I purchased a new tank for my 01 and was going to install last night but I noticed a hairline crack while I was looking at it under my painfully bright shop lights. This was an OEM part, just under $200 from a reputable seller, (I won't name but they did agree to refund my money so good on them).

Kind of disappointed as I had sourced a suitable cork from a nice Rioja that I planned on enjoying after fitting the new part. So we split it while I researched, (so all was not lost...and I still have the cork).

I've seen mention on these forums that the OEM stuff is so bad that you really can't fall off the floor so how much worse can URO be? Apparently lots here use them and many here report that the OEM's are reportedly not much better.

So looking on these forums I saw a few mentions of Rock Auto. I went to their site, they mention two manufacturers SKP and URO. But has anyone heard of or tried the SKP variant-only difference in description is made of "polypopylene" .......must be some new fangled material.

2001 JAGUAR XK8 4.0L V8 Coolant Reservoir | RockAuto

I checked out SNG Barratt.....darned good price on their aftermarket unit, no mention of manufacturer....but there are two options, the MJD4400AB or BA. I don't see any advice on their site as to which one is "proper". I'd prefer to support a sponsor, even if only a few bucks.

SNG Barratt US | XK8 / XKR - To 2002 ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Parts

Am I wrong to assume the OEM isn't worth the extra if it's just as prone to eventual failure? This ain't no trailer queen, I'll be driving it three seasons.

Thanks all in advance.

 

The latest video I saw a couple of days ago suggests that URO have recently changed their formulation from the yellow soft aerated material to a brown harder solid material which much more closely mirrors the OEM material. Probably still not as good as the mounts available through the two well-known forum members,

Richard

 

I opted to go with the Rock Auto version when I replaced the coolant expansion tank in my wife's 2006 XK8 in September 2017. Still intact today, although this car only does 1,800 to 2,000 miles per year. The part number I ordered was MJD4400AB. I paid $57 for it. Regardless of where they come from, they all eventually leak at their nozzles or from their seams. So I have a spare one (also ordered from Rock Auto in March 2021) on my garage shelf ready to go when the time comes....

 

Sorry Richard, I meant the expansion tank....

I got my shock mounts from Wayne back in the winter!!!

Thanks Jon!

I'm calling SNG to see if they can clarify if indeed it is the same as Rocks

 

I wouldn't buy ÜRO anything, from my experience, everything they put out is trash. Now SKP is known to fabricate quality components. Mostly suspension bits, spark plugs, and bearings. I didn't know they made cooling system components. But, I'd bet it's probably better quality than the ÜRO.

I bought the OEM tank 3 years or so ago and it's been serving me well (knock on burl walnut wood). But, inherently the design of the tank is flawed, being assembled in two pieces. I would like to replace it with an aluminum tank in the future, but that will require probably have to be a custom reservoir that can accept the level sender and the sensor. I'm not particularly sure how to go about it.

 

Bought the SKP although you can't talk to anyone at Rock....unless I was missing something obvious.

Barrat had to order and it would have been a week before they had it to ship.

 

The URO tank I purchased from Rock Auto 5 years ago is showing signs of seepage at the seams.
Today I purchased one on Amazon from A-Premium, part # APETO196. They say it is made of PA (polyamide) material,includes cap & sensor
$42.99 + tax