I bought one of those upper timing chain tensioner kits for 97-06 models and installed it the other day. Right after, I noticed the gaskets leaking where the timing cover meets the head. I have installed many many gaskets on many cars through the years and never had a problem like this. I figured I mustve messed something up, so I re-installed the VC gaskets with ultra grey silicone. The leak still persists.

The gaskets I removed were grey and orange. The replacements were black and skinny. I was going to use lincoln LS fel pro gaskets, but they are the same black skinny ones. The guy I got the upper timing chain set from said that only very early ones had the grey and orange thicker gaskets. He also said the upper grommets on each side were different than the others. The car is a 99 Vanden Plas. So how did I get these older gaskets on my car? Where do I get the right ones quick? Thanks

 

The AJ26 engines, '97-98, used a different gasket than the AJ27. Sure you don't have a very early '99 with the AJ26 engine?

The Lincoln LS engine gasket set works fine on the AJ27 but not on the AJ26.

 

How can I determine if this is the AJ26? Build date on the door? Are there any identifying marks on the engine? Is there a way to check if this is the original engine? My baby has 155k on her.

This whole fiasco is a pain since I kinda need the correct gaskets 3 days ago. Do you know where to get ahold of AJ26 gaskets at a local place? The car absolutely must be reliable by Saturday afternoon. I am not taking it on a trip with oil dripping all over the engine. Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Any word on the grommet differences from the top and bottom? Where is the best place to get grommets?

 

Jaguar list a different part # for engine B4 and after 853935 but they all supercede to a 3rd and new part #.
AJ88285 and AJ88400

 

Probably the most significant and obvious difference between the AJ26 and AJ27 engine is on top of the valve covers:

The AJ27 has the electrical VVT connectors sticking out (through actually) the valve covers.
On the AJ26 these connectors are on the front of the engine at the timing cover.

HTH!

David

 

Well, mine has the VVT solenoids sticking through the hole in the front of the top edge of the valve cover. I wonder how I ended up with these gaskets on my car then. I have got to figure something out soon. I just checked the build date on the door sticker and it shows 9/98, but it still has an X for the 10th digit in the VIN, that makes it a 99.

 

I'm not sure what month they stop building a model year but they have the new ones in the showrooms in September so it must be July.

My 02 was built in 09/01. I have a German car built in July ? Normally the launch year production is longer.

 

"Well, mine has the VVT solenoids sticking through the hole in the front of the top edge of the valve cover."

OK, I interpret that to mean that you have an AJ27 and a gasket set for an AJ27 although it could mean 'through the front of the top edge'. The valve cover bolts must be tightened to specs or you can crack the plastic cover. Further tightening will not improve the seal. Inspect the covers for cracks, especially at the bottom corners.

. . . and my '02 was built in June of '01.

 

Here's my AJ27 engine.
You can clearly see the mentioned connector next to the red oil dipstick.


My MY 99 XJ8 was produced 1998-11-17 and came with the AJ27 engine.

 

Clean engine ! . . . but you have a 'buldgy' hose between the thermo tower and the hose manifold.

 

OT (sorry)

@Testpoint
I know, but the hose is firm and feels solid. No leaks, no problems.
I'm aware of the plastic T-stat housing problems though, so I'm ready to change it for the newer style aluminium one whenever it should fail.

David

 

Well thats exactly where my VVT solenoids are. I am paying the guy who sold me the timing tensioner kit to overnight me a pair of gaskets. It looked like I could have also got a pair of them for $75 from motorcarsltd. Does anyone know anything about the grommets being different in some of the locations? I still dont know why my gaskets are different. I torqued them to 10Nm (slightly less than 100in-lbs). I am supposed to get the new gaskets today sometime. I will let you all know what happens, but I am almost 100% sure it will be a success. Should I take pics of anything while I am in there? I still need to upload the pics for the trans re-installation process.

 

Could have gotten the complete gasket set from FelPro for less than $40.

 

I am wondering why you had the grey and orange gaskets in the car originally and now the correct ones are supposed to be black. In fact, unless you destroyed the old ones, you could try putting them on again. I bought new (grey and orange) but have had the cam covers off several times without changing them. Not a drop of oil has leaked. I originally changed them when the spark plug orifice seals failed, then for secondary tensioners... then for primary tensioners and chains.

Is the guy you got the kit from sending grey and orange? Just wondering since that is what you had originally

 

The guy (Chris Robertson, I believe) who sells the timing kits on ebay is the seller. He is awesome. He shipped me the right gaskets and I opted to pay for overnight shipping. He even sent new spark plug hole seals. He said it was unusual because those orange and grey are for 97 model engines. He was wondering if the engine had been changed, but it does have the solenoids sticking through the VC. Does anyone know how to check if the engine has been swapped?

Believe me, I would have went with fel pro if I could have found some. The ones for the 00 LS 3.9l are the same as the ones he sent me initially. Do you have a part number for the felpro gaskets, for future reference? Thanks