I've had my XJS about 3 summers now. It's a 1986 coupe. When I first got it I brought it to a local Jaguar shop to go through it. Change all the fluids and take a hard look at it to bring it up to snuff. They found a few things that needed attention like the Transmission mount, upper ball joints. At that time they changed out the coolant and a couple of hoses. Since it has been a few years I was going to do it again, but I wanted to tackle it myself. I am pretty mechanical and have done a good bit of work on this car and many cars over the years. I can't beleive that the radiator has no drain and that the method mentioned is to remove the lower radiator hose. I got under the car to take a look and it appears quite difficult to reach and remove without making a hell of a mess. I saw one youtube video where the guy simply takes a knife to put a hole in the hose because it was easier than trying to remove it! I've changed coolant in any number of vehicles over the years (all american made though) and with a drain it is easy to control the draining fluid.
Do any of you have tricks or suggestions to get the coolant out of the car without making a mess?
By the way, my car has always run quite nicely and has been just under the "N" on the gauge since I have owned it, I am just wanting to be proactive and keep maintenance up to par.

 

Sometimes you can just barely break the seal between the lower hose and the radiator and let the coolant slowly trickle out. A small screwdriver or similar between the hose and the radiator nipple can be used to increase the trickle slightly. But access to this area is very limited. And working the hose free from the radiator can take some force....which might damage the nipple.

The safest bet is to puncture the hose to drain coolant, slice the hose of the nipple, then replace the hose. But....replacing the hose is no pleasure cruise either, due to tight quarters. Preferable, though, compared to distorting the nipple or breaking the nipple-to-radiator solder joint.

Let's hear what others have to say.

Cheers
DD

 

If you're not intending to change the hoses, can't you just syphon the coolant from both the left and right hand tanks, by removing the top hose(s) and inserting a tube down to the bottom of the tanks?

This way works well on the 4 litre cars where I syphon from the right hand tank. If you wait a few mins after the initial syphon, more will drain from the engine into the rad, and then repeat. I assume the same principle will work on the V12 rad?

Cheers

Paul

 

If you can maneuver the tube clear down to the bottom of the tanks....or at least most of the way...that would work. Worth a try !

Cheers
DD

 

IME, the difficult bit is getting the tube to turn 90 degree to go down the tank after inserting through the top hose spout. I help it in with a piece of plastic with a 90 degree curve. Once turned, it should go straight down to the bottom. At least it does on the 4 litre rad.

Paul

 

Assuming a V12, undo the banjo on the top RHS of the rad and insert a tube down that to the bottom and syphon out. A Grant Francis tip!

 

Aha! yes I do have the v12, and this sounds easy enough!. When the Jag mechanic did it 3 years ago, they did replace one hose after changing the coolant and inspecting all of them, but I don't think it was the bottom hose.

I'll bring it back to the shop anyway once the weather gets better and have my mechanic just do their inspection. I don't like to leave it there for long periods because they leave it outside and I don't. Their shop is always full of E types and they get priority when it comes to shelter.