www.jec.org.uk

Have seen a very nice XK8 on my laptop, sent an e-mail with the required questions and all was well. The chain tensioners had been done and the salesman said he would get me a 'blow-by' check done, as procedure for Nikasil bores.
I have now got a reply, with the main Jaguar agents in Preston, Lancashire saying that they cannot do the check because 'they have not got the equipment any longer, due being an obsolete requirement'. Continues- 'if the car has no issues now, like poor starting or smoking, it will not have in the future'.
Well I am surprised, what equipment is needed for this check, a pipe, an air supply, and a gauge to measure Litres per Minute [LPM], this is the opposite of a compression check, it measures the loss of volume, whereas a compression check measures the holding of same volume, in pounds per square inch [PSI].
Have we, the club, got this bit of kit, or any of our members? are the garage statements correct, 'if it starts and doesn't smoke' then I should not worry about writing out a cheque for £10000.
Would appreciate any information on this subject, I am an AJ16 engine owner at the moment, in my X300 Executive, but I want an XK8.
Many thanks.
Tattonpark67. Ron. York City.

Hi,
The general advice you have received is correct. Main dealers no longer keep the official Jaguar blow-by measuring tool because any engine which survived this long since the period of high sulphur fuel (which ended around 1999-ish) is likely not to have been affected. As you say, the simple tests are, does it start immediately from cold (i.e. it has sound bores and good compression) and does it use engine oil? Mike.

Thanks for that 'mike020150', what did the main dealers do with the 'measuring tool', throw it in the waste bin?
I have a number of tools that are in my box, never used in years, but not discarded, not thrown away.
I still want this figure, I will ask around and find someone with the equipment and then contact the garage again and ask if I can do the check. The Jaguar figure is less than 39 LPM, with a warm engine, but 20/25LPM seems to be the acceptable figure for buying second hand, but the car may be sold before I can arrange anything.
Take care. Tattonpark6.

Hello Ron,
If it helps to put your mind at rest, I have a 1998 XK8 with Nikasil bores, currently at 119,000 Km. No problems, runs like a sewing machine.

Doug Barrass,
Ashford, Kent.

Thanks Doug, your engine sounds to be 'spot on', but I am still of the opinion that this simple check should be available, and even the salesman is surprised that he ran into problems when asking the main agents for the check.
With aircraft internal combustion engines it's a standard procedure, a compression check, which gives a good indication of the general condition of valves/rings/tappets etc. and this 'blow by' check effectively does the same thing, an indication of any excessive wear.
I am ringing around, someone will have the bit of kit, not every garage/dealer threw the bits in the bin, the early X308 will also be applicable to Nikasil, so the kit is available somewhere.
Take care. tattonpark6. Ron. York City.