Has anyone found a non-plastic water coolant pipe replacement? My 2000 XK8's water temp sensor is getting loose and beginning to lose coolant (who thought a press-in sensor that inserts into a plastic pipe used for super-hot fluid was a good idea???)

Thanks!

 

Would the aftermarket aluminum thermostat housing kit made for the 4.0 engines solve your dilemma?

 

Well, if it's the one on Jagbits.com, I don't think so since that's just the thermostat housing and maybe pressure tower. The part I'm looking for feeds the thermostat housing on the front side and then includes an outlet for the temp sensor and something else and then an inlet from the radiator hose. Here is a link to the OEM (plastic) version that I'd prefer not to use: https://www.jagbits.com/product/AJ85885-OE.html

 

I have not purchased one in a while but the coolant crossover pipe was less than $100 and easy to change. I have never seen any other besides the resin pipe. (supercharged is a whole different part)

 

Apex,
I replaced mine recently. The XKR version is scary expensive. Fyi the temp sensor screws in on xk8 from my experience.

Price is interesting, I was rushed. Called in a favor. Paid a friendly mechanic less than $50 for one he ordered from his distributor, and he made a small profit.

That was so much cheaper than retail I looked up the distributor on line. They were clear, sales only through line of credit established after review and approval of your established motor vehicle repair shop's financials.

Just thought the price point might help you shop.

John

while you're doing this - how does your bypass hose look? I should have replaced mine then, not 2 months later.

 

I pulled my temp sensor out the other day, and it has a 2 rows of small, slightly tapered "nubs" that hold it in place in the resin water pipe. It looks like I may have to go the resin route. I can get one from PartsGeeks for about $40...I just wish I could find a metal one instead.

I just replaced the top (passenger, radiator top) side hose and will also be replacing the driver's side hose this weekend and probably will do the thermostat while I'm in there since everything is still original (and the car's now 19 years old with 100K miles).

Thanks!
ApexJag