Can anyone tell me if the sandwich plate is a common leak area on the v12 please?

 

Anything can leak with oil in it! Having said that, the most common area of leaks at that level of the engine is around the actual sump pan. This can be from:

• oil filter casting O ring
• sump gasket, because the oil pan is very flexible and tightening it does no good. Here is how I fixed mine, which has worked really well: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ak-fix-234286/
• the actual rear line of sump bolts, which go up through the sandwich plate and provide a path fro sump oil down to the bolt heads.
• the rearmost main bearing cap; this is just about impossible to do engine in car.

 

PLUS

Look at the oil filter housing.
On the front face is a steel "walking tick" shaped 1/4" steel pipe. Each end has a short hose and 2 clamps per hose.

THEY LEAK, and it runs around anywhere it likes, oil is double female, and is the root cause of many an oil leak on the V12.

Doable in situ. You may be able to see them with your hands in there, but I have done so many now, its simply oil filter off, and do by feel. About 2 hours on a cold engine,
The hoses are standard oil resistant hose, and I always use EFI spec clamps. Average life is 10 years.

 

I think it’s probably the sump. Do you think it’s worth changing the sandwich plate gasket” just in case” or sort the sump first. Pretty sure it’s not those pipes Grant . Thank you both.

 

I would do the sump first, Brinny, unless the engine is already out of the car.

 

You can also do the sandwich plate if the front crossmember is out of the car. That's when I did mine. Be SURE to use the updated gaskets and bolts in the Jag service bulletin when ever you do the pan, sandwich plate and/or valve cover gaskets. The part numbers are also in the Book. I got the serrated flange head bolts from McMaster-Carr. By one bolt of each size from Jaguar to get the correct sizes and types for McMaster-Carr; there are several different lengths on the pan and sandwich plate. Jaguar says you MUST use the new bolts with the new gaskets, as they hold better. You'll save a ton of money ordering from McMaster-Carr. Be sure to get genuine gaskets as a lot of places sell the old paper type under the new part number.

 

Many thanks for the assistance. I shall persevere!