It does look as if the shop should have checked the oil pickup - presumably the blockage has done for this engine in exactly the same way as your first one.
Sorry about all your troubles.

 

C J. Did you do something bad in your childhood! I've never heard of such bad luck.
Hope you sort it soon,our thoughts are with you.
Regards
Keith

 

I was actually a real good kid, maybe it was in another life and is just catching up.

The shop had determined that the replacement engine had a serious internal problem, due to evidence of fresh metal shavings in oil pan. Car would hover around 8psi (way too low) oil pressure at idle after 30 mins of running. The shop had their insurance provider approve claim for removing, and installing, yet another engine, in my car. Just got a bad one, I guess. So, here we go again, two bad engines in just a few short months, hoping that this new one, which is enroute, will not have issues. I can't wait to drive my Jaguar again, its been too long.

Thanks to the 100% labor and parts warranty, cost is $0. I am glad that shop stands by their service. Should be running again in 2-3 weeks.

Hoping for the best......

 

Jaguar is STILL not fixed... Shop removed the first replacement engine and they have just installed replacement engine #2. After their test drive when engine was installed, a check engine light kept coming on. I am not sure what it refers to, I'm waiting to hear back from the shop about this. It is coming up on 2 1/2 months without my Jaguar and I am really concerned if I will ever get the car back. The shop has assured me they would make it right, but at this point I really have serious concerns about the situation. This is replacement engine #2 and still not fixed. All timing components are new. First replacement engine had internal damage and could not maintain proper oil pressure. Second engine now has some sort of check engine light that comes on. I am not really sure how to proceed as I think my patience has almost run out. My wife and I are actually down to one car, my 84 Corvette, as I sold my BMW a few weeks ago. I thought the Jaguar would be finished weeks ago, but here it is, the beginning of April...
C.J

 

Dear Oh Dear. What crappy luck.
All we can do is sympathise - but as I said before at least the $$$ aren't clicking up like a petrol pump.

 

Sorry to hear your troubles, but from the video it does not sound like the noise was tensioners at all, though the two problems may be related. That's not even the right end of the engine for tensioners to be making the noise themselves. But good thing you fixed them anyway - you were definitely living on borrowed time. If I had to guess, the sound resembles slapping between the top of the valve and the cam shaft, which could mean a bent valve, yes. Checking the valve clearances should not be that hard for you if you were able to get as far as you did with the tensioner repair. A feeler guage, the right data (and lots of time) and you can definitely do it.

As for repair places, I took mine to Leith Jaguar in Raliegh to have the tensioners done, three years ago for about $1500. I did not have a garage or my tools with me at the time so there was little choice, but I was satisfied with the work and price. It's a long drive for you and not recommended for the condition of the car, but if all else fails, they could at least provide a proper diagnosis.

It could be that the noise has little to do with the tensioners at all. Judging from the miles and, forgive me, the sheer amount of grit on the outside of the engine, I don't think this one was treated kindly it's entire life. If the previous owner neglected regular oil changes and maintenance it could even be something as simple as sludge (partly as a result of the debris from the disintegrated tensioner parts) clogging up a valve seat or who knows what.

 

...whoa, just read your update. That really sucks. At least the shop stands behind what they do, but wow. Talk about crap luck.

 

Just saw this - now I've got doubts about the shop's knowledge of this model. The aftermarket aluminum thermostat housing was ultimately not an upgrade but a new problem. Most independent shops have stopped doing them since they are notoriously leaky (two aluminum parts did not seal as well as the original plastic to aluminum combo). The dealer of course, never sanctioned this part but that in and of itself is not always an indicator of a bad idea.

It's water under the bridge now, but this kind of thing is an old enough problem that experienced Jaguar mechanics should have heard of it by now.

 

Jag is Back! 2nd replacement engine installed (at shop's expense) and they gave it a week or so of road test and about 100 miles of driving. No oil pressure issues present, and car runs smoother than it ever has. I am hoping that this is finally the end of the saga, and that I can enjoy trouble free driving for some time to come. Thank you for everyone for their continued support, knowledge, advice, and motivation. I think we are finally at a point where I can drive my car every day again!!!

 

Enjoy!

 

Happy driving! It has been a saga.

 

When I start up my Xk8, everything is normal. I put in it drive, and everything is still fine. Then, when I first touch the pedal and move forward, I hear a metallic "brrrap" noise just once. I never hear it again until the car has been parked and has cooled overnight. Then the next time I start the car and move forward I hear the noise- brrrap. Just once, then never again until the next day. The noise seems to be coming from the front left side of the car.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Larry Baitch
1997 XK8
66,000 miles

 

This has been a fascinating thread. I'm about to get the chains and tensioners preemptively replaced on mine although at this point the car runs very smoothly.

Noting comments on using Lincoln parts, are the Lincoln tensioners the type 2 (better plastic) or the type 3 (metallic)?

Hope this improves the performance at least a bit. As of right now the wife's 08 Accord V6 is noticeably quicker than the Jag.

 

The Ford/Lincoln tensioners are metal. Be sure to get the new shorter bolts as outlined in the various threads.


.

 

Yup, we had nothing but problems with the aluminum housing.