On the topic of leaks, I've got my XKR almost completely leak free, except for the Timing Cover Oil leak. In my naïvety, when I replaced the Front Main Seal last year, I did not replace the timing cover gaskets because they weren't leaking at that time. I also didn't want to re-do the camshaft cover gaskets as those have to come out when doing the timing cover. In hindsight, I should've done it all at once.

The timing cover is leaking quite a bit now, requiring that I top up with one quart every couple weeks. For that reason, I shouldn't put it off too long. Buying OE, the list of gaskets this job requires quickly racks up a significant bill, to the tune of between $300 - $400. Unlike the 4.0 cars, the often recommended aftermarket Fel-Pro gaskets are not available for the 4.2 cars.

From my search, the aftermarket gaskets brands I have found are:

• Elring (FCP Euro) for both timing cover, valve cover and crankshaft seal. Apparently they are an OEM for BMW and Mercedes gaskets; but I have no idea on their quality with Jaguar gaskets.
• Eurospare (FCP Euro) for timing cover, valve cover, valve cover bolt O-ring, and spark plug tube seals. Supposedly, Eurospare is an OEM for JLR, but I am skeptical.
• ÜRO for valve cover (Rockauto; I wouldn't trust this to last more than 100 miles)
• Mehle: valve cover (Rockauto; in my experience these leak and I had to replace them with OE).
• Beck-Arnley: Valve cover (Rockauto; I don't know if these will be good or not).
• Corteco: Crankshaft seal (SNG-Baratt) Confirmed OE for this application.

Nearly all of these are sold at about half the price or less than the price of the Jaguar branded OE parts. Of all these, which would you expect to be of good quality and unlikely to require a re-do? I'm lining towards either Elring or Eurospare. Does anyone have experience with their gaskets?

When removing the timing cover, do I have to replace the crankshaft seal despite having one that's less than a year old and is not leaking?

Is this the entire list of parts I need for this?

• Inner Timing Cover Gasket: AJ83699
• Outer Timing Cover Gasket: AJ83700
• Camshaft Cover Gasket Right bank: AJ812399
• Camshaft Cover Gasket Left bank: AJ812402
• Valve Cover Bolt Rubber Spacer Bush: AJ810631 (28 of these)
• Spark Plug Boss Seal: AJ86874 (8 of these)
• Crankshaft Damper Sealing O-ring: XR81139
• Crankshaft Damper Bolt: AJ89909
• Timing Cover Oil Seal (a big fat O-ring): AJ86747 (3 of these)
• Front Crankshaft Seal (Main seal): AJ83698

Does anyone know of a good quality kit that includes all the necessary gaskets for this?

 

dealer for the timing cover gasket the eurospare will leak ask me how i know

everything else is easy

 

Ok, so OE is the way to go for the timing cover gaskets. What about the valve cover gaskets? Is OE the only worthwhile option?

 

Did this thread ever get an answer for valve cover gaskets for the 4.2?

 

they suck get it from the dealer