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Hi Everyone
I bought my beautiful XK8 last September and thanks to you guys here I had all the dodgy bits done (timing chains, water pump and thermostat etc). I've now covered 3,500 miles and it's been a real pleasure and I love my car to bits.
In the past week though I've had a problem. I started her last week from cold and drove down the road and within 2 mins I stalled. The car then spluttered around the block and after 5 minutes she was off again as usual. I was very low on fuel with only 20 miles left showing. The next day all was fine the. It happened again yesterday.The car stalled after a cold start.It took a few tries to start her and again she spluttered along a for a couple of miles and then all was good for the rest of the day. I drove to Silverstone to watch the Le Mans cars qualifying and was there for three hours and she started and ran perfectly after that period of rest. It looks like the problem happens after a night standing.
Any ideas anyone of where to look first?.
It's a Nikasil engine with 138,000 miles on the clock.
Thanks
Dave

David

I had a similar problem earlier this year after replacing the Heater Hoses in the 'V', but is was all the time after the engine got cold (it was January)

I also had an Engine Warning signal light on the dash - the Code Reader came back " .... too lean"
(the engine warning light appeared after the effects were getting worse - around 6 days or so)

The 8 inlet manifold sealing rings were replaced & this cured my problem

Hope yours is as easily traced

AllanJ

Hi Allan
Many thanks for the prompt and useful reply!.
I'll try that first.My brother in law plugged the laptop with code reading software into my car and no error codes were recorded and none have appeared on the dash as yet. I tried again this morning and the engine tried to stall at speed and lumped and bumped about a bit.
Were the parts expensive?
Best regards
Dave

From what you say, the first thing I would do is replace the fuel filter (not easy to get at....needs a ramp....is often "forgotten" )
Put in a good supply of fresh fuel and then see what happens.
With that sort of mileage and very low fuel level there may well be sludge and debris in the bottom of the tank which has got sucked up into the fuel injection system, and or a restricted fuel filter is reducing the fuel supply.
Could be all you need is a good service.

Hi David
Many thanks for your post.
I did wonder about the fuel filter and I'm booking her in with my mechanic so he can take a look.
Would old spark plugs cause this?. I don't think they have been changed for a few years judging by the paperwork I inherited with the car.
Best regards
Dave

The interval for plug renewal on the 4L is 60K or 70k depending on the model year.
So your car should have had new plugs at 120K or its due for them very soon.
In any event a lot can be learned by inspecting the state of the plugs.
It may pay dividends to change the plugs now at the same time as giving the car a good service by someone who knows what they are doing.
Sounds to me as if your car could do with it !

best regards

David

There is a vacuum hose that connects to the front of the left bank and runs through the centre / underneath the inlet it goes to the bottom of the throttle body the pipe is plastic and very brittle if it leaks it gives the symptoms you describe worth checking this as you may have disturbed it when removing the inlet

Hi everyone
Another thank-you to you all for taking the time to suggest some solutions.
In fact the problem cleared itself so I'm guessing it was muck from the petrol tank getting into the injectors.
I put in some STP injector cleaner and the problem went away.
I have since covered over 500 miles with no problems.
She's in for her 140,000 mile service next week and I'll ask the mechanic to check the fuel filter whilst she is there.
On a side note I really like the new Shell Nitro petrol - I'm sure it's my imagination but she seems to run very well on that.
Thanks again
Dave

Hello ,
On my 2003 xk8 something similar to the subject of this post happened today.
The car stands out in all weathers and I do not use it every day but it has never done this before.
I have done a fair mileage over the past few days including a 100 oddmile trip across country with no problem but this morning when I started up it went ok for about 1 mile and as I stopped at a junction it stalled.started it up again and about two miles later pulled up at a shop. Back in ,start up,250 yards later stalled,needed three or four attempts to restart,a further 2-300 yards stalled again. By this time the engine wouldn’t restart so I had to call the breakdown service.
One hour later breakdown lorry appeared and he was able to start the car and drive onto the trailer. Arrived at home and again was able to drive the car off the trailer into my drive.
Now I daren’t try to drive anywhere in case it stalls somewhere inconvenient or dangerous.a job for the garage man I fear but I would welcome any suggestions as to what may be the trouble.The car was fully serviced in June 2017

Remove the air inlet trunking back as far as the throttle body.

Have someone sit in the car and work the throttle. You should see the butterfly plate opening and closing. Have the throttle held down by your assistance or a house brick on the pedal! I recall the throttle is controlled by a Bowden cable. Now look at the throttle plate and throttle body throat. Are both covered in a black, sticky mess? If they are, you need to clean both the plate and the throat until spotless.

Go easy on the throttle throat as it has a special coating. Use loads of carburetor or switch cleaner and a soft lint free rag to remove the muck. Pay particular attention to the edges of the throttle plate. A build up of grunge will stop air entering the throttle body at idle speeds. Serious grungeing can be enough to stall an engine and make it lumpy at idle speed. Wear inspection gloves whilst handling solvents and high carbon based oil residue. This is a filthy job so gloves are essential. Time for the job should be about half an hour.

Mike K