Timing chain cover slot versus no slot
 

I have two X300 cars disassembled in my shop and the 1995 car is the one where the previous owner had disassembled the front of the engine to remove the timing chain cover.
On this engine there is a slot in the cover where the shaft for the intermediate timing chain gear protrudes through the front of the cover. There is a sheet metal plate that is held on with three bolts that normally covers up this machined hole. Inside the hole is a bushing that supports the front of the shaft for the intermediate timing gear. I cannot figure out why this slot on the bottom edge of the hole is there as it seems like it would lead to a oil leak.
The other car is a 1997 XJ6 and I pulled the plate that covers this hole so I could see if this car had the same slot and it did not.
This slot has square edges that makes it look like it is machined rather than some random broken off piece.
See the photos below that shows what I am talking about. The first two photos show the 1995 engine that has the slot and the last photo shows the 1997 engine that does not have the slot.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...c28ad4ec8b.jpg
See machined slot at lower edge of the ridge around the hole.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...cc06d9b0dc.jpg
Closeup of the same edge showing the machined slot.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...31ae50fec4.jpg
same hole edge on the 1997 car with no slot

CRAP, I put this in the WRONG forum group.
If the moderator sees this, can it be moved to the X300 forum?
Thanks

Hi Steve,

I moved the thread for you.

If I recall correctly, it is the intermediate shaft oil seal that should prevent leaks. The cover plate is just a flat triangular metal piece and doesn't actually keep oil in, it just helps keep debris off the ends of the bushing, seal and shaft. I don't see a corresponding slot machined below the auxiliary shaft cover plate mount. Very curious. Could the slot be used for locking the intermediate shaft in position?

Cheers,

Don

I have had two of these apart now and I do not see any oil seal on the front end of this shaft.
There is a bushing in the front timing cover but no oil seal. In fact the triangular plate on the one motor that I removed last night was sealed with silicone.

Hmmm.... in the diagram below, part 8 is the intermediate shaft oil seal:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...9fa819945a.png
You can check part identifications and numbers here:

https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...-3-2-4-0-litre

In your photo, the ring marked DOWTY is the oil seal. The U.K.-based Dowty Group was a long-time seal OEM to Jaguar.

Cheers,

Don