Maintenance

[Iangarstin]

I have just bought a Jaguar XK8 1997 with 16000 miles. It is immaculate and has been in a garage most of it's life.
Could anyone advise me of anything that I should do to keep this car in good condition. I have read articles about fuel pumps and timing chains which some people say should be replaced. It is my intention to keep the car for a long time. Also, I did read an article about engine corrosion related to fuel types before 2001. Do I need to worry about this. I have just joined the Club so please excuse my ignorance.

[BrianG]

Hello Ian and welcome! You've actually posted this under the wrong forum - this one is for classic XKs from the 1950s, and you need to be in the separate forum for the XK8. Moderators will probably move it to the right forum.

First thing to do, as it has probably been standing for long periods and may have only been serviced infrequently, is change the oil, filter and all the fluids.

To answer your other questions
1)the XK8 (and XJ8 saloon) V8 engine prior to 2001 had Nikasil plated bores in the engine block (as did some BMWs) which could be eroded by cheap high-sulphur fuel prior to mid-2000 if perhaps the previous owner(s) was a cheapskate and used only supermarket petrol (often noted for having very high sulphur content). Low mileage is no guarantee here: the way to check for possible bore wear of this kind - and allay your fears - is to get a "blow-by" test done by a main dealer or decent Jaguar independent specialist.

2) the critical component is the hydraulic timing chain tensioners - any documentation with the car to say they had already been changed? These tension each secondary drive chain, which couples the primary drive from the inlet to the exhaust camshaft on each cylinder bank. The early tensioners had plastic bodies which became hard and brittle with heat and engine oil which caused them to split, causing loss of oil pressure and lack of chain tensioning. This could allow the chain to jump teeth on the drive sprockets causing the camshafts to get out of step - result bent valves, damaged pistons and lots of expense!

The tensioners should be changed for the latest mk4 metal-bodied type which do not split. As your car has covered a very low mileage you could examine the state of yours by removing the cam covers for a look, but it may be false economy not to change them if you plan to keep the car. The top chains can be done relatively easily by a DIY maintainer, but for a more thorough job I'd recommend having the front engine cover off and changing the tensioners on the two primary chains at the same time, as these are also of the same type but don't cause quite so much drama if they fail.

3) fuel pumps?: not aware of particular problems here, but I think you might mean water pumps. Again, the early ones had plastic impellers which could break up and clog the waterways in the engine block, resulting in engine overheating (which incidentally is another cause of Nikasil bore failure). The water pump is inexpensive and easily changed for an all-metal type, so best done at the same time as the chain tensioners for complete peace of mind.

If getting this work done via an Jaguar independent specialist garage budget for around 1200-1500 pounds for the whole lot.

[davidr]

I have moved this topic so it sits in the modern XK section

[RichardSEL]

Further to Brian's excellent reply (who put me straight when I bought my first XJ8 ignoring anything earlier than 2001 build just to be sure of not getting a Nikasil engine) I had my timing chain tensioners checked by Hyper XJ (now retired) in Thame. He reported that my Sport appeared to have been owned by an enthusiast as they'd already been changed. Cost just £48 for the check and a note confirming. Nothing in the docs when I bought

Had previously my waterpump changed (impeller hadn't shattered, just was slipping at about 108k miles so temp was going up and down) by Ray at Surry Jag Centre -- not the cheapest but effective -- latest new metal type pump installed. And coolant checked for gases after flush out and refill. They also did a rear suspension check and found gravel (having been assured it was "rear wheel bearings, sir!" by a Jag main agent -- removed Last both at no charge

Both firms are Jaguar Enthusiast regular advertisers so know the club and value members' recommendations

Had the Exec's (aka Ludlow, aka the eBay bargain) top timing chain tensioners changed (no luck there with them being done before) at £450. Both those tensioners had vertical splits in the green plastic so were on the way out. Price at Hyper XJ was with an ATF and fluid change, and a check of brake fluid for air . You really should have those two done as Brian says. On my Sport the ATF fluid had been changed before (it was dark orange). But on the Exec it was filthy black and was the original according to mechanic.

There are some decent indies still out there, but they need tracking down from previous recommendations.
Looking back in the early service history for the Exec I found that main agents had changed a Cat (at less than 30k) coz the warning light for emissions had come on. A few thousand miles later they changed the sensor. Total cost to the then owner? Over £800 folding. Despite there being a method available for actually checking sensors' correct operation

Good luck with your XKR -- although low mileage get the check done to ensure it hadn't been run on sulpher fuel the majority of its low miles. Before my first XJ I spent about a year trawling thru adverts for an XJR -- they were either very good (one I nearly stumped up for had been one owner Royal household and serviced in Kensington Mews but they refused to accept the agreed price gazumped at the last minute) but too pricey. Or were average priced but obviously had been ragged as an XJR should

[Iangarstin]

Many thanks everyone for your excellent replies. Extremely helpful and I will take the advice.
Ian