We're going to do a preasure test although I don't see how we can find a leak there if we can't get to it without removing the throttle. My mechanic gets a bit testy when I bring in notes on suggestions from the forum. If I knew of another person in my area, I'd get a second opinion.
Anyone in Hickory NC area with someone, let me know!!!

 

Taking the throttle body off is easy, taking the manifold off is easy too, if I remember rightfully although don't quote me on this you don't have to remove the throttle elbow, if you had an R it is much more of a hassle......

You should have it done in a good mornings work, I will be doing mine very shortly, I might even take pics

 

if you take off the two plastic engine covers (easy) and test it with the engine cold, you can see or hear the leak even under the manifold. Mine is a tiny pin hole that I will tackle after Christmas. Found it with a tiny mirror on a stalk.

 

Phil listen to your cat. She is not happy with the the skin color you gave her. She is Pissed.
Can you smell it?


I just replaced a brand new reservoire cap. It leaked when engine was hot. Hardly a trace. Cheap fix.
Hope this helps.

 

I too have the Low Coolant warning with coolant loss in my 2004 XKR. No puddles on the garage floor and no signs of coolant around the engine. I just purchased the same pressure tester that Fulton / Jeff uses. Do you remember which adapter you used? The Orange one labeled "Orange Adapter - Land Rover, BMW" seems to fit. Do I need to pinch the hose to the overflow tank with this adapter? What pressure and time would be considered a valid test?

 

That fooled me too, it's the Green one, no pinching required. 15lbs is enough and you should know right away, listen for the hiss. Mine was leaking a cup or so a week, burned off before it hit the ground.

 

Although I've replaced virtually all hoses, connections, heater hoses...I can still smell the scent of burning coolant on occasion. I have no drips to the ground but know there is a slight loss by virtue of the fact that I will sporadically get a low coolant warning when driving up or down a steep grade or parked on one. It disappears once I am level but I keep filling to capacity each time I get the warning and a month or two later it will return. I am probably losing a cup of coolant every couple of months. Eventually, I will get around to tracing the source again, but for now I just check it. P.I.T.A.!

 

Tberg,
Did you change out the heater pipes in the "valley" under the fuel manifold? This seems to be a hot topic right now. (pun intended) Maybe all of us with older XK8/R should get together in lets say Kansas and just change them all! I'll bring beer and spanners.

 

Sounds like a plan! In fact, let's plan an international 1st generation XK series festival and have all day workshops to fix all of the problems that pop up. Plenty of beer, barbeque, and great cars, what could be better.

 

something like that sounds like a great time - great food, great cars and some great people - can't get much better

 

Whose paying for the air tickets

 

Can't pay for your air fare but I could leave a couple beers out of the cooler for you.

 

This is the hose I was talking about.

 

I just about pay air fare just to get this damn thing fixed!!!!!
I have pinpointed the smell to directly below the throttle body. I actually wiped underneath it and did get a few pink small stains on the paper. Not enough to even look like a drip. But the smell is really strong so there is a leak somewhere there. Would it do me any good to remove the air intake pipe or do I need to remove the entire throtle body, which I'm not really comfortable doing. My mechanic says he will but I'd REALLY like to take it in with a specific location.

 

First what year car do you have and is it an XK8 or XKR? I may have over looked it.

See if my post on this other thread helps.

Link 2001 Jaguar xk8 Engine Coolant Low Light - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

2002 xk8

 

I did a pressure test using the "green" adapter as Fulton/Jeff recommended. I pumped it up to 12 PSI and left it overnight. It was still showing 6 PSI the next morning. I didn't hear any hissing or observe any leaks while the system was under pressure. I topped up the reservoir and took a drive to heat it up. I had to leave town before I was able to check to see if the coolant level dropped - but I did notice a strong coolant smell near the reservoir when I shut down the engine.

 

If you had a good seal, I would expect the pressure to hold. I've never left one on that long, but the fact it dropped to half of what you started with says you have a leak somewhere.

Usually the extra pressure in the system makes it show up. Odd you didn't see or hear it. I would try again.

 

12 psi is not enough, the pressure cap is set to 1 bar (15 psi) and I normally go above that when I check a system

 

Something to look at is the plastic three-way connector that one end of the bottom hose from the expansion tank goes to down where the large hose comes out from under the intake below the throttle body. I just replaced it in my '01 XKR as it was cracked and leaking. The part number is JA NNE3944BA. That might be the problem.

Regards,
Bill

2000 XKR Coupe
2001 XKR Coupe
2002 XK8 Coupe
2002 XKR 100 Coupe
2002 XJR 100