Greetings all,
I just bought a 2001 XK8, with just over 62,000 miles on it. I'm trying to figure out if it has the engine with the newer secondary cam chain tensioners. I've read some threads indicating that the engine numbers after August 13, 2001 at midnight have the new metal tensioners. Other threads indicate that the engine number is on the front of the engine, down below the left side, stamped into the block. Yet other threads state that if it is a post Aug. 13 engine the number is located on the side of the engine and not viewable except from under the car. Do I have all this correct? When I've searched for the number on the top of the engine I can't seem to find anything cast into the block. I'm going to go out tomorrow and see if I can get some more light in there and look again. Am I correct in thinking that if there is no number on the top of the block then it is a post Aug. 13 car and has the newer tensioners?

Thanks for any help,
Joe

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...cation-284732/

 

It looks like there is no number at the top of the engine. If I'm reading the other post correctly that would mean that this is the later version of the engine, with the number stamped in the side of the engine, and was built with the metal version of the tensioners.

Joe

 

I think it’s worth a look to visually see the parts in question.

My 2002 XKR was build after the date the tensioners were supposed to be the safe ones. But they failed the previous owner and cost him thousands to have repaired.

No engine number or reference date is 100% accurate in my view. There will always be anomalies in the manufacturing process.

Z

 

Hi Z,

You're probably right. As soon as I get a spare hour or so I'll order a set of gaskets for the covers. I'll pull one and take a look to confirm what is in there. Who would have thought there would be inaccurate information on the old Interweb!!! I'm shocked!!

Joe