Thank you to all the memebers who said "get those tensioners changed NOW!"
Well today I had the new tensioners fitted and the mechanic said that I was very lucky that I had replaced them - see attached picture!
Both of the tensioners had cracks in them, we tend to assume that our tensioners will be alright for just a little longer and then disaster.

Thanks again for all your great advice, it is very much appreciated & thanks for saving me a whole boatlaod of time, effort and money.

David

 

Just did mine. Both looked slightly worse than your lower one in the picture! Glad I did it!

 

That bottom one looks like mine did. I'll bet that plastic cap on the right end will flip right off with a little pressure, judging from that crack in it. Close call!

 

How many miles?

Build date?

 

My 2001 XK8 has just over 56,000 miles. The good news the mechanic said the engine looked very clean, clean oil etc...
But he was not to impressed with the OEM gaskets, he prefers the jag ones, since he used to work at jag dealership. Hopefully the OEM gaskets will hold up ok.

 

I just finished replacing mine a few days ago and found that I also had cracks in the body of both tensioners. I was surprised that both guides look good with very little wear. I rented the tools and found it to be a much easier job than I expected. So far the car runs good with no oil leaks. If it wasn't for this forum and it members, I would not have even known about the tensioners much less how to change them along with many other jobs I have completed and more that I am planning to do... THANKS for everyone out there.

 

Both of mine looked like the top one in your picture; tiny crack but I'm glad I changed them for the tiny amount of money they cost.

 

Good to hear the forum benefited everyone above. It isn't always the case, and there will always be a new owner of a used 4.0 that will not be as proactive. Those pictures say more than any 2-page post about the subject...sometimes an owner must see it to believe it.

 

I picked up the car from private buyer at 10am ('98 XK8 conv. 36k miles) was at the Jag dealer at 11am. From all the warnings I read about in this forum I told them to check the tensioners. A short time later he came out with the old ones. God only knows what was holding them together. Talk about luck. That night the bride and I headed to Atlantic City. I guess all my luck was used up on the car. Jack

 

Uh.... I can't just read that without asking...