Hi Guys
My first opportunity to avail myself of the help of the forum as a registered user! As you can see form my previous thread I've had quite a bit of work done to my XK8 over the last 3 months... all at a Jaguar main dealer with Jag parts.

I got the car back about 3 weeks ago and after a week standing, noticed an oil puddle under the car, about the size of a fist. This was coupled with a low oil reading on dipstick. I topped it up left it and it happened again.

I took the car back, but the guys couldn't find a leak despite all efforts being made to find it... (they suggested it might be oil from the high pressure line on the oil cooler that ruptured during repairs, an impressive "geezer" apparently).

I've left it two weeks now, but each time I have moved it (I only drive it ~ once a week) a new patch has been there... this time the dip stick reads only a tiny bit low, perhaps 3mm from top hole.

The patch is from the very rear of the engine, inline (or even slightly behind) the front wheels. Any one any ideas of parts I could get them to check... Sump seal, Sump plug and rear main have all been changed already as has the entire oil cooler assembly.

The complicating factor is; I basically bought it for a three week driving holiday in Europe, which is now next friday... would you guys let Jag work on it some more (risking it still being in pieces on Friday), or just be vigilent and keep it topped up and fix when I get back? will be covering about 3,000 miles.

 

A minor oil leak is more of an inconvenience than a risk. If the dealer has already tried to find the source of the leak and failed, there is nothing more they can do except go over again everything that has been dismantled and replaced.

That being said, I wouldn't take a vehicle only used once a week on an extended European trip. I've just returned from southern Spain and covered over 1K miles in a day on both the outward and return journeys. This puts a lot more stress on a vehicle than pottering down to the shops on a weekend!

My approach would be to get beyond the confines of the M25 and put 100 to 200 miles on it this weekend. Get it well up to temperature and up to speed then check the oil level afterwards.

If the leak is no worse, carry a can of the right engine oil, make sure your Continental Breakdown cover is in place and then go and enjoy yourself.

Graham

 

Thanks GGG, cheers for the advice. I've done a fair few 200 mile + journeys in it over the last month as a shake down. Nipped it back down to the dealer anyway, to give it an extra run as suggested and had a look underneath myself with the techs, no major leaks from anywhere we could see. It only seems to happen when its stood for a few days, which is most odd.

I did find a slight leak from the torque converter seal they had missed, it matches up with where the leak is dripping onto my drive, so I guess that must be it... (I swear its motor oil on the drive, but I didn't know the gear box fluid they put in was clear, so what do I know). It looked pretty minor, a bit of a sweat really... they seemed to think it would be fine and certainly not an immediate concern they would recommend fixing.

based on that, i'm going to go with it, I have premium RAC european cover in place if the worst happens anyway!

Can't wait!

 

If it's coming from the bell housing joint to the transmission it's likely either the rear main seal or the transmission, and they don't smell the same. Remove the rubber plug on the transmission side of the joint and clean it out with a paper towel or rag and give it the sniff test.

 

thought I should briefly update! got round without needing the continental breakdown cover, but did have a few hiccups... naturally.

Despite the UK Jaguar Main dealers assurance it was nothing, we lost about 4 litres of oil overall in 3 weeks and 3,000 miles... good job I kept it topped up. I assume that is alot?

I hit a broken joint on the shuttle I think and knocked the camber angles out... stopped at a jag main dealer in france as was steering right and was told everything was totally fine and I was imagining it... hmmm - stopped again in Austria for an alignment and to replace the two, now completely bald on the inside, front tyres! thanks again Jag.

air conditioning stopped working. I was told by jag there was a tiny, old leak, so naturally the AC coolant gushed out with in a few days...

the gearbox had a hissy fit and stopped the car on the grosglokener pass! wouldn't shift back to drive from manual... turned it off and back on again and hey presto...

After moving the car a short distance after heavy rain, it decided to take a substantial 'pee' from middle of the rear axel... only water and coming from some sort of 'nubbin' - assume this was some sort of long blocked drain suddenly working again? as now it does it a bit every time it rains!

I'm taking it for a second opinion at a London specialist tomorrow... see if they have any better luck finding the issue with the oil leak and I feel there is still a little bit of play in the steering as I feel I'm having to steer across cambers more than previously, so need to get this checked, might just be new suspension and steering rack wearing in I guess?

Moral of the story seems to be if a jag main dealer tells you everything is fine... immediately worry!!

 

Floz, where in London are you. I've switched indie's and now use Trevor at jagspares. Top guy, very knowledgeable and reasonable prices too.

I'm off to watch the Belgium F1 next Friday and just had the green shower......grrrrrrr.
Trevor has kindly gone out of his way to fit me in. Phew!

 

Good to hear you got back without too much trouble.

I think we can safely say it's more than a drip! Total capacity is 7 litres so it's a steady leak to need that much added in 3K miles.

None of the V8's I've run in X308, 2 x XK8's or XK have ever needed topping up between services.

Graham

 

Well its ready for collection from the specialists... (I'm using Surrey jag Centre... who have been very efficient and helpful so far...).

They recon they have sorted it and are ready for me to give it 60 miles and report back... I have heard that before of course, but feel more optimistic as they have actually found a leak and done something to fix it!

Camshaft seals replaced, air con o rings where pipes connect to rear of engine replaced, tweak to the steering and two new key FOB batteries (forgot to say the remote locking stopped working as well)!

I really really want this to be it!

 

Hope you have got the oil leak sorted but with any old car, you know that it will just be "it".........., till the next time.

 

mine also was losing about 2 qts between oil changes but no visible sign on the pavement of an oil leak but could smell it burning on the engine. both lower valve covers were leaking at the back lower bolts. with a real good look and a strong light you could see traces of the oil seeping out. seems its not unusual for those bolts being over tourqued and either cracking the valve cover or crushing the gasket. changed both valve cover gaskets and inspected the covers for cracks {also check which tensioners you have hopefully the metal ones} and no more leaks. hope this helps some.

 

another update - sorry for delay - thanks to Wolfpck1 - The new value/Cam cover gaskets and spark plug seals more or less sorted it... but it was still leaking slightly, so took it back for them to have another look and a service/MOT...

it appears (fingers crossed) tightening some bolts around the gearbox sump seal has worked... after 5 months I appear to be oil tight! (no slight on Surrey Jag centre, no way they could have spotted this tiny leak with so much oil down there from the other leaks)!

The service flagged up a couple of additional issues and I wondered if I could call upon your expertise to see if these are something you would get done now or can be safely left for 3-6 months (while I restock the coiffers, you will know this is fairly expensive hobby)?

OSF bottom shock brush worn
NSF bottom shock brush slightly worn
Alternator duct missing
Front ARB D-brushes worn
NSR bump stop rubbers loose
OSR bump stop rubber missing
A-frame bushes slightly worn
Front shock dust covers/ bump stops dropped

Also had some corrosion around rear subframe mountings which I had treated.

I really hope I'm getting to the end of this now and can get the car into a shape where I am maintaining rather than playing catch up with all the issues!

oh and I recommend recommend Surrey Jag centre very highly, (they have advised that the above can be left till next year, but keen not to cause excess wear elsewhere as these are "relatively" inexpensive fixes).

 

The missing alternator duct is quite common - it's often forgotten after a oil/filter change. Some difference of opinion about it's effectiveness, but that alternator has to work hard and it's hot in there, so I reckon it needs all the help it can get.
I'm sure a Jag. scrappy would have a few.