This forumn is really a blessing, thanks for all you are doing to help everyone out. I've been studying the JF and this car since I got her. Started this relationship on eBay motors, traveled 700 miles to Georgia to purchase this 99 XK8 with 53K mi, carfax was good and garage kept Jag was immaculate, it was a marriage made in heaven. After the honey moon she has 60K mi and is starting to get needy. Thank God for the low coolant sensor, filled it back up with Jag Orange, went down again, checked under the covers and found that white pasty dried substance around the water pump, so I bought a waterpump and brought her to my shade tree friend for a second opinion. He put some pressure on her cooling system and observed a stream from the thermostat housing. Put the new water pump in the trunk just in case. Bought her a new housing, installed it that night and tested it out at 80 mi/hr, call me nieve but I thought everything was fine. After 150 miles, the next day, saved by the low coolant sensor again. Topped it off and started searching.... some visual leakage beneath the firewall appeared to be warm liquid gathering in the sheild and working it's way down on both sides, studied JF again, worked my little hands down there to feel her octopus but she was dry. Next I rigged a pressure test of my own, split the overflow tube at the 1/4 inch hose, sealed reserve tank side with a bolt and clamp, and applied 20-30 psi to the thermostat housing, to my surprise she released her coolant, not only from beneath the sheild, but pouring from a hose behind the passenger front tire. I suspect my shade tree buddy had his way with her while I was at work, and this is her way of telling me she's pissed. I still love her, so I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. Please advise.

Passout Pete

 

The RH heater hose/connection where it joins the octopus is leaking?

 

My imagination got the better of me again, went looking for that little hose, found one hiding in a crevice undeneath the passenger wheelwell. From the looks of all that dried white stuff I'd bet she's been putting out down there.
PP