After a seven (7) month hibernation my XK8 is finally coming out to play in the sun. Tomorrow, Thursday 4/21/2016, I will attempt to wake my sleeping beauty from her lengthy winter nap. Does anyone have any suggestions that I should do before I turn the key for the first time? She has been sleeping in a garage, no heat, for seven long months. Put her away with 3/4 tank of fuel, full bottle of dry gas and dryer sheets in the trunk, interior and engine bay to keep the critters away. Thank you in advance for any advise you might have.

 

Has it been on a battery maintainer? If not, good chance the battery needs to be charged.

 

Jaguar don't publish an owner's storage and recommissioning procedure but here's the Rolls Royce recommissioning procedure:

1. Lower the car onto its tyres. Check the tyre pressures and adjust if necessary.
2. Fully charge and fit the battery. If necessary top-up with distilled water.
3. Check the engine coolant level and top-up if necessary.
4. Remove the sparking plugs.
5. If the car has not been run every two weeks during the storage period, prime the cylinders with engine oil. Using the ignition key, crank the engine to distribute the oil and to prevent a hydraulic lock.
6. Clean the sparking plugs and if necessary set the gaps.
7. Fit the sparking plugs.
8. Ensure the fluid levels in the engine sump, torque converter transmission, steering pump, final drive unit, and the braking and levelling system reservoirs, are to the maximum level marks.
9. Lubricate all grease points with approved grease.
10. If the fuel tank has been drained, fill the tank and start the engine.
11. Check that the engine oil pressure and ignition warnings extinguish.
12. Check for coolant, oil, and fuel leaks.
13. Check the operation of all controls, instruments, warning panels, lamps, and accessories.

A systematic approach and a logical sequence.

Graham

 

+1 on the battery. I like the Rolls guide with the exception of the oil and spark plug removal. I would just start it and let it idle for a few minutes before I put any kind of load on the engine.

 

The Rolls Royce procedure sounds outdated and is contrary to modern practice in many ways.

A car should not have been put on stands letting the wheels dangle as this put tremendous strain on the bushings. Let it sit on it's own tires which were pre-inflated to maximum rating on the sidewalls. Modern tires do not suffer with flat spotting.

The engine should not have been started at all during the storage period unless the car is taken out for a good run to bring everything up to temperature. Short runs while at idle speed increase oil contamination and dilution with fuel. Bad idea.

There is no need to put oil down the spark plug holes. Modern oils have been shown to cling to surfaces for many years, not hours or days as many think. There's little difference in the film thickness after 3 years storage as compared to three hours.

I store many summer toys, including my Jag, over the cold Canadian winter.

Here's is my re-entry into service procedure:

1) disconnect battery tender.
2) start engine
3) idle car forward into the drive where the tire pressures can be adjusted.

That's it.

 

If that battery was not disconnected it probably will be ruined, if it even takes a charge at all.

 

RJ237 was correct, my battery was ruined, bought a new one, installed it, Engine light came on, 33 codes detected. Took it to my Indie, reset the codes and Engine light went off, had the oil changed, full tank of new gas, washed her up nice and ready to go.
Seven months of sitting, and only a few minor problems, ready to boogie.

 

you might want to have a word with pirelli about that!

 

I do the same thing... maybe double check fluids first, but basically connect battery and start it up

 

Last Evening:
Disconnect battery Maintainer
Check tire pressure
Check fluid levels

Loving life, spring is here at last!