I had an oil leak on the drivers side valve cover that dripped on the exhaust manifold and burned with a puff of blue smoke from time to time.


This really was not a big issue, albeit a tad embarrassing so I bought a valve cover gasket set with all the o-ring seals for the bolts as well as the spark plug tubes.


It only made sense to replace the plugs at this time, which brings me to my question.


I have about 135k on a well kept Xj8 and having both cam covers off at this time, would I be advised to change timing chain tensioners as well?


And if so might someone have the cam locking tools needed to do the job they would care to sell? My Aloha from the Big Island

 

If the secondary tensioners have plastic bodies they should definitely be changed. Many members have used the zip tie method which requires no special tools. There is a procedure in the DIY sticky either on this forum or the XK8. The engines are the same.

 

I saw both methods and I probably should have asked in my original post, would I be only doing the job half way if I didn't also replace the primary tensioners at the same time.

 

The primaries are not subjected to as much heat and are not as likely to fail. The amount of work required to replace the primaries and chains makes the secondary job look like a picnic. It's only a couple of hours to get the valve covers off and that's the part you would be repeating.