First, let me say that since I have been on this forum, (maybe a few weeks) I have learned so much about my 1985 XJ6 series 3 4.2l. I appreciate the ability to read all these posts and learn from you all. Invaluable!

So, I come with an issue. One thing I learned in this forum is to use 20w 50 oil for my Jag. I just bought her 1 week ago today. Yesterday I had her oiled changed. (not sure what type of oil was used by previous owner)Today, I drove about 4 miles, parked and when I got out smelled burning oil. I looked quick, underneath, saw nothing, went about my business. Drove home and when almost home, at a light, saw a puff of white smoke come from the left side of the engine. from underneath the front of the car, not from under the bonnet. When I get home I looked under the bonnet this time and I see nothing, smell burning oil, but not too bad. I have noticed a small leak in my driveway since I got her, nothing too major.

Thoughts? Advise? Go straight to the mechanic?

 

could be leaking at the oil filter? at the drain plug? the dipstick not seated well? the cap not tight enough? 20W50 is normal but sometimes you can use 10W40 depending on your local climate. I would take it back to the mechanic for inspection.

 

It may be as simple as the mechanic made a mess of changing the oil, and the engine is burning the excess off.

 

Hey Jose!

I checked the dipstick and cap, (Im too big to fit under to see filter) and those two are fine. So, off to the mechanic that changed the oil for inspection.

 

Good point, Ahabiam.. Guess I will see on the way over there. They are about 20 miles away.

 

Really? Sounds awfully heavy, especially during winter. What does Jaguar recommend?

 

the 3.8 and 4.2 XK engines are very "heavy" on oil engines. Always use Castrol 20W50 oil. Jaguar also recommends 20W50.

 

Mikey, as Jose says, the older XK engines use 20/50W, the newer close tolerance 4.2s 95 and up take a 10/ or 5/ 20 or 30W. I don't know exactly. but it usually taggeg near the engine or on dip stick. The older cars would not pass emissions in my inspections in MO due to the thinner oils fuming the manifolds and not letting car pass. As car got newer and were made with computer tolerance machining the oils thinnned and synthetics are now the standard.

 

Thanks guys. Interesting stuff.

 

Jagfixer, the tagging on the dipsticks say 3.8 or 4.2, (liters) and I've seen some dipsticks that say 3.8/4.2 but I haven't noticed if they say 20W50, but you may be right, at least on the older dipsticks. The Owner's Manuals on both my Jags say to use 20W50 too.

 

Yes, 20/50 is the long time favorite for the old XK engines and V12s. That's what I always used....except for three months of dead winter when I'd switch to 10/40 for easier cranking.

If you wanna get technical, though, Jaguar did not recommend 20/50 exclusively. From the Ser III ROM:

For 15ºF to 100ºF and hotter:
10/50 15/40 15/50 20/40 20/50

For -5ºF to 60ºF :
10/30 10/40

For +15ºF to -20ºF and colder:
5/20 5/30 5/40

But it's easy to see that the heavier oils were recommended over a very wide range and, of the "heavyweights" listed, 20/50 is the most commonly available....in the USA, at least.

Cheers
DD

 

Probably when the mechanic has been filling the engine, he has spilled some, and it has run over the headers, gradually burning off now.
Oil viscosity; if it never goes below freezing in san diego, then 20-50 should be fine.

 

See. this is precisely why I just love these forums. The way the conversation flows, it just gets people talking and sharing all sorts of great info. Thanks guys! BTW, the mechanic said nothing was wrong and said the same as a few of you, person may have spilled some and its just run off, he says if it continues today to call him back and he will inspect further.

 

As a late addition to this post. I have just done an engine oil and filter change on my 2002 XJ8. After it was completed and I took it on a test drive all seemed OK. A few days later I had a long drive and after a while I could smell burning oil. After I got home I opened the hood and could see oil smoke coming from the rear left-hand side of the engine. It appeared to be around the cam cover area as there was signs of oil there. I changed all the cam cover seals, torqued everything up and all has been fine since. The theory was that the old oil must have been in the car for a while and had thickened up, so when the new thinner oil was put in it found a place in the cam cover seal to seep through that the old oil couldn't get through ???
Bill W

 

Two comments:


1. Big difference between "burning oil" and "leaking oil". the caser at hand is the latter. Spillage is easy. I do it every time, when I do it the lazy way. From jug to filler. Much better, when I use one of my dedicated funnels. The latter is the right way!!


2. My engines are mid 90's vintage. The climate here is mild. 20/50 does the job quite nicely. Still dino oil, no expensive synthetics or blends.


3. In the unlikely event that I got a new car, I'd do differently


Enjoy that car. a weep here and there is meaningless.


Carl