Just waiting for my jack stands rubber covers to show up and she will be up in the air.
Not a fan of metal on metal.
Serviced the floor jack so it now lowers slowly. Slammed down (Not dropped like a rock, but faster than comfy) the other night. With 20" low profiles, ouch.

I am prioritizing the coolant leak because while usually she would drop maybe a half inch or less, after about 30m of driving to the DMV and back, when I got home and she rested over night, she was at min from starting near max.

Did about 3 hours of homework this morning.
Watch the few 4.2L vids I could find online.
Read 6 pages of search results here.
Read the applicable pages of the service manual (not much on the 08 xkr though).

As the seller says they had been chasing down the small drip and the expansion tank was replaced recently, My first guess is the short hose pictured below.
There are crystals on top and bottom of the hose.

Someone in an older thread had tried it, so I am also going to try adding a second worm screw clamp to the top and maybe the bottom.
(Looks like the pinch ones were already replaced, probably when the expansion tank was)
Life on Cars vid. 11m mark and 14m mark for part# of entire replacement.

My planned steps today:
-- Remove under engine splash guard. Set aside and let dry out. (I'll post a pic)
-- Clean as much coolant off of the hose as well as surrounding areas.
-- Apply the worm clamp on top, closer to the tank nipple.

Then I will take her for a ride and monitor.

Rinse repeat for bottom connection tomorrow or next day if it resurfaces.

As always, since I don't know squat and tend to be overly presumptuous, I welcome any tips, tricks, advice, wisdom.... Or even request for pics or anything else.

(This is step one. Step two if not resolved will be indie shop pressure test and their investigation, etc etc)

 

That is a major coolant leak. Is there any sign of coolant on top of or below the bellhousing? If so, my money is on the small hose which is under the intake manifold.

Richard

 

I won’t know if there are any other traces of pink until the jack stand covers arrive in the next hour and get the under engine off to look up and all around.

From the top, all looks good. Most of the hoses are nice and soft, not brittle, and looks like prev owner did the braided hose thing for the long one that returns to the expansion tank.



Let me know if there is a specific place I should look for now and I can take a pic.

Update: I had cleaned the hose that is leaking. After making the 2 vids in a sep post, I felt underneath the top and there was coolant again.

 

Seems by the under engine splashguard and the other evidence, it is definitely only the hose from the expansion tank.

Now, there could be coolant in the valley, but since I have neither the tools nor the skills, I won’t be removing the SC to look.

I am going to clean everything up under there and up top, then throw on another worm clamp.

The coolant trail of tears.

To make a trail like that, it has to be more than a drip.

Another view.

And finally the cover.

Confirms that side is the source.

 

Wrapped up for the day.
Dropped the car off the stands.
All cleaned up underneath and left splash guard off as per one of the threads I read so it goes to the floor, not collecting in the guard.

My worm clamp was too big so I ordered an assorted set of 20 or so for $6 on Amazon to be here tomorrow.

Having stared at it a dozen times, fondling it and wiping it off, I think when the tank was replaced (non jaguar shop), they tightened the top clamp too hard.
Hose is snug, but so snug there is a slight bulge behind it.

I do find myself wondering if I sprayed it with some FlexSeal, if it wouldn’t stop the leak.
i mean yeah, may be unadvisable, but i sprayed it on a 4” hairline crack inside a toilet tank 6 years ago and it hasn’t leaked since. Lol.

 

someone put an autozone worm clamp on it, probably ate the hose up. if it's not norma/aba or a clone of those designs don't use it

 

The failing water pump on my xk had very similar signs of coolant leakage. It only leaked while running and it collected in the underpants then ran out. I replaced my hoses under the intake thinking that was the problem but then noticed a moist drip line on the front timing cover.
wj

 

Checking the water pump when I take her to her first date with the Indy shop this coming Thursday.
From what I've seen crawling around underneath with the splash guard off and a flashlight, the only signs of any coolant I saw anywhere was directly beneath that hose.
I do wish there was a way to get that hose without buying the entire assembly.

 

Is there a coolant smell after you take a drive?

 

LMAO Boca.... Did you see the pics?

Of course there was. It landed on several spots that get warm on the way down.
(I'm trying to stay positive that it is just the expansion tank or the hose)

 

Should fit bc Ford, but this happens to be on sale right now at Harbor Freight. You'll know for sure where the leak is coming from.

https://hf.tools/coupons/2025/08/184092-64758

 

Autocorrect strikes again!

 

Hopefully the reservoir fix will resolve your problems. The reason I asked about the coolant smell is when the leak cannot be found but there is the lingered coolant smell, more investigation is always necessary and sometimes taking things apart becomes necessary. I too have the pressure gauge with a proper cap for the reservoir. It’s helpful but finding the exact location is sometimes challenging.

 

Don't use a worm clamp on your Jaguar. OEM was probably a single ear hose clamp or spring clamp:

Pressure testers are found for free use at almost every auto parts store.

 

I know. I was teasing a bit. Trying to keep my sense of humor up as things keep being added to the list.
And much to my wife’s chagrin, turning a 22k car into a 26k car. (I knew this coming in but she is a tightwad).
Either way, I always appreciate all of the feedback you guys provide.

I do feel as though I’m being a bit annoying with my flurry of posts and questions. I just ask that everyone remember back when you all started acquiring your amazing Jags. I read most of the posts from circa 2016-2023 and many seemed to be where I am now.
I am excited to be beginning my journey. Wish I’d started years ago.

 

I started years ago, and now I gladly pay my indie to skin his knuckles. But sometimes I miss the feeling of accomplishment when I'm finished.

You can't always get what you want ... unless you pay for it one way or another.

 

I got my car about 4 years ago, and the first thing I did was drop $7K into replacing fluids, control arms and sway links, and the water pump. Like you, I had no leaks when sitting cold, but some small drips after a drive (not as big as yours, but noticeable). Since the new water pump it has been dry as a bone and no coolant loss.

One way to look at it is that once you get everything fixed, you'll have a much better car then the brand new key and heater Corolla or Accord that you could get for $26K.

 

Every time I changed the oil I noticed one or two drips on the oil cooler hose. This went on for over 18 months until one day I did have a significant dump of coolant onto my garage floor. ( accumulation of leakage).
Bottom line, it was the water pump and even while replacing it I wasn't convinced that was the problem. It took me driving the car for several hundred miles and checking that hose ( for a drip or two) before I was certain. I still have the old pump in a box and don't understand how or why it leaked.
WJ

 

Noted. Water pump is on the list to ask about on Thursday.

My basic plan, as I told the wife;
Have the JLR only indie shop look her over, on a lift, from head to toe. Inform of known problems.
Known + What they see = list.
Have them price out repairing each.
Stack rank based on priority (will it brick the car?).
Then I will evaluate their cost vs aftermarket parts + DIY and attack accordingly.
Some them, some me.

Oh and while I’m there, spend the 70-100 bucks and have them enable AUX and Port Audio/USB for when the time comes.

 

Update on the double-worm solution.

So last night after a couple glasses of wine and chatting with my Indy/drag racing team buddy, I got the wine buzz courage to just go throw on the second clamp and see what happens.

Loosened the one that was there. Slid it down.
Fingertip’s worth of coolant seeped and was at the underside of the hose at the top..
Wiped it off and had fun (and scratches) getting one hand in, all that fits, to finagle the second clamp around the hose and into position to grab and tighten.

Wanting as few of the holes to be touching the hose as possible, I used a clamp that was twice the circumference and was half smooth metal.
i put it at the very end of the hose, hanging over the edge maybe 1/8th” at most. Tightened to snug but not digging in + a half turn.
Slid the original one up to touching the one I just installed. Then tightened it the same amount.

Next step? Wads of white paper towels all underneath both ends of the hose.
Around 11 this morning I went out and checked. Underside was dry, paper towels had no signs of coolant. Cool, no leaks while not under pressure.

Now for the test.
Pulled car out of the garage, turned on my gauges app (connected to my Veepeak) and let it run for about 10m. No leaks at temp (coolant at about 195°)
Ambient temp 82-88 for the whole experiment.

We went to see the MiL (10m drive) to chat for a bit and I ended up fixing her master toilet. Because that’s what we do.
After 30m or so, back in the car. This time I pulled out of her neighborhood and smashed the go button a few times. All good, smooth as silk. Temp stayed around 200.
Then to Autozone and Advanced auto parts just to poke around and ask about renting a pressure test kit. Another 30 mins of driving. Then grocery store, then home.

Highest coolant temp was 206. But at 45mph around 196. MAF was 6.75-7.2 whatever that means.

Along the stops, popped the bonnet and stuck my fingers under the hose. Holy crap that burns. But no coolant.

Back in the garage. I’ll wait 2-3 hrs, check the coolant level and feel for leaks.

Worth noting because it was asked, after cleaning the coolant trail of tears underneath and above really well, I did not notice and burning coolant smells. None.


Pics for posterity:
(circled is a reflection from shining the torch. Not actually red)