I've driven my used '06 XK8 a bit over 10K miles with no coolant warnings and no pooled coolant underneath. On occasion I *have* smelled coolant briefly when the ventilation begins.


Since then I have had two separate Low Coolant Level warnings accompanied by a red status lamp. Luckily I've been close to home and topped off the cooled engine, requiring about a pint each time to fill the reservoir.


Is there some place I should be inspecting for leaks? Can I continue driving a longish distance after the warning if the temperature gauge doesn't show a rise?


Thanks!
DrOrb

 

Only if you like playing russian roulette with the engine. Get the leak fixed ASAP. In the interim, top off the reservoir each time you set out on a trip.

 

if you smell it but have no visible puddles under the car - most likely the valley hoses or the octopus hose leaking. The valley hoses sit on the engine block under the manifold and the octopus hose is along the rear of the engine compartment above the catalytic converters.

As Mikey said - top off daily and only drive short distances but get fixed ASAP. As for driving a longish distance with the warning - NO!!!!!! By the time the temperature gauge indicates an overheat, it is TOO Late.

Recommend adding JagWrangler's Real Gauge upgrade to give true temperature or use a code reader capable of monitoring temp.

 

Also, the way the temperature sensor is placed high up on the engine, once you are down a moderate amount of coolant, the sensor will sit in air instead of fluid and you can fatally overheat the engine with no indication whatsoever (except low coolant) until the engine just stalls out, never to run again. This is one of the most common modes of engine failure on this V8.

 

I would get a pressure test kit from your local car parts place and test it yourself see if you can find any leaks, WP, at a hose, the reservoir, valley hoses. If you are smelling it IN the car at times, the leak must be decent. Sound like a leak onto the exhaust? heater core?

 

About this time last year the thermostat housing in my wife's 2006 XK8 began leaking very slightly. I confirmed it with a pressure test kit I borrowed from Advance Auto Parts. I took the advice of several very experienced owners here and replaced the entire black plastic coolant duct assembly with a new one. Problem solved....

 

The XK8/XKR should neither lose nor use coolant and the Jaguar V8 is very susceptible to serious damage from overheating. Also it's a 'low volume/high flow rate' cooling system so a pint is a significant proportion of the total volume.

Find the source of the leak and fix it before it causes some very expensive issues.

Graham

 

Thanks for all the valuable advice; I was blown away by the quick, knowledgeable responses.

A pressure test revealed the culprit to be the Thermostat Housing. Replacing it required skills well beyond my ability, so I had a pro do the install.