacement procedures.

Thanks - Randy

 

OK.. well Rock Auto has convinced me it is the VVT Solenoid... and they sell a $5 seal for this unit.

Is it possible to disconnect the electrical plug and just pull the old seal off and slip on a new one? Could
the gods of easiness be with me today

Thanks

 

Yes, that's exactly how it works. When the plug is removed, the sealing ring can be replaced without disassembling other components. Be careful not to damage the sealing ring when inserting it. A little lubricant outside and inside will help.
Fritz

 

Yes, as Flatsix says, just use a 'pick' to carefully lift out the old seal and lubricate and fit a new one. My new one only lasted 5 years before I needed to replace it again!

Quite common early failure of Injectors 7 & 8 to the rear of the engine could perhaps indicate a lot of unresolved heat under there (particularly with the XJR) and not a great deal of space overall for a substantial V8 within that (compared with the X308) short front overhang?

Maybe bonnet vents would have been an idea?

Although might have spoiled the classically understated elegance of the XJ?

 

Having said all that I do not imagine that placing the throttle body at the hot back of the engine in the X308 was that good a design (is it unavoidable in the XJR X350..I suspect so?), but then I also suspect that the Jaguar engineers possibly knew a lot more about this than I do!