Just checking everyone's experience on this. My XK8 seems to take a long time for the engine to cool down. I have installed the RealGauge temp option, so I know it is not getting too hot, but it seems to take forever to cool down.

I can let it sit for several hours and it is still noticeably warm. Doesn't seem to hurt anything, but it has my curiosity up.

It's always garaged at home, but it does live in a warm climate. Any comments out there? Is this normal?

 

Well, the engine pretty much fills up the whole bay and there is not a lot of ventilation when the car is sitting still, so yes, it takes a good while to cool off.

 

mine takes hours to cool down and creaks and cracks as it does..please dont take you coolant top off or will wash the engine bay and your arm.

 

Even in our much cooler UK climate, the V8 generates a lot of heat when it's running and takes several hours to cool.

Graham

 

Sounds like this is normal then. And as kevind noted, duh!

Thanks to all for the input. One more fear I can put to rest.

 

I had previously noticed this same phenomena with my last car, a 1995 Corvette with a large V8. It had been quite some time since I had a V8 and was surprised at how long it took for these engines to cool down after running--same with the XKR. I suppose it has to do with the tight engine compartment, larger quantity of metal in the engine, and hotter running temperatures compared with the old days.

Doug

 

As soon as the ignition is turned off, it's no longer an engine, it's a big lump of metal, plastic, oil and coolant. How long it takes to cool from temperature X to temperature Y is a matter of physics that all the worrying in the world will not alter. There's no harm to anything with a long slow cool down.

 

Yes, my XKR takes several hours (4-5) even then still quite warm to touch.
If you want to, you could open the hood and I find it cools much faster. I do this in the summer and it cools off the the car and the garage area much faster, since the garage is connected to the main house, the heat from car does not warm the house up.

Happy Motoring...

 

I concur with the extremely long cool-down period required by our XK8's engine compared to my much larger Dodge Ram 5.9-litre V8. But as others have pointed out, the XK8's engine compartment is completely packed which essentially serves as insulation. On the other hand, my Ram's engine has plenty of room to breathe above, below, and on both sides so it cools down much faster....