I am planning to replace the spark plugs in my 95 4.0L XJS. Do I need to replace the ignition coil mounting gaskets (see pic) as well?

Autohausaz.com suggests to replace the gaskets when replacing the spark plugs. Apparently, the gaskets costs ($6 each) more than the NGK plugs ($1.7 each).

 

Yes. The old gaskets will fall apart when you remove the coil packs. I also own a '95 4.0 XJS.

 

This is one of those cases where the part seems to be so "stupid expensive" that I'd be inclined to make my own.

I've been meaning to take an old gasket to the local parts store and see if I can find a thermostat gasket that would be close enough to work

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks. I am thinking if the Jag really need the coil gasket to keep the moisture out especially in California. My BMW and Mercedes do not need coil gaskets.

 

I thinky they're there just to keep dirt out. I might be wrong on this but I think the Jaguar catalog refers to them as "dust excluder gaskets".

Since the coil cover itself has a gasket I wonder about the necessity having a gasket for each coil as well. A couple of mine are missing entirely. If something bad is supposed to happen from lack of a gasket I haven't experienced it.

Other will chime in.

Cheers
DD

 

Well that might make sense. The gaskets are rather stiff and brittle, not rubberized or plasticky at all.

I just reused the old ones when I replaced my spark plugs a few months back.

 

We're talkin' 20 bucks here... I replace mine when I change spark plugs because I have a nice XJS and I don't want it to turn into a s**tbox... Spring the loot. Your car will love you for it..

 

I strongly suspect that spending $6.00 each for coil gaskets that should be 75 cents each is something the OWNER will love and the car could care less about.

I certainly appreciate the feel good factor, though, as I've spent a fortune on "feel good" parts for my three Jags. Coil gaskets are one of the areas where I draw the line.....sorta like those $7.50 ice cream cones at the designer creameries :-)

Cheers
DD

 

It's $40, and if it didn't cost 4x more than the spark plugs, I wouldn't be complaining.

I have a 2000 Ford Taurus that also uses the coils, and there is no gasket. I'm not sure there's another vehicle out there that requires a gasket. When I went in to a local parts store (not a chain, but a mom&pop) and asked for a gasket for my coil, they looked at me like I had three heads.

They tried to pull something up on the computer, but couldn't find a coil gasket for any car.

I think someone overengineered this thing. I would have appreciated it if they spent more time picking a paint that wouldn't flake off at the engine cover, than design a gasket to prevent a problem that doesn't exist.

 

Point taken...