Plums is quite right - the hoses to the expansion tank should cross over. It looks wrong but it's right. Swap them over and all will be fixed.

 

The Full Monty of cooling system parts arrived two days ago. I just found time to R&R the water pump first thing, and indeed all plastic impeller blades have broken off, but miraculously they've all remained within the water pump body cavity rather than migrating down the engine block. I will post pics of faulty pump later. At least my XK8 is now back on the road again after its first major mishap (overheating) since I've owned it for 34 months and clocking 30,000km on it.

The rest of the fixes such as hoses and thermostat tower replacement will come in the next few days as my trusted independent mechanic in Towkwawan, Kowloon will not return to work until tomorrow, but he's already told me he's booked solid and so don't expect any time slots sooner than middle of next week. He's the boss and I would rather wait for him and not inflict upon myself another week of back pain after R&R myself the water pump, lol...

 

the rad upper and lower hoses and T-stat housing are simple, so it yourself?

 

The remaining jobs are simple, but the answer is negative. As I do not have a private garage, this job would be too messy like radiator flushing and refilling, etc to be done on my parking space within the estate where I live...

 

Congrats on getting the major problem solved. You are doing well to change out a water pump in a parking lot. Reminds me of my days in the Air Force.


Wayne