Hi all
I am taking Jag on fairly long trip, approx 1400mls round trip and would like any input on spare parts and supplies to carry
Since purchasing her in late 14 I have replaced all of the following.
Front brake calipers and pads
Thermostat housing and thermostat
Fuel pump and associated cables
Water pump
Battery
Front shocks and shock supports
All timing chains guides and tensioners
All front ball joints
Coolant tank
Main radiator hoses
Misc hoses
All engine gaskets(done when chains done)
Probably forgetting some things but these were the major items
She runs well no codes very small oil leak but inconsistent and have not had to top off between oil changes, my Indi said engine was very very clean for 160k
(when he replaced chains)
Any input will be gratefully accepted, I do not plan on doing more than 250mls a day as wife tends to get grumpy after 300
Thanks all
Jeremy

 

Sounds pretty comprehensive to me. When did you have the pads done? Worth double-checking them, I would have thought.

Have a great trip!

 

They only have 5k on them and I consider myself a driver who's easy on the breaks,but thanks for the input

 

Maybe a serpi time belt, and don't forget to bring an appropriate sized wrench to install it (counterclockwise tension release) if you do.

Might be overkill, but wanted to mention it.

John

 

On a road trip I usually carry basic hand tools, duct tape (if it moves and it shouldn't), WD-40 (if it should move and it doesn't), one litre/quart of oil and four litres/gallon of pre- mixed coolant. I also carry a small air compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter and a can of "Fix-A-Flat".

Probably the most important thing is my mobile phone and RACQ card (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland). Same as your AAA in the States.

Have a safe and wonderful trip.




Stu

 

A quart of oil, a gallon jug of the proper coolant, a small plastic funnel, a tire pressure gauge, a few old rags, a jar of hand cleaner, a small toolbox of basic tools, your AAA membership card, and you're good to go....

 

Jon's list plus, cell phone and charger, Aspirin, band-aids, water, and a six-pack of fine imported beer (kept cold). The beer is in case you break down near one of us and need help.

 

Hi Fulton
Love the last idea, sorry though going in opposite direction but maybe next trip love that part of Canada

 

I do two long distance Continental trips most years and have carried less and less emergency spares and tools as Jaguars have become increasingly reliable.

From the list, your XK8 has had all the regular weaknesses covered and should be good to go.

Adding to the suggestions above, check condition and pressure of that often neglected item - the spare. If you didn't last fit the wheels yourself, make sure you can undo the nuts with the barely adequate wrench in the toolkit.

I've always been confident that if the worst happens, I could find a man with a set of tools and Jaguar compatible fluids. Not so for finding one with Jaguar knowledge. A scantool and the Jaguar DTC pdf on my phone is an essential for me.

Enjoy the trip.

Graham

 

Thanks Graham
Yes got most of those bases covered and already learned the hard way that the wheel wrench was a. piece of junk, bought a new stainless steel wheel wrench and always carry a code reader.
Thanks for the tip
Jeremy

 

I routinely make 2,000 mile trips to see my girls and my parents. I just carry some tools and a gallon of whatever fluid she happens to be leaking - lol. Right now, I need to re-seat my water pump, so there's always a gallon of Dex-Cool in the trunk. Otherwise, I don't even carry any extra fluids.

You've hit most of the right buttons as far as preventative maintenance goes (nice job). All that are left are possible catastrophic failures for which there may be nothing you can do in advance, so we don't worry about them. I only have one question for you:

Among those miscellaneous hoses, did you replace the Valley Hoses? Definitely a "must do". At least you don't have an "R". You can replace your 8's fairly easily - "we" on the other hand will end up with our cars parked for quite a while if one of those blew while we were on the road.

The only thing you really need is:

 

Over here that roll wouldn't even cover the fuel cost for the trip.

(at current exchange rate it's the equivalent of $103 to fill an XK8.)

Graham

 

good point haven't replaced valley hoses will take it under advisement thanks

 

consider one of the upper range AAA memberships since it sometimes helps to make repairs in a safer location. just the fact that they can get you off the road makes a big difference. your trip is not that long, some of the memberships will even bring your disabled vehicle back home or to your regular repair shop. a tire plug kit is a good idea along with a sealing product known as slime which will not ruin the tire. i installed a TPMS kit that screws to the valve stems. you will get a warning before the tire is flat. check Amazon for recs. purchase some self-amalgamating tape; it can make permanent repairs on many plastic and rubber parts.

 

forgot to mention, a day or so before you leave carefully roll the vehicle back and forth and check for screws and nails in the tires. you would be surprised how long one can be embedded before it starts to leak air.

 

i believe our cars are essentially sturdy and reliable. Yes, things can go wrong, but by the very nature of members' questions it is easy to assume that your personal motoring armageddon is about to manifest itself. You have a well - indeed, a superbly - maintained car. Take a tyre inflater and sealant, a cross-head and straight screwdriver, a roll of insulating tape and a pair of pliers, as well as A few feet of electrical wire.

You probably won't use any of it, but you may be able to help a fellow motorist. You can't cover all bases, so why try to cover any? Just go and have a good time.

 

Forgot to mention it and I didn't see it in the other posts. An OBDII reader is essential.

 

thanks for all the great input all suggestions will be taken, a code reader is a must with these cars I don't go anywhere without one. if anyone saw all the tools in my Boot they might think I was an automobile mechanic, although at times I have thought so myself,
I love the way some of us think alike, carry inflator, wire duct tape, two small lengths of hose, clamps, blanket to lay on whilst under car and towing membership in my wallet when all else fails. Hope the coming Eclipse will be worth the trip.

 

The trip will be worth it, even if the government cancels the eclipse!

 

Came across this, the other day. It is the emergency kit I took with me for the last 3 trips to Portugal from UK - about 2500 or so miles each time. Never opened. Yes, one of the items was a roll of medical tape for when I cut myself. The blue thing is an electrical wire splice - why I only put one in, and no wire, no-one will ever know.





Of course, in the last trip, I should have brought with me a replacement aircon compressor, a belt, a water pump and a radiator expansion tank. Insufficient foresight, as I am sure you will agree.