Okay, I realize I am having that new owner worry, nagging "is this normal" question. I'm not sure what to expect from a 2001 XKR. I really love driving the car and it's in very nice shape But there are couple of things that surprise me in terms of its behavior. I've worked on a lot of cars almost all of them Fords, a couple Chevy's, and a Dodge Dart that saw me through college in the '70's. I Driven them in many different conditions and watch the engine temperature change to the workload and the environment. Now I've read about the electronic system in the Jag and how it doesn't follow the temperature of the engine correctly. What concerns me is the car that I have seems to stay hot for a long time after it's parked. Is it normal for that V-8 engine in the XKR to stay at operating temperature for three or four hours when it's been parked? That it's not cooling off correctly or that it's running hot too much of the time. So I thought I'd check with other owners and ask for their thoughts thanks in advance.
Brian

 

These cars do hold their heat for a good while. Look up RealGauge, invented and sold by WhiteXKR. Buy it, install it and enjoy your car.




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tight engine bay + big V8 = heat

When really warm the fans are set to stay on until the temp drops to a specified level or 5 minutes, whichever comes first. Mine occasionally make it to the 5 minute mark, but I have the RealGuage and have stopped worrying about it.

 

Yes it is normal on this car. It is a large engine in a very small space, plus the supercharger runs hot, and the design places the catalytic converters on each side of the engine, instead of well away under the vehicle as in most cars.

All that matters is the operating temperature. Use an OBDII reader or RealGauge. Normal cruising temps should be around 200 F and you really should never see temps above about 215 F.

 

Steve meant to say normal temp. is around 200 F. If you do order the Realgauge, consider getting the oil pressure mod also. Why have a oil gauge if it doesn't tell you the actual pressure?

 

Thanks RJ! Corrected typo.

 

Just wondering how you're measuring this.

 

I recently installed my Real Gauge and after getting used to watching the factory setting freeze at a temperature of 185, I am now trying to get used to the real-time temperatures for a change. The temperature of the car ranges from 180 to about 200 with average ambient outside temperatures between 85 and 95F.

As I was used to seeing 185 max for the factory setting, do I need to worry about the fluctuation? Rather than cool down as I get off the accelerator, I observe the engine tempeture rising about 5 degrees.

I just down't want to blow this engine up!

Thank you Steve for a great product with important engine temp feedback.

 

You're fine...no worries unless the temp is getting up around 210-215 and higher. Your temps are the same as they were before you installed the RealGauge...the only difference is now you can SEE the fluctuations.

Natural for temp to rise a bit just after slowing from a good run, or even just after shut off. The engine is still hot, but as you slow or shut off the engine, the coolant flow slows down as well and temps can temporarily rise a bit. Nothing to worry over.


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Nonetheless, I always open the engine compartment (bonnet) of my car after driving, in all but the coldest weather. Reduces the baking of various rubber and plastic components, among other things. YMMV of course.

 

Wow! I thought that I was the only one that did that!

 

Of course, it heats up your garage a bit too, which is nicer in winter than in summer. But it's amazing how much heat is retained in an engine which has been switched off (even an hour later). Better to let it dissipate imho.

 

My XKR was running very hot. Dealership talked me into a new thermostat (didn't fix problem). Turned out the water pump for the intercooler had failed so it wasn't working causing the car to get really hot. Replaced the pump with a Mustang SVT unit (someplace here there is a thread on this). Car runs much cooler now.

 

+1

Except at 100+ with the A/C on in traffic, it will stay pretty much on the 215 mark. Drops to ~212 when moving.

 

I bet if you moved your number plate out the way of the grill your temp would drop alot