I have a 2004 Vanden Plas XJ8 and it has been leaking engine oil I discovered about two weeks ago. The message light that fluid was low came on twice, each time I added oil. During this time, on the advice of a friend I started putting in injection fluid cleaner to get better mileage & clean the (injectors?). Well, several nights ago my car started shaking and the next thing I knew it shut off, right in a busy intersection. I kept trying for about fifteen minutes but it kept shutting of and smoking very badly. I did get a push to my street and the next day it started right up but after about 10 mins. the engine started smoking again. Could it be the injection fluid causing the shaking & smoking of the engine? Any suggestions what could be the problem and any solutions? Thanks.

 

So where are you putting the injection fluid cleaner?
If it is the prescribed amount in the gas tank, I doubt it is related. If you are putting it in the crankcase, well.... you might have had a good learning experience.

With any luck, the engine smoke is from oil leaking onto the exhaust and the shaking is something else. If you intend to drive this car more than a few more total miles, I suggest you get someone who knows something about cars to figure out what is going on. You may already be past the point of no return!

 

Said another way: I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted before . . . .

 

"The message light that fluid was low came on twice"

This was not the message you saw. For a start, it would say WHICH fluid. I don't believe that there is a low oil level warning. There is a low oil PRESSURE warning. The second this comes on, major engine damage begins. So for god's sake, stop driving the car until it's fixed. There's also a low COOLANT warning.

The number one key to Jaguar ownership - do NOT drive it when broken.

Where is the smoke coming from? I suspect you have badly leaking valve cover gaskets, which would also explain the shuddering - a misfire from the spark plugs getting soaked with oil. If it's leaking that much, it could catch fire.

 

Well, I haven't driven it since it cut off (only to get it off the street and into my driveway). When I started it last night the engine light came on with the message "Restricted Performance"! Oh well, Thanks for the help.

 

Do you have an OBD II reader? Need to read the codes; I agree with Mark, for once, likely low coolant and leaking seals causing the smoking (not smoking out the exhaust?); if there is any vacuum leak, cam covers, MAF plugs, dirty bypass valve, air leaks between the throttle body and air cleaner, it is going to idle rough and throw codes which shows as RP if bad enough. Oil in the spark plug will also. The other thought, this is a 04, an X350, you are on the wrong forum; maybe some gurus on the X350 forum know better.

And the number one key is REALLY have deep pockets. Said another way: just because they are cheap to buy when old, doesn't mean they are cheap to fix (unless you can do your own work).