I have just purchased a 2000 xk with 102,000miles. Was wondering how to determine if the plastic cam tensioners have been replaced. Can this be done without taking the engine apart and just looking? Is there any place where pictures are available for viewing of this process? After reading on this forum about this issue I feel I need to address this somehow. what is the best process. thanks Mike

 

Welcome to the forum!

There are lots of pictures and posts on the tensioner subject but you can only determine if they are plastic by removing a valve cover and looking. The job is not difficult at all and you learn a lot about the top end of the engine.

Here is lots of links to 'tensioner' threads:

Cam Chain Tensioners
Help - sudden fail - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum
I just changed my own timing chain tensioners........ - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum
Ford tensioners for Jaguar??? - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum
Tensioners, when are they a "must replace" item? - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum
Timingchain.pdf
DIY ~ Jaguar 4.0 (R&R) Timing belt, Tensioners, Water Pump, etc. - Calguns.net

Cam locking tool dimensions
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page

Cam Chain Tensioners Cam Removal Method 2nd tensions DIY instruction FAQ - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

Broken Cam Due to Removing Cam
Cam shaft woes - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

Hi mascr
Welcome to the forum. I created a shorten verison of the DIY Tensioners. I extracted only the pages that entailed the removal of the valve (cam) covers.
Here is the link to the forum post with the shorten DIY:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/j...17/#post316489

 

Love the fact Minneapolis Jaguar just quoted me $3,200 to replace the upper plastic tensioners on my XKR. I'll just do it myself. I've been exceedingly unimpressed with them.

 

I just posted two threads with pictures showing just that. You might find it interesting.

EZDriver