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Drove about 100 miles tonight in balmy weather (mid-80s, high humidity) with the A/C on and when I got to my halfway point, I pulled in a restaurant and noticed my temp gauge was about halfway to two-thirds of the way between 90 and 130. Popped the hood and the temps went down a little. I couldn't hear any obvious signs of overheating (boiling in a radiator hose, etc.), but not wanting to chance it I cut the A/C off for the return trip. It still got to about halfway between 90 and 130, but only when my cruising speeds topped 65 mph.
Car seems happy enough, but I don't want to hurt it. Is there nothing wrong, or is this likely a plugged radiator or some other malady?
If I wasn't sure what was going on and engine temps are higher than usual I would flush the system and replace the thermostat for a start. Probably remove the radiator and have it flushed and pressure tested as well.
Just for piece of mind as I know from experience how a little problem can turn into an expensive engine rebuild.
If I wasn't sure what was going on and engine temps are higher than usual I would flush the system and replace the thermostat for a start. Probably remove the radiator and have it flushed and pressure tested as well.
Just for piece of mind as I know from experience how a little problem can turn into an expensive engine rebuild.
Over the past couple of years this has been more the normal, than an exception. Higher cruising speeds (65 mph+) produce a temp reading of approx. 100C without the AC on. Add the AC, and you're good for another 10 degrees on top of that. We're in the middle of a heat wave down here in Alabama (100-degree F temps now for a week) and I hadn't driven the car in about a month because the A/C compressor had gone bad. We just got everything put back together this week, and this was the first real long-distance test.
I'm about ready to just replace the radiator with an aluminum unit. We did this on my 89 V12 XJS last year and got good results. Does anyone make a reasonably-priced, upgraded aluminum radiator for the S3 XJ6 cars?
I'm not sure of F temps, but mine runs near the cold mark all the time. ( around 70 degrees C), On a hot day in Queensland (45C outside) It might rise to 80 C.
Stuck in traffic on a 45 C day it might rise to just below the "N" at the start of normal on the temp gauge.
The only time it got to the "L' on normal I pulled the radiator and had it checked, it was a bout 50% blocked.
This photo was taken during a 25 minute run at 110+ mph on the Newell Highway in mid winter temps (20 c for us). But even Grant Francis says my car runs unusually cold. I'm good with that though.
The stock unit is just fine, it simply needs that professional intervention every 5 or so years.
Not as fussy as the V12, but the same radiator, apart from the spouts placement.
Mine all ran cool, not as cool as Clarke's, that car is a freak, but in 45c + here, and the V12, never above the N. The S2 V12 ran at the O of normal, no matter what. All had stock radiators, just internally cleaned.
Your 100f is our 36c, so not as hot as us, but your system is suffering.
Drove about 100 miles tonight in balmy weather (mid-80s, high humidity) with the A/C on and when I got to my halfway point, I pulled in a restaurant and noticed my temp gauge was about halfway to two-thirds of the way between 90 and 130. Popped the hood and the temps went down a little. I couldn't hear any obvious signs of overheating (boiling in a radiator hose, etc.), but not wanting to chance it I cut the A/C off for the return trip. It still got to about halfway between 90 and 130, but only when my cruising speeds topped 65 mph.
Car seems happy enough, but I don't want to hurt it. Is there nothing wrong, or is this likely a plugged radiator or some other malady?
Jess
Too hot.
For the conditions you describe the system should be able to hold 90-100ºC
The stock unit is just fine, it simply needs that professional intervention every 5 or so years.
Not as fussy as the V12, but the same radiator, apart from the spouts placement.
Mine all ran cool, not as cool as Clarke's, that car is a freak, but in 45c + here, and the V12, never above the N. The S2 V12 ran at the O of normal, no matter what. All had stock radiators, just internally cleaned.
Your 100f is our 36c, so not as hot as us, but your system is suffering.
It's weird that virtually no one has radiators listed for the XJ6, everything is XJS.
The V12 radiator is dual-pass, the internals being segregated....thus the two upper radiator hoses
Take your original radiator to the local radiator shop for a cleaning. That might be all it needs.....although there's always a chance they'll come back and say it's rotten. At 30 years old, it's possible.
But the original is worth saving if possible. They were high grade units.
Some have used an aluminum radiator from a late model Mustang with good results and report it's almost a direct drop-in fit. If interested I can try to find the details. There are write-ups either here or a Jag-lovers; can't remember which at the moment
The V12 radiator is dual-pass, the internals being segregated....thus the two upper radiator hoses
Take your original radiator to the local radiator shop for a cleaning. That might be all it needs.....although there's always a chance they'll come back and say it's rotten. At 30 years old, it's possible.
But the original is worth saving if possible. They were high grade units.
Some have used an aluminum radiator from a late model Mustang with good results and report it's almost a direct drop-in fit. If interested I can try to find the details. There are write-ups either here or a Jag-lovers; can't remember which at the moment
Cheers
DD
I might have to ask for help tracking that info down.
I had to replace my XJS radiator last year because the fan blade detonated and decided to use the radiator as its exit strategy.
The problem we have with radiator shops around here is ... we don't have any. Zero. My general repairs guy did the radiator swap but no one within 30 miles of here does repair anymore. I guess the proliferation of plastic radiators has made it unprofitable in a rural area? At any rate, we'll try to inspect this one and hope for the best. A couple of times on that drive last night it got up to/over 230F and that's not sustainable for sure.
The problem we have with radiator shops around here is ... we don't have any. Zero.
Jess
I would take the option of a drive to the nearest city to have the original sorted if I could, You could treat Mrs Jess to night away at the same time.
My experience has been that analog temperature gauges (your OEM dash gauges) are very unreliable and not accurate. I invested in a laser temperature gun a long time ago (Item #69465 at the below link for $28.99) and it has served me well. And... a side benefit is that I shoot frying pans all the time to make sure they are up to temp. Shoot the blue sky/clouds and you will be amazed! You'll find lots of uses for it. The red laser drives cats crazy.
I would take the option of a drive to the nearest city to have the original sorted if I could, You could treat Mrs Jess to night away at the same time.
I tend to agree with Clarke if at all possible as I just had mine recored and a fourth row put in.......Now 70c to 80c max.
So I ended up buying just a very basic plastic/aluminum radiator from Pacific Best (less than $150) to see if that would make any difference, before I spent a whole bunch of money chasing ghosts.
And that fixed it. My temps are now about 25F lower across the board. The car won't get about 90C even idling in hot traffic with the A/C on. We also wired the A/C condenser fan to run as soon as the A/C is powered, and that change together with the radiator has improved the efficiency of my A/C unit greatly. I've been chasing that rabbit for three years now and having it fixed as a side bonus is even better.
I think +/- 100 degrees Celcius in warm weather is quite normal though...
My V12 does it too, without any problems whatsoever.
By the way: if I'm not mistaking, the Airco is always on in these cars. Jaguar for some reason designed it so, that the incoming air is always refrigerated and then warmed up afterwards, if the heater is turned on...
Question on this topic: my car used to run/idle even in heat right at 90 C. In the last few weeks, I have bypassed the oil cooler, switched to a thicker oil, and I believe I have an aftermarket radiator (it’s silver so I’m guessing aluminum). Now, on a hot day (90 F) it will run idle at 100 C or a little over, and occasionally get close to 110 C. Should I be concerned, or does that make sense based on the mods? Coolant is a clean green and everything seems fine.
Haha...Being the rocket scientist I am, I added a little more coolant, and that seems to have taken care of it...back under 100C. Will get a backup thermostat just in case. Got to keep the Cat cool!
Am I overheating?
