Hi I am about to repair the head gaskets on my 98 xkr lots of white smoke from left hand exhaust , combustion gasses in header tank so looks like heads are coming off , will keep this thread updated and post some photo,s as the jag comes to pieces in the garage. wish me luck !!!

 

Thanks for in advance for sharing !

 

Major job but at least it'll be a light weight compared with most of the others in your collection.

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

Good Luck,
Graham

 

Had a couple of hours spare tonight so made a start on the headgaskets. Stripped off the throttle body, supercharger and inter coolers. There seems to be lots of new hoses fitted all over the engine, maybe this is a clue to why the head gasket or gaskets have failed. One thing I have noticed is the supercharger is quite noisy when rotated, sounds like a bearing needs changing.

 

There's Jubilee worm drive clips on the (new) main hoses instead of Jaguar hose clamps which suggests the PO has been trying to resolve excess pressure in the cooling system. Due to head gasket problems, this regularly blows the top hose connection.

Graham

 

Thanks Guys

the Jag engine is much more complex than any of my other cars, the yank is just so simple in design compared with this, and the rover v8 in TVR is very similar.

I was hoping to get more pics up but think they are too big will get one of my boys to sort them out

 

You have got the XK8 engine manual..............?

Graham

 

Also have a look for the engine assembly manual kindly posted by one of the resident techs. Much more detailed than JTIS.

 

I uploaded the engine course 168 made from a printed paper manual converted to .pdf. I don't know if XJRGUY or someone else uploaded it in a smaller file size.
Look in the sticky section.

bob gauff

 

motorcarman, aka "one of the resident techs"

That version is the one being referred to.

 

Really looking forward to the pictures so please keep trying to post them.

EZDriver

 

got back on the jag tonight took off the crank pully and timing cover another 200 bolts later and got the left hand head off see photos this gasket has failed in 3 places dosent look like OEM gasket either, no 1 piston on this side has had a steam clean,, although there is a lot of stuff to take off its not a bad job to do the only awkward bits were getting the crank pulley off, with the puller you have to pull it off a bit then tap it back on to release the tapered split washer thingy. a couple of the exhaust nuts were a pain but overall not too bad will continue and take off the other head maybe tomorrow night. One bit of good news is the supercharger I stripped it down there was hardly any oil in the gear end and the plastic coupler has worn out on the pegs. the rest of the charger looks perfect.

 

more photos as you could see in the last pics it has the old type tensioners fitted , they are still in good condition though , any advice on the best gasket set to order may go for original jag parts as I plan to keep the car

 

OK so I need new chains and tensioners,slippers, gasket set, water pump, head bolts, drive belts, supercharger coupling , supercharger oil and snout oil seal , engine oil and filters,sparkle plugs , anti freeze and of course heads pressure tested. and thermostat. anything I have missed that should be changed?

 

Thanks for the pictures. I'm curious as to why the front piston is so clean and the others normal. Could it be the result of the coolant leak in that cylinder? I had a simular experience with a 240Z.

EZDriver

 

water in bore will steam clean the top of the piston like in the pic had quite a lot going into that bore through the failed gasket

 

refresh cone washer?

check the oil pump?

refresh woodruf key for oil pump drive?

 

You might think about installing new knock sensors, given the age of the engine and the fact that you have good access with the intake manifold off.

I've got a 1997 and both of my knock sensors are beginning to act up...both will need to be changed soon.

 

I would LOVE to get my hands on that manual, but I can't find it in the sticky section. Looked through the section a couple of times.

Could someone please point it out? I'd be quite grateful.

 

+1

Like The Coupe, I've seen another engine manual recently and am fairly certain it was on the forum but I can't find it again.

It's not the 'JJM181515/70 - AJV8 Technical Guide' PDF which is in the sticky section. The other one appeared to have been scanned from a photocopy...........

Graham