I have a 1996' Jaguar XJ6 VDP. I noticed my check Engine light came on, so I happend to check my Engine Oil and my dipstick is showing some "Yellowish" stuff all over the dipstick. I recently got my engine oil changed over a month ago also.

I took pictures of it. I circled around the problem in a RED Color. You guys can see them below. I think its the hose that is open causing that problem, what is that hose for?

Whats your Input on this?? Please help asap! Thanks alot

 

Are you getting any oil level reading at all? Or is this the only sign of liquid in the pan?

Are you adding coolant? What is the visual condition of the coolant viewed from the header tank?

Coloration like that in the oil is a sign coolant is entering the oil at some point, typically a blown head gasket. Either that, or the oil level has dropped so low that the tip of the stick only sees air when the engine isn't running and it might have a rust coating on it from condensation. That's a stab. More likely its the first answer.

 

I have to check the dipstick again to see if I can see any engine oil, im at work at the moment. My coolant level is full never had to add any coolant in months.

What is that hose that runs along to the the engine oil?? I circled around it in a red color in the picture. I always notice that type of color in the hose and i'm wondering, if that is letting air get into the Engine oil section?? Is that how the hose look in all the other XJ6's? it seems open to the air.

Thanks again

 

If you are at work I hope you catch this before you set off home.

Looks like you URGENTLY need to add oil before you next start the car. I can't see any on the dipstick.

The crank case breather systems on these engines is of the closed loop type, there should be no hoses open to the air. If it has not broken off, then it looks like a bodge job from a previous keeper.

Your idle speed is likely to be all over the place, is this the case?

Check your oil before you next start the engine, if you can't see any, then the solution is to add oil, and not to get a longer dip stick.

(please edit your profile to include a location, it helps the guys with diagnostics. For example these engines will show some condensation mayonnaise in the oil filler neck in cold weather and short journeys)

 

how many miles since the engine oil change over a month ago? and did you change viscosity as well?
I bought my '95 with 63K on it...had just had an oil change with 15w40.
At 68K, I changed it with 10w30 synthetic. Level stayed rock-solid over 5k mi with the 15w40, but I had to add 3+ qts to make it 5k with the 10w30. Gonna change this weekend and I'll go back to the 15w40. I relate this because it can surprise you how fast it disappears with no evident smoke and no leaks....

 

Looka like getting water/coolant in the oil. That line was for a retrofit oil seperator inline between the cam cover and air intake elbow. It had a grey seperator and a small line that drained oil back into the pan through that special dipstick. Ive had to revert mine back to stock as yours since the seperators break and are no longer avail. The dip stick just needs to be capped off. The seperator kept the throttlebodies cleaner since they had a bad issue with oil coating that would stick the throttles closed when cold and your foot is stronger than cables and brackets, so theyrde end up breaking and bending when people tried to unstick them

 

if you dont have leaks, run "engine restore" in the oil. In greatly improves ring seal and will stop the oil loss. You have to use each lof and stick to 20-50 on that engine. It doesnt like lighter weight oils and you end up with timing chain buzz alot on startup

 

Thanks Brutal,

I discussed it with Motorcarman and his opinion aligned with yours, though he did opine as we are rolling into winter the 15W40 might be good since I'll be changing again before the hot weather (it gets 100 mi/day)

I'll get out and circulate here in a few minutes and see what's available, meanwhile would you counsel avoiding the 15W40 altogether?

 

No not really, but i know on mine and others, it does not like less than 20-50. I get chain buzz on start and that with the new style upper tensioner i replaced years ago. But with 20-50 all is well. Its just that the engines was designed and built for heavier oil and lighter oil especially on the tensioner plungers leaks down and you start with no tension on chains hense the chain buzz. Jaguar now builds engines to use 0-20w and vey low tension rings, better fuel economy and power without heavy tensioned ring drag

 

op you need to cap the dipstick off. you may be just getting road water in the oil from there

 

Looks like a very clear case of "mayonnaise", caused by a lot of water, (normally the coolant) getting into the oil. Head gasket failure between an oilway and a water passage is the normal mechanism, but there can be other ways. (note that some engines during normal running can show this stuff on the underside of the oil filler cap, due to lots of short journeys in a cold climate).

There also looks to be no oil level so it must be below the dipstick - time to top up with oil asap before the engine is wrecked, or tow home or to a garage for an urgent investigation