Looking at an XJ8 with 77000 miles . The current engine is a 2000 that as installed as a result of cylinder failure. I’m told it was from ethanol fuel in the US. The 2000 motor came from the UK with 50,000 on it. I understand UK does not use ethanol fuel. Concerned about this engine because of the cylinder coatings and plastic tensioners. Do both upper and lower tensions have the cracking issues.
Just looking for some sage advice.

 

Engines that have Engine numbers higher than No. 00 08 18 1043 (0008181043), in the 2000 year are non-Nikasil.
Engine SN 0108130000 onward should have metal tensioners.

 

Its not ethanol's fault tho. Nikasil reacts badly with sulfur at high temperatures, not ethanol. But sulfur also apparently reacts badly with catalytic converters. So.....starting in 2000, refineries in the US were compelled to install equipment to remove the sulfur from fuel and by 2006 they were all supposed to be putting out fuel with no more than 80ppm of sulfur. Possibly those first eight years, the original owner was just buying the cheapest gas at the sketchiest stations in town and getting higher sulfur content, but most owners of new or late model Jaguars we would expect to carry a gasoline credit card for one of the Top Tier stations. Most of the Top Tier brands had already committed to less than 30ppm. Today we tell newbies not to worry about it now as we don't have enough sulfur in our gasoline anymore to do any harm and if nikasil was going to be a problem, the engine would have grenaded probably by 2007. But otherwise, nikasil is actually tougher than steel. You can think of nikasil as kind of like the hard industrial chrome plating on heavy equipment hydraulic cylinder rams.

 

Thanks very much very informative.

 

That is true. If one could find a Nikasil engine that was untouched by the sulfated gasoline. it would be preferable
over the non-nikasil engine. However, not knowing the damage that could have taken place by the sulfated gasoline
would place the purchase in the questionable category.