I thougt I knew the answer to this, but a recent post has me wondering.

According top the engine stamping, the engine in my 2000 XK8 is dated October 28th, 1999, 4:03 pm. This would make it a Nikisil engine.

I just read a post that indcated that if there is an "A" heading the last 6 digits of the VIN the car has a steel lined engine. Indeed, my last 6 digits are A02918.

Is this "A" business accurate? Which is the true indicator, the VIN or engine stamping?

Thanks!

 

The A is rubbish, was 1st mentioned in a article from JWM about 10 years ago, but also rectified a couple of years ago. Engine number is the best way, and is documented by Jaguar.

 

I put that info in a post a few days ago about the "A" prefix.

I'd read it in an online article about buying an XK8.

Personally, i was hoping it was wrong.

Is an engine build date before 08/2000 definitive for nikasil/steel?

 

"The first steel-lined AJ-V8 came off the production line In the year 2000 on August 18th at 10.43am hence the engine number will read:
00 08 18 1043 or more precisely:
0008181043"

This is from the post by Gus in the stickies https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ify-faq-25912/

 

I just read and copied that same excerpt to put in this post Norri.

You beat me to the draw

My plans for a terraclean and "Restore" additive (recommended by Brutal) are back on track.

My baby is 0007190248

 

Porsche has been, and is still using Nikasil, since 1973. Just a fyi.

 

Ha! When you first posted here I thought the baby was going to be thrown out with the bath water! It's god to see that you bonded.

 

It nearly was, but i'm a sucker for a pretty car, so i got over it

 

As written by Norri
You have got to remember the date 08-18-2000 that the first steel lined AJ V-8 was the production date for the engine not the car. My cars build date was August 16th 2000 the engine build date was July 19, 2000 28 days pasted before the car was assembled.
There was problems with the sulfated fuels in the 90's, but if you have a good running Nikisil engine now there shouldn't be any worry, they're probably more desirable than the steel lined.