Hi all,
thanks for existing as a forum! I am already using the excellent thread regarding recommended garages!
I would really appreciate some advice.
When my father died he left us a "Jaguar XJ 3.2 XJ8 Saloon 4dr Petrol Automatic (288 g/km, 240 bhp)" - 2000 ish.
It was left sitting for a long while during his illness and also whilst sorting things out, probably a year.
We got it serviced and MOT'd. I was added to the insurance.
All seemed well, I was taking it on regular 30 minute drives, and despite some engine management warnings about low performance, this mostly seemed to be because it was warming up.
On the 3rd/4th drive I got stuck in traffic. In these stop/starts I experienced steam coming out from around the bonnet, but when moving again it seemed fine. The temperature gauge also seemed to suggest it was ok. A half-mile from home a red light came on and it warned me about very low coolant. I nursed it very carefully back.
Having worked out which coolant was required I tried to fill it up, only to find it pouring straight out the bottom somewhere. Presumably there's a large hole in the "coolant expansion tank" - thanks to your forum posts on garages etc I can probably order the part.
The main question I have is: Do you think I'll need any other parts? Is there likely to be any other damage?
Are the symptoms described above before the leak a sign of something bad?
Any recommendations on any other part of this post also appreciated!
Thanks,
Phil
thanks for existing as a forum! I am already using the excellent thread regarding recommended garages!
I would really appreciate some advice.
When my father died he left us a "Jaguar XJ 3.2 XJ8 Saloon 4dr Petrol Automatic (288 g/km, 240 bhp)" - 2000 ish.
It was left sitting for a long while during his illness and also whilst sorting things out, probably a year.
We got it serviced and MOT'd. I was added to the insurance.
All seemed well, I was taking it on regular 30 minute drives, and despite some engine management warnings about low performance, this mostly seemed to be because it was warming up.
On the 3rd/4th drive I got stuck in traffic. In these stop/starts I experienced steam coming out from around the bonnet, but when moving again it seemed fine. The temperature gauge also seemed to suggest it was ok. A half-mile from home a red light came on and it warned me about very low coolant. I nursed it very carefully back.
Having worked out which coolant was required I tried to fill it up, only to find it pouring straight out the bottom somewhere. Presumably there's a large hole in the "coolant expansion tank" - thanks to your forum posts on garages etc I can probably order the part.
The main question I have is: Do you think I'll need any other parts? Is there likely to be any other damage?
Are the symptoms described above before the leak a sign of something bad?
Any recommendations on any other part of this post also appreciated!
Thanks,
Phil
Update!
With the vin number and help from SNG Barratt I believe the part required isn't the header tank but the expansion tank. (I didn't know there where two parts here)!
I'd appreciate it if anyone's seen something like this before as to whether anything else might need replacing at the same time.
I'll take as good a look as a non-expert can at the car tomorrow before ordering the expansion tank, and then work out who could fit it. I assume I need a mechanic... I can change a tyre, check the oil and water levels but that's as far as my car maintenance knowledge goes.
Thanks for any advice anyone can provide.
With the vin number and help from SNG Barratt I believe the part required isn't the header tank but the expansion tank. (I didn't know there where two parts here)!
I'd appreciate it if anyone's seen something like this before as to whether anything else might need replacing at the same time.
I'll take as good a look as a non-expert can at the car tomorrow before ordering the expansion tank, and then work out who could fit it. I assume I need a mechanic... I can change a tyre, check the oil and water levels but that's as far as my car maintenance knowledge goes.
Thanks for any advice anyone can provide.
Well, you might get lucky, but it sounds you kept driving while you had a major problem with your cooling system. When there is steam or a red warning, you don’t nurse it along. You have to stop and get it towed back in most cases.
steam means something is overheating. The steam, other than an indication of a leak is most likely also an indication that your cooling system is not providing adequate cooling due to pressure loss. Cooling liquid cools, but cooling steam does not. Gas (I.e. steam bubbles) in your cooling liquid prevent proper cooling and certain parts of your engine might be overheating, getting warped etc.
Red lights on the dash means stop immediately, but safely. Check your owners manual, it is universal on every car!
The way I see it you can take two different course of actions:
1 replace the expansion tank. I would just fill it up and see if you can see cooling liquid pouring out anywhere. If not, you automatically go to option 2. If the expansion tank does have a leak, replacing it, might still not solve all problems. But you won’t know unless you replace it.
2 Pressure test your cooling system.
it can be done by any competent DIY mechanic and the right bit of simple test kit. It will give you a much better idea what is happening here. Basically, you just pressurise the system and check for any leaks.
good luck, let us know what happens
Jeroen
steam means something is overheating. The steam, other than an indication of a leak is most likely also an indication that your cooling system is not providing adequate cooling due to pressure loss. Cooling liquid cools, but cooling steam does not. Gas (I.e. steam bubbles) in your cooling liquid prevent proper cooling and certain parts of your engine might be overheating, getting warped etc.
Red lights on the dash means stop immediately, but safely. Check your owners manual, it is universal on every car!
The way I see it you can take two different course of actions:
1 replace the expansion tank. I would just fill it up and see if you can see cooling liquid pouring out anywhere. If not, you automatically go to option 2. If the expansion tank does have a leak, replacing it, might still not solve all problems. But you won’t know unless you replace it.
2 Pressure test your cooling system.
it can be done by any competent DIY mechanic and the right bit of simple test kit. It will give you a much better idea what is happening here. Basically, you just pressurise the system and check for any leaks.
good luck, let us know what happens
Jeroen
It appeared as if there was a hole in the bottom of the expansion tank, which we bought a spare part for and finally managed to get someone who would fit it.
It turned out there wasn't a hole. It was the pipe underneath had just come off! (I hadn't been able to see it)
According to the mechanic the clip that holds the pipe onto the end of the expansion tank wasn't put far enough up the pipe so eventually it just came off. He showed me how the markings the clip had made on the pipe showed it was too far down.
We have now returned the unused expansion tank and hope to get a refund. They seem to have a good returns policy about that sort of thing. (SNG Barrett)
Luckily the car was okay.
It had a misfire or two in the engine which devalued it, but in the end we were happy we were able to sell it on.
So... this is probably my last post, but thanks to all for your advice and being a welcoming community.
It turned out there wasn't a hole. It was the pipe underneath had just come off! (I hadn't been able to see it)
According to the mechanic the clip that holds the pipe onto the end of the expansion tank wasn't put far enough up the pipe so eventually it just came off. He showed me how the markings the clip had made on the pipe showed it was too far down.
We have now returned the unused expansion tank and hope to get a refund. They seem to have a good returns policy about that sort of thing. (SNG Barrett)
Luckily the car was okay.
It had a misfire or two in the engine which devalued it, but in the end we were happy we were able to sell it on.
So... this is probably my last post, but thanks to all for your advice and being a welcoming community.
Junior Member
I had a similar experience with my 4.0 last yr. hit a dead deer in may-June of 2020 and destroyed the radiator. got a used one but kept getting problems with it overflowing turned out to be a bad radiator cap and thermostat