Hi All,
Just opened up the drivers side valve cover to inspect the cam tensioners. WOW, it looks like new motor under there. 2001 XK8 with 103K mi on her. She HAS been upgraded to the 2nd gen tensioners but NOT 3rd gen (metal). Chain and sprockets look VERY good. The primary tensioners look good also (what I could see). Should I button her up. With old gaskets and call it a day? The Jag repair shop in San Fran (I believe it is Continental motors) said that they saw very little failures from the 2nd gen upgrade although when they do the repair they use the metal 3rd gen ones. What do ya think?
Thanks All!

 

Just do the secondaries. The bodies often have cracks you cannot easily see until they are removed.

 

I think most 2001's came with 2nd gen tensioners from the factory. I would upgrade the secondaries to 3rd gen while you have it opened up.
Vector

 

+1 on the above advice. Every photo of tensioners I've seen on this site has shown the cracks that were invisible when they were still installed. That includes my own, removed at about 50k miles. Just change them!

Steve

 

+2 on all the above.
The 2nd gen are reputed to be worse than the earlier ones as they give up with no warnimg.

 

Go 3rd gen metal. At 103K you are due anyways.

80 percent of the work is just removing and replacing the valve covers, so you might as well do the other 20 percent.