Did all XK8's have engine oil coolers?
It is hard to believe that a 256 ci aluminum engine having 8 quarts of oil needs an oil cooler. I don't race or even run it hard at all, I'm old now.

Yes, I'm pondering making an all metal loop and eliminating the problematic lines.
Well, I'm set for a thrashing so go ahead and lay it to me.

Jack

 

All questions are legitimate, so no one should thrash you. All of the 4.2 engines have oil coolers. Not sure about the earlier 4.0 engines....

Let us know if you do indeed create that all-metal loop connection....

 

I will do a little research before I make it a winter project. Hope my scanner will tell engine oil temp. If so I will proceed with checking temp with cooler and then cover cooler to prevent it from cooling and check temp again. If oil temp is well within safe range I will then proceed to delete cooler.

Jack

 

My 1998 4.0L XK8 does not have an oil cooler. My previous 2001 was equipped with an oil cooler. So apparently it depends.

I read somewhere (probably here in the forum) that all 4.2 engines and all XKRs had the oil cooler.

 

You have to consider the flex built in to the oem lines so maybe all metal won't work for long. Just my .02. All engines shake a little while running even super smooth ones like the XK8's. TM

 

Not replacing lines with just steel. I will be deleting oil cooler altogether. Trying to come up with a way to make a steel loop on front of engine to pick up oil and send it right back into the engine.

 

From memory, a picture of a short U-shaped pipe like you are describing has already been posted on this forum. Check this post:

how-inspect-oil-cooler-lines-xkr-where-they-exactly-located

 

^^ That's a nice piece of homemade engineering and maybe the best solution to the infamous leaking oil cooler hoses issue....

 

Thanks, good to see some one has already been down this road. Now we know it will probably work.

 

I've been doing a little research and have found the 4.2 AJ34 engine has an oil diverter valve between oil pump and filter that starts diverting engine oil to the cooler at (217-227 F) and diverts 100% of oil to the cooler at 246 deg F.
Today at about 80 degrees outside my son hooked up his scanner to the 2005 XK8 and we proceeded to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains (about 15 mile drive) then proceeded up the mountain pushing the car pretty hard without doing something stupid going from about 1400 to 2900 altitude in a few minutes. At the top the engine oil got too 203 degrees. I reached through the opening in the front bumper and held my hand on a worm oil line. This tells me 2 things. The engine never used the cooler and I don't see any need for one. Opening at 217 degrees could possibly keep the engine from getting as warm as it really should be to drive off moisture from the crankcase.

Any thoughts?

Jack

 

There is very little difference between the 4.0 and 4.2, so I don't think the oil cooler is necessary unless you're crossing Death Valley at 100+ mph.

 

That is the conclusion I have come to.

Jack

 

It's probably to keep the few customers that drive pretty fast on the road or the race track from overheating their engines. Same with the transmission cooler.