hello guys, need help with my 1998 xj8 4.0 sovereign , i have changed both head gaskets and water pump, did new chains and tensioners, before i bought the jag it was blowing pipes off .this is why i did head gaskets. now it is dumping the coolent in to the lower expansion tank and the low coolent light comes on within 2 miles of driving, any ideas ? i love the jag and dont want to throw the towel in but am stumped. cheers Steve , Aberdeen Scotland

 

You did NOT cross the lines on the top of the coolant reservoir.


When the XJ8 was a new car, I worked at the dealer. Another mechanic did some cooling system work to a customer car and left for the day. The car came back leaking coolant as yours is.


I noticed he had installed the coolant air bleed and atmospheric catchment tank lines BACKWARDS.


I swapped the lines, topped up the coolant and sent the customer on his way.


bob

 

ok so is this the pipes on the top or under the expansion? the pipe coming from the thermostat tower and the pipe going to the lower expansion ? should be swapped over?

 

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Trai...des/168_sg.pdf

See page 87 - 90

 

thanks for info lady penlope your link not working? any pictures? thanks again folks

 

Basically if the two lines connected to the coolant reservoir look like this picture then they are WRONG! This is an old picture of the first X308 I bought where the PO had them backwards. They should cross one another.

 

I don't have the V8 in mine so no pics . Link takes a minute to open the Doc . You'll see the progress bar on the top and can be saved as a file for future .

 

thanks again folks mine are wrong way round , much appreciated . i will sort tomorrow ans hopefully all will be fine, steve

 

I knew right away what you did because I have seen it many times before.
People think it LOOKS WRONG for the lines to cross.


bob

 

all fixed , thanks again for the replies .