I own (correction. I am owned by) a 1998 xk8 convertible with 50,000 miles on it. I'm in love with this car, and she has been very faithful to me. I'm curious as to why when I first start her in the morning, as soon as I turn the key, she immediately starts up. But when I have driven her and then let her set for an hour or so, I have to lay on the starter for 2 or 3 seconds before starting. Long rest periods and she immediately starts. As I said, it's really not a big problem, I'm just curious.

 

Has the fuel filter ever been replaced ?

that would be my first thing to R&R. Will only cost a few $$ and you can then eliminate it .

Z

 

z ray right ..change filter then if the same change the fuel pump ..only about £30 on e bay. DIY if you run the fuel right down ..7mm socket and long extension.

 

Thank you zray and Pistnbroke, I agree that changing the fuel filter would be the most likely and cheapest thing to do. I am not the original owner, she has 50,000miles on her, I have no maintenance records, so my guess is that it has never been changed. I just watched a 30-minute video on changing the fuel filter on a 98 xk8. 20 years ago, I would probably do it myself, but at 75 years old, I think I'll take to the excellent shop that I use and let them do it. Thanks again for pointing me in the logical direction.

 

I keep discovering more and more things that I would have done 20 years ago but not today 😆

 

See, we do get smarter with age!

 

They say you can just take the bolts off and replace with minimal loss of fuel but I found that the pipe syphoned on the tank so you need to remove the speaker grill in the rear shelf and clamp or remove the pipe at the top of the tank .
Warn your mechanic

 

Man up Old Coot.. I recently changed a head on my BMW engined Range Rover. 81 at the time. Hardest job I've ever done. Have you tried cycling the key a couple of times before starting?

 

FWIW, mine of similar vintage and mileage behaves the same.

Always 'on the button' when cold, but sometimes when hot (and it's not consistent) it will need a little more persuasion. Maybe fuel vapourisation, I don't know, but it's trivial so I just marked it as a 'feature'.
Replacing the fuel filter made no difference, although that's not to say it's not a good idea on a 25 year old car.