Hi all,

New-ish Jag owner (1995 XJR, 160k miles), a bit of a catastrophe this long weekend, trying to gauge how much damage it's likely to have caused.

The car has had a power steering leak since buying it, that I don't currently want to pay to get fixed (needs rack replaced probably). As a result, I've just been topping up the reservoir regularly when it gets low.

However, this weekend my girlfriend was taking the car out for a drive, and topped up the coolant tank with ATF instead of the power steering reservoir. Car drove probably about 40km like that before coolant light comes and and engine starts over heating - ATF is spraying all over under the hood, and smoking nicely.

I'm not really a car guy, so trying to gauge how much damage I'm in for when the mechanic opens up on Tuesday. Picture below shows where the worst of the leak seemed to be coming from (where you can see fluid pooled around that bolt, was spraying out around base of bolt).


spraying mis-placed ATF out of here.

 

I don't think you've caused any irreversible damage.

You'll need to flush out the coolant, I'd recommend twice, but it depends on how well you do the first one.

If you take it to a good shop and tell them what you did, they should be able to make sure they flush it out properly. Or you can do that yourself too. Dump what you have in there (safely) and start filling it with distilled water until its coming out the same color its going in. Then you can refill with coolant.

Not anything complicated, just depends if you're set up to deal with large volumes of liquids.

Lastly, the leak may be your hose, not the rack.

 

https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...iator-and-pump

http://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/uk...e-supercharged

 

@Lady Penelope Thanks, I've been looking around for a site that has a decent exploded view of things so I can start to get more familiar with this car.

Glad to hear I've likely not ****ed things up too badly. Leak is partially the high-pressure hose, but rack seems to be the main culprit.

 

You can cut the steering reservoir hoses off an inch to get fresher hose material to clamp better

Very common that the hose expands

 

The hoses are a common point of leakage. I would definitely sort leaks there (which you need to do anyway) before condemning the rack.

 

PS that doesnt look like ATF in the picture. Looks like very clean engine oil. Could it have been spilled when topping up?

 

Have talked to my shop - says issue is that main bypass hose for super charger has blown off - but they say it's difficult to get everything out of that system when it's contaminated. Going to go ahead and try to flush everything out and replace the hose - but any advice welcome.

 

The supercharger bypass is concerned with pressurised air, and whilst there may be some light oil misting in it,I am unclear what contamination they can be referring to. All of the plumbing around the supercharger is tight, but the bypass hose should be able to be reattached with a bit of wrestling, possibly from underneath the car.
I am struggling to see any possible connection with the power steering or cooling system and the bypass hose.
As for the ATF in the cooling system, I would agree with what Vee said earlier.
And of course, the moral of the tale..... dont let your girlfriend under a Jag hood!