Greetings from Wales. I've posted this query in the "local" UK Jaguar forum but would greatly appreciate hearing whether any of the highly knowledgable people on here has any experience of the issue as well.

Firstly, I know the saga of "what oil to use in an XK8" has been done to death and have no intention of re-opening it here. I've always used Mobil 1 0W-40 in my 70,000-mile 2003 car, chiefly on the basis that I've used it for years in other vehicles and been perfectly happy with it.

However, the service manager at the local main dealer last week commented that he'd noticed quite a lot of VVT noise at start-up and thought there might be some advantage to using 5W-30 in the 4.2 engine.
I don't quite know what to make of this, especially since the VVT system on my car doesn't seem particularly noisy to me when starting up. So the question is this: has anyone noticed a difference in VVT noise when switching between 40 and 30-weight oils in this engine?

John

 

I run in my 4.0 and the VVT noise is definitely there. I also ran "Restore" an additive recommended for the cylinder wash issue, and it made no difference.
You might want to try an oil at the heavier end of the recommended scale and see what happens, but if the noise doesn't bother you, then leave it!

 

If you're referring to noise at cold start, the winter rating of the oil, 0W vs. 5W, would be of more importance. At next oil change, go for the 5W and see what happens.

 

The preferred oil from the Jaguar manual is 5W. See below.
Others have have noted slightly noisy VVT when using thinner oils.

 

>If you're referring to noise at cold start, the winter rating of the oil, 0W vs. 5W, would be of more importance. At next oil change, go for the 5W and see what happens.<

Good point. I got my viscosities the wrong way round

>The preferred oil from the Jaguar manual is 5W. See below.
Others have have noted slightly noisy VVT when using thinner oils.<

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that 5W was actually listed as preferred. That does it. I shall try some 5W-30 synthetic. Many thanks!

John

 

Hey John, dpon't forget to drop back and post up how you get on...........Its always nice to get a little closure on a thread.

 

Not to stir up an old debate and I will not dispute that synthetic is the superior lubricant but from my experience in motorcycles, the top end noise while running synthetic is unbearable. Running semi synthetic now on the bikes. Quiet as a mouse!
It is my understanding that the collisions I am hearing with synthetic are still occurring but I'm just not able to hear them with the Dino oil.
Running Castrol 5-30 Dino in the XK8
Life is good.
2X

 

>Hey John, dpon't forget to drop back and post up how you get on...........Its always nice to get a little closure on a thread.<

I shall indeed. The XK8 (known in the family as 'Lurch') is due for an oil change in a couple of weeks, so I shall try some Castrol 5W-30 and see what happens.

John

 

Do XKR's have VVT?

 

I own a Jaguar 2001 S-Type, there is noise when i start the car in the cold Canadian Winter. Took it to the dealer, VVT issue, I was told it will cost $3000.00 to fix. Do I change the Spark Plugs and Iginition Coil and drive or do I have to change the VVT Mechanism.

 

I don't think 2001 S-types have VVT.

 

In that case I'll go back to the Jaguar Dealer and verify, and will require explanation as to why I was quoted $3000.00 for a part not in a Jaguar 2001 V6 3.0L

 

Hang on- I'm not 100% sure on the VVT thing. Best start a new post in the S-type section before beating up on your dealer. In any case, $3K sounds way out of line and hard to justify on a car that old.

 

No, on the XK8 only. To quote:

The supercharged engine does not use variable cam timing as the normal benefits of improved volumetric efficiency are not noticeable on a boosted engine.

 

Thanks Mikey. I will post my message on the S-Type forum!!