A 2001 XJR, new to me as of two weeks ago. Maintenance records less than clear although the car appears to have been taken care of. I figure I would court this new machine as I do with all new to me cars, by replacing fluids so I can start a record. After reading the mounds of threads regarding coolant types, I figured I would splurge and get the factory stuff straight from Jaguar. No second guessing if Dexcool is really the one to go with or not. My local Jaguar dealership sold me one 5 litre bottle of part number JLM209723. I pay the extravagant amount knowing that it's all going to be worth it. The XJR will love this stuff! Did I mention I also bought the Bosch upgraded pump, put together a nice dongle to tie it into the stock wiring, and a new thermostat? It will be a good day in the garage.

I install the new pump, thermostat, and flush no less than four times with distilled water insomuch as the flush water is coming out clear as a mountain stream. This water is introducing new life to its surroundings it's so clean. Flora is taking root and blooming anew as the local fauna stop by to pose for picturesque postcard imagery.

Open the bottle of Jaguar approved coolant and pour. All five litres fit as if it is made for this exact process. I start the car after topping off with distilled water, look around for wet spots and find a steady trickle of coolant coming from below the crank pulley. I can't quite see but surely it's coming from the water pump.

All of that to say that I drove this car 500 miles since I bought it, flushed water through it some grand number of times, and as soon as this expensive Jag coolant fits the water pump it pukes it up like pea soup. And if you are keeping score, yeah it's the color of pea soup because the coolant the dealer gave me is yellowish-green.

Care to share your thoughts, feelings, or emotional outbursts?
Anyone have suggestions on how to approach a parts guy that may have given me the wrong stuff?
Is it possible that the water pump gave up at the exact time I put in five liters of JLM209723 and not in all the time I was flushing with water?

 

Have you changed the coolant lines the running under the SC? If not, this is one of those, if you had posted before doing this things, we'd of told you to do such first. These lines will create what looks like a water pump leak, ...but not saying it isn't the water pump...could be both.

Also, do you know possibly if this is the original pump? They came with plastic impellers and will take **** on you....and I guess I may as well ask this...is your thermostat cover plastic or cast?

 

If your car ran as well as you write, you’d never have trouble. Best wishes with the repair from a retired ink-stained wretch.

 

I had a small amount of time yesterday evening to look and I think it may be a head gasket. I have a video of fluid bowing out near the forward right hand corner of the right hand head. I guess the flushing and new (possibly wrong type) coolant was the last straw before it could not hold together any longer. I will hopefully have more time to investigate this afternoon.

I'm not sure if I have permission to post videos or links to videos yet and I surely do not want to misstep on forum rules but here are two screenshots of the video -

 

I do not know if it is the original pump but the thermostat housing is metal not plastic.

 

The supercharged cars only come with the aluminum thermostat housing. Only the naturally aspirated engines had a plastic thermostat housing from the factory. They have an aftermarket aluminum housing to replace the plastic housing.

 

I pulled the water pump and it is definitely not original. It is a two piece with a metal impeller. It is also definitely not in good shape -



I could not be absolutely sure it was the water pump leaking even after I pulled it. There was some coolant right behind the pump but that definitely could have been from the pump itself slashing when being pulled. After seeing this I think I better go ahead and pull the SC and change the lines underneath and the knock sensors while I'm in there. That means I might as well change the oil in the SC too.

What else should do y'all suggest I do while I have the SC off?

 

If your thermostat looks like that pump vein, you may seriously consider that. You may want to expect to change the EGR gasket as well. Your in the area afterall.

Oh, I could use another $50 if you have some laying around.

 

The thermostat was not is as bad of shape. I did replace it anyway since I was in there.

I figured I might as well put it in my garage this weekend. I will be removing the SC and replacing the heather hoses in the valley. Any tips or suggestions while I'm in there?

 

Patience....

 

I’d replace the 3 way tee, ohm out both knock sensors, replace the o ring that goes under the aluminum hose adapter just in front of the SC oil fill plug and the 2 o rings on the thermostat housing to cylinder head.

 

I pulled the SC and air chargers this weekend. I was surprised at how easy it was to remove. It took a few hours but was not difficult. The valley hoses definitely need to be replaced and I think there was a leak at the coolant bypass where it meets the block. The o-ring there was in such poor shape that I cannot imagine it was sealing anything. I clean everything as I go so my time spent is never on the shop hour side of repairs. And I only broke two fittings, the brake booster to TB and expansion tank to crossover pipe. I am thinking about going all silicon and have sent an email to Paragon.




The SC was in what I would describe as poor condition but I am going to start a separate thread for that. Hopefully I an just ignorant to what the SC should look like.

 

Yeah, its not a bad process, just have to be patient, especially on the under the housing bolt. Many have slotted the mount hole, so they could start the bolt beforehand.
Here's a thread on changing the fluid, Don B and I kinda teamed up on posts #34 & 35 to update the procedure. Since yours is off, just be sure its level to top it off.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...l-today-85828/

You may even want to consider doing the load spring for the snout or a snout rebuild? Be sure to get the OEM grey one with the torque spring, https://www.ebay.com/itm/113841866230
not those lime green rubber only ones. They'll make a lot of noise and durability is an issue.

 

Thanks Highhorse. I am looking into a SC rebuild kit and possibly getting my SC rotors coated. I heard the green couplers are noisy but there is a carbon fiber one out there that I may end up with. I have seen that thread and will use it as a reference, so thanks for that.

This forum has been so much more inviting and informative than some of the others I belong to. I hope it is said enough that others believe it is truly appreciated.

 

Replace the part load breather tube while you're under the SC. It runs from the front of the left hand cam cover, back to the throttle body, and then on to....someplace else. The tube looks like black plastic electrical wiring loom, and it will be extremely brittle. You will very likely crush it by simply looking at it. It will cause a vacuum leak if it is cracked or broken, and once you touch it, it WILL be broken! I apologize if someone above has already mentioned this and I missed it.