Leaking Oil Cooler Pipe

[iancordes194799]

Having successfully, with a friend's help, fitted a new radiator in my 4.2lt 2004 XK8 coupe yesterday, on start up we noticed a drip drip drip of oil, which we identified as coming from one of the oil cooler pipes at the engine end, around the joint where the flexi pipe disappears into a ferrule. I had first taken it to a local garage to purge the air-con of gas in the morning, so I mentioned it to the fitter there, and he said my car had deposited a patch of oil when it was at the garage; so an existing leak which I had failed to spot.

In the attached photos, a couple of which I took while the rad, fan assembly and air-con condenser were out, shows the pipes, the leaking one being the lower, offside item in the pic taken from the offside. I don't know if it is the feed or return pipe.....? The close-up shows exactly where we think the oil is escaping.

My question is,does anyone have experience of replacing them? They appear to follow a tortuous route, and I suspect the job would have been much easier with the radiator out. I have checked the 1920-page manual (!) but cannot find specific reference to changing the pipes, only the oil cooler itself.

Also, I am struggling to find suppliers. Barretts list them all, but to special order, which could mean anything.

I am wondering if the pipe can be repaired?

Any help gratefully received!

[Astromorg]

Would this be of any use?

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... EC4&adurl=

Looks like Classic Jaguar have joined Ebay

[iancordes194799]

Yes, thank you. I did see that, but it is the wrong section of pipe. According to their drawing, each pipe is in 2 pieces, although I have so far been unable to find the join in mine. They list sections 2 & 3. I can't find their listings for 5 & 6. I need #6. Certainly, if I can access the join, it will make it easier to change than the whole length, which it appears is how Barratts market them; each side in one piece. How one would thread them through I have no idea.

Unfortunately, I am struggling to source the pipe I need.

I have to say that their prices for these pipes appear to be absolutely ridiculous. It would work out well in excess of £600 for a set, with 'O' rings etc.

[mike020150]

Items listed by SNG Barratt as 'special order' often mean they are genuine Jaguar components, which is fine except the prices are Jaguar prices (not cheap!). However, flexible hoses can often be repaired by local hydraulic specialists. A quick Google search for just such a specialist should yield results. Then, you need to take the hose to them, explain what it's used for, and take the company's advice on whether they will be capable of repairing it for you. Typically, repairing or making you a fresh hose from scratch is much cheaper than buying one from a car main dealer. Mike.

[iancordes194799]

Mike. Apologies for the slow reply. Yes, we have a hydraulic specialist nearby, so that is my plan. The intention is to remove the errant pipe today, and take it along to them on Monday to see what they can do. I'll keep you posted on progress.

Jaguar Classic finally got back to me with the part number, saying they have it, but they have not listed it on ebay, so I will have to purchase one through a dealer. So, one can buy from them through ebay, but not direct??? Go figure!

Anyway, on checking the part number on Barratt's site, it is over £290.... That is for just one section of 4-section pipework. Add to that over £19 each per 'O' ring seal..... The last resort!

[ptjs1]

iancordes194799,

If you did want to buy the pipe from Jaguar Classic Parts, you can just order direct from their website for delivery to your home. I presume it's MJE7461AB ? If so, I just checked on the website and it's in stock, available to be ordered.

Good luck with whatever you do.

Paul

[iancordes194799]

Thanks Paul. That is rather odd. Here is their reply:-
New message from: jaguar_classic (446TURQUOISE_STAR Star)

Please find the correct part for your car in the link below:

#6 = MJE7461AB - not available in our eBay store. You can visit a local retailer to order it.
#4 = KSR609001 : Ihttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176316023286
#7 = KSH119530 : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176316023288

If one can order direct, one wonders why they tell me to go to a retailer to order it, yet send me links to their ebay listings for the O rings? Never mind.

I have found it on the Jaguar site, £4 cheaper than Barratts! If it was £286 for the set of pipes, that would be bad enough, given I just bought a new radiator with 5 year warranty for £118 delivered, but for just one of the 4 pieces, it seems unjustifiable tro me, so I'll check out a local repair first.

[ptjs1]

iancordes194799,

I'm not sure why Jaguar didn't advise you that you can just order direct? Perhaps they think that most UK customers will just got to their local dealer? Was it Jaguar Classic that emailed you, or was it someone from their eBay store? Maybe their eBay representatives aren't even aware of the direct sales capability, who knows?

As regards the SNG price, it should be exactly the same as the Jaguar website price. SNG effectively operate as a Main Dealer for the sale of genuine Jaguar Parts. They use the Dealer Parts system and are set up with a Dealer Code. Whilst they have the ability to offer discount on list price (as my local dealer do for me), they absolutely should not be charging more than list price.

For future consideration, it's definitely worth exploring the price that a Main Dealer will charge you (I always get 10%-20% as a JEC member) compared to what SNG may charge, compared to what buying direct from Jaguar may offer. Jaguar often have discount codes of up to 20% when ordering direct on their website. So, 10 mins on the phone or your laptop can give you very different prices for the same genuine Jaguar part, depending who you source it through.

Good luck with the repair.

Paul

[iancordes194799]

It is now in the hands of a local hydraulic engineer, who is confident a repair can be carried out. He can't do it for a couple of days, but Jaguar Direct say they usually dispatch within 4 days, so he would still be quicker. However, I am away tomorrow until the weekend; sadly not in the Jaguar; so the job will not now be done until next week.

As for Jaguar Direct and their ebay store, the reply came through ebay, but they say they are Jaguar Direct.

Unfortunately, where I live in Cornwall, there is no such thing as a local Jaguar main dealer, hence why I approached the issue with mail order in mind in the first instance.

In the event of my hydraulic man being unable to restore it, I will take your advice Paul, and contact a main dealer, and see if I can twist their arm for 20% off!

More next week.....