XJ XJ8 / XJR ( X308 ) 1997 - 2003

low coolant/leaking overflow?

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Old Nov 19, 2011 | 08:10 PM
  #2  
XJRJeff's Avatar
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From: Tampa, FL
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Sounds like it's going into the overflow bottle, it's in the front fender in front of the drivers wheel. I would make sure you have the cap tight on the expansion tank it can be tricky sometimes to get the cap to screw on just right. If the cap is tight, it may be the seals going on the cap. There are two rubber o-rings on the cap. Hope this helps.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 11:47 AM
  #3  
chernobee's Avatar
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From: San Jose, Ca
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hey check your reservoir and make sure the two hoses coming out of it CRISS-CROSS. It is a common oversight. If they dont criss-cross then unhook em by using a small flathead screwdriver or a nail or whatever. Press gently on one side of the tab, wiggle a bit, than do the other side of the tab. after a couple trys it will pull right off. Good Luck!
 
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Old Nov 25, 2011 | 09:03 PM
  #4  
Scottish Chap's Avatar
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From: New York
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Originally Posted by lisa8275
1999 vanden plas...always saying low coolant, but not low, now I see somewhat low and no indication of running hot however after adding coolant there is water leaking badly from left front???? HEEEELLLLLP?
When your engine heats up, warm coolant flows from the upper expansion tank (where you top off coolant) to the lower recovery (overflow) tank near the front left wheel where you see the coolant spilling. The recovery tank has an outlet around 2/3 the way up that coolant will spill out onto the road if it's too full (or if there is a leak in that tank). When the engine cools, a vacuum should suck the coolant back from the lower left recovery tank back to your expansion coolant tank which you are having to top off. It should not be high enough to constantly overflow...unless you are topping it off far too frequently. Either there is a loss in the vacuum, or you have a leak.

There are many reasons for this, but 3-4 common reasons for what you are seeing:

1. Check the two hoses coming out of the front of your coolant expansion tank (where you top off coolant). Those lines should CROSS each other as stated above. This is a common issue; if they are NOT crossed, there will be no vacuum and the coolant will overflow from the lower, catchment (overflow) tank adjacent to the right front wheel. This has happened to me after a repair was done in the shop and several people have posted the same experience on here.
2. A faulty expansion tank cap (these can be purchased online for around $25). This is a common issue. If there is a break in the o-rings or of the spring is faulty in this cap, the coolant will continue to overflow into the lower, catchment recovery (overflow) tank adjacent to the left front wheel until it overflows, and will not be pulled back by vacuum. This was my issue, and it was solved by replacing the cap.
3. A crack on the lower, catchment (overflow) tank adjacent to the left front wheel. You will need to get under the car to assess this (please use ramps or a curb....no jacks). If the tank is cracked (it happens), coolant will flow out.
4. The line heading from the upper expansion tank to the lower, recovery (overflow) tank adjacent to the left front wheel may be too far out of the catchment tank bottle so it will receive warm coolant when the engine heats up but not allow it to be sucked back into the upper expansion tank when low. You can make sure this is pushed all the way in by tracing the origin of this think plastic line from the front of your expansion tank bottle all the way down the left hand side of your engine into the lower catchment tank in front of the front left headlight.

You might find this prior thread helpful - I had a similar issue:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...29/#post427745

Good luck!
 

Last edited by Scottish Chap; Nov 25, 2011 at 09:14 PM.
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Old Feb 20, 2012 | 04:26 PM
  #5  
dee haarhues's Avatar
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From: brighton co
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I had the same issue. It was a hose that run across the top of the engine under the supercharger.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2012 | 10:55 PM
  #6  
Fyrplg's Avatar
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From: Oregon
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You mentioned the coolant low light was on all times.
check that the sensor has not got bumped from its location on the bottom of the upper tank.
It easy to get knocked loose and hang down by the wire.
If hanging loose carefully put the sensor back into the round hole in the bottom front of the tank.
 
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