I have 2000 XKR that has come up 4-5 quarts low on oil in just 3300 miles since its last oil change. There is no sign of leakage on the underside nor driveway. The oil light did not come on until pulling into the driveway and now the engine is knocking like a connecting rod is loose. I've never seen any blue smoke so what could cause such a low oil level so soon?

 

Are all connecting rods and bearings accessible on this V8 after removing the small looking oil pan I see in front of the crossmember?

 

Sounds like someone forgot to put oil back in on the last oil change. My dad did that years ago, and the car drove for a week or so before it died. It was my mom's car, and she was not too keen on noises or gauges.

 

moved ya over to the XK8/R threads instead of the XJs, though your topic is not specific to the model.

 

Since you are not blowing blue smoke or have a large puddle of oil in your parking space the probably is that the car was not filled properly at the last oil change. Your car carries 8.3L of oil, with oil cooler, 7.5L without.

No, you cannot access the rod bearings by removing the oil pan and certainly not the main journals. There is a separate 'bed plate' casting bolted to the bottom of the block retaining the main journals. While you might see the rods you are not going to be effective working on them.

Fill it with oil and see what happens.

 

how many quarts does the xk8 hold?

 

See "test point" answer above.My XKR takes 7 quarts for an oil change.I put in 6 quarts,check the level and add a half a quart if it shows low and check again after adding the oil.When I near the XXX on the oil stick I run the car for a few minutes for the filter to be filled,shut the car off and wait 5 minutes and check the level again,add oil if needed.I do it this way so that I don't over fill.Make sure the car is on level ground.

 

The early engines, the AJ26 ('97-98), holds 7.3L and 6.5L with/without oil cooler. The AJ27 ('99-02) capacity is 8.3L and 7.5L. For '03 with the 4.2L engine the capacity went to the 7.6L and 6.8L

 

8.3 liters is equal to 8.770512 quarts & 7.5 liters is equal to 7.925162 quarts

 

This is not to preach to ragtopXKR,but this is a pet peeve when it come to checking the oil level in cars.By the time an oil light come on,the level is and pressure is at an extreme point where you can be down four to five quarts.We should all check the oil level every 1000 miles,I do it every forth tank full of gas.The oil is the blood of the engine and protects that $5000 machine.If you drive a Jaguar hard it will use up oil.

 

Just checked my dipstick. Changed oil recently. It have no marking other then two little holes on the end. My level is dead on, on the second hole, the one farthest up the stick. I assume I am at the right level.

 

Yes there are two holes,the lower is the min and the upper is the max.There should be XXX going half way up between the holes,which the XXX s/b covered with oil.If you don't have and markings the oil level s/b maintained between the two holes.The other reason for checking the oil is to check the condition of hoses,brake fluid,washer fluid etc.

 

I still feel that with the amount of miles driven, and the amount of oil missing, no visible leaks, no smoking; someone forgot to put oil back in... Could be something else of course. Hard to know for sure from here.

 

no xxx on my dipstick, just the holes!

 

The space between both holes is 1 quart.

 

I agree with supersport,someone didn't put the proper amount back in after the oil change.But back to my point of checking the oil level every 1000miles,you won't have gone the additional 2300 miles on 2 to 3 quarts of oil. Some places use bulk oil and fill by selecting the amount on the delivery hose,he they dialed in the wrong amount and didn't check the level after filling your engine,so you could have been shorted the 4-5 qts.
Did you have the oil changed at the dealer? Or did you go to an express oil change place?
Just to clarify my comment on driving a car hard and most of us have,you can push a half of quart of oil through the engine over 3000 miles of hard stop and go as well as high speeds.But that why we have these cars.
So,if you don't have a leak and nothing on the floor or engine,I would say that you didn't get your seven + quarts of oil at your last oil change.

 

True, if you checked it EVERY fuel fill-up, it would have been caught early, and you'd have some proof to take back to the Oil Change shop. I'd still try to raise some heck if it were me, unless it were me that did it that is. Then I'd take my keys away for a month... ... well, maybe three weeks.

I've ALMOST done it a few times over the years.

 

Supersport,I want your Jag if you get a 1000 miles to a tank full,I am lucky to get 250 miles to a fill.
I change my oil and I am pretty careful after mistakes in my past.Like the time I forgot to put the oil pan plug back in,six quart mixed with the old oil in the drain pan.
Nice to know we learn from out mistakes,I think I should have a PHD by now.

 

The quickie oil change place has asked to do an oil analysis on what is in my filter and/or examine the failed parts. The engine has not yet been broken down.

 

Looks like they are stalling.You have to do all the front work and they are doing nothing.Keep good records,are you going to have Terry Dyson test you oil? Might end up in smalls claims court,try to find out the name of their Insurance agent,they should have coverage for this and if the do their agent should be contacting you and get a claim started.