I assume the pic I show below is the plastic Tstat housing? Look close at the line that goes into the top of it. It has some type of yellowish sealant there. That plastic housing is the Tstat housing? It appears rather simple to get off.
Also not pictured, the top rad hose when hour the last 4 or 5 inches before it clamps down looks a little BLOATED when hot. When that hose if cool it is collapsed a little. Should that hose be replaced?

 

pic

 

The 4" hose is designed to look blotted so that the Jaguar tech can sell you a replacement. I had a tech suggest replacement after it had been replaced 4k miles ago at the same dealership.

The plastic housing is, indeed an easy replacement if you have an 8mm crows foot wrench (spanner). Since that is as scarce as the proverbial hen's tooth others, including myself have resorted to the 'bent wrench' and 'ground socket' solution. A quick search should pull up such terms.

There is an aluminum replacement for the plastic housing. Because the bright aluminum looks out of place on a black engine I would suggest that you paint it black before installing.

 

What is that housing called??? As for the two rad hoses, the car is 14 years old, should I replace them while I am in there? What can it hurt? I assume that housing has a Tstat in it? do I need gaskets?

 

I see several alum housings on Ebay but seems some have more to it then others. WHere can I find everything, tstat, seals, etc. Link? Better place then ebay?

 

I cant find the alum set up for my 03, just 02 and below.

 

anyone?

 

If you go aftermarket get the housing from Welsh Enterprises. There are a lot of ill fitting aluminum housings out there.

 

My understanding when I was shopping for a new housing last year was the aluminum one was for 4.0 and there was not one available for the 4.2. I bought the entire housing, it comes with thermostat and all appropriate gaskets, I did have to buy hose clamps. Can't remember where I got mine from, ebay perhaps. Check out SNG Barrett online, as a forum member you'll receive 10% off-remember to tell them!

 

I don't see anyone that makes this for the 4.2.

 

Give us a call with your VIN number and we can help with this!

 

My understanding is that the 4.2 does not have the water pump issue at all.

 

Everyone is trying to direct you to a 4.0 housing. Look at this one:

03 2003 Jaguar XK8 Thermostat Housing - Cooling System - Genuine - PartsGeek

The water pump was only a problem on the very early 4.0, and I expect they were all replaced long ago. That said, many plastic vane pumps may suffer damage if the engine is drastically overheated, but the head gasket would probably be blown then and the heads warped and valve seats dropped.

 

that is the plastic one. I was hoping they was a alum one for the 4.2 as there is for the 4.0. I guess I could put the oem one back on it. Mine has made it 95k thus far.

 

Yes you could, but there many posts on the forums from members whose cooling system components failed due to age.

 

The rad hose that goes under the intake, is there just one? Looks like it to me. Seems to me you can replace it with out pulling the intake off? just push it through front one end to the other and connect the hose????

 

is this hose under the intake??

New Replacement Coolant by Pass Hose Bypass NCA3945CD | eBay

 

Partsgeek.com seems to have about everything I need and better prices then most anywhere.