www.jec.org.uk

Well, as some of you know my cars engine went south after the top hose fell off and it cooked itself after chucking all the coolant out. The engine was already showing signs of wear (a bit smoky and rough at idle) so I was not surprised although a little disappointed that I had not noticed the temp gauge go into the red until it was too late.

Anyway, there then followed a few weeks while I searched for an engine and eventually found a car being broken with a genuine replacement one in it with only 16,000 miles on it and bought that for £1100. I then had to save up the money to get it fitted and while there have the gearbox oil replaced as well and to cut a long story short it is now home and sitting at my door. The bill for fitting it and changing the gearbox oil was £900 - not bad considering the oil was the best part of £200 and I was also getting the LPG system refitted as well.

Unfortunately while it was getting the engine fitted my MOT ran out so i now have to wait until the 17th of this month before I can legally drive it again - apart from a couple of trips up and down to the garage for MOT prep work that is.

Over here in Northern Ireland we have to get our cars tested in purpose built centres so we have to make appointments and wait (usually two weeks) I could not book my car in until the work was done hence why I now have to wait.

Still, I had to wait this long to get her back so another week or so won't matter and it gives me time to source a replacement drivers side front wing as the one on it is really bad now.

I had wanted to change my alloys but I'm broke so the ones that are on it will have to do for now - I'm putting two tyres on and hopefully nothing else will crop up during the test *fingers crossed*

Have just acquired an X308....Would someone please explain "Nikasil" to me...Thanks..Malclamour

This is a reasonable appraisal of the issue.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... 9A&cad=rja

Even if you have a Nikasil engined car there is no need to panic. The high sulphur fuel which caused the problem is now history. If the car is running well, carry on using it. If the engine eventually expires, then a steel lined second hand replacement is a good way to go.

Mike

or of course a secondhand Nikasil unit, just as good

what is forgotten is that any Nikasil engine that failed pre 2000, would have been replaced with another Nikasil lined unit as the steel liner engines did not hit production until circa August 2000, there is a definitive time and date for the first engine built, without looking I cannot remember it though, some one will chime in with I'm sure, but it was around the time the fuel additive that caused the issues was removed from the fuel!

Couple of points on Nikasil I learned after talking to Bob Bate:

1. If a Nikasil engine is running ok now don't assume it is fine as the petrol is now sulphur free, as he points out the problem comes with starting, not running, so if an engine takes an age to fire then eventually it just may not start at all, due to inadequate compression.
2. A "blow by" test is a waste of time (and money), as it is done with the engine warm, when the compression improves due to expansion of the piston within the cylinder.

His advice on a Nikasil engine, based on his experience, was to avoid completely. I thought that was a bit drastic, but he says he has had excellent looking XJ8s in that simply wont start because the compression is inadequate. I ran a Nikasil lined XJ8 for 4 years without a problem, so wouldn't necessarily agree with him, but maybe I was just lucky......
Anyway, that's his opinion, buyer beware!

I`d agree with both here.

No start is no compression. Therefore reasonable to assume engine bores and rings worn beyond reliable serviceability. If it starts and runs acceptably, then there is no reason to loose heart.

I ran a 530i Nik BMW for years. No problem at 200k miles and still stonking along when sold.

I`d have no hesitation in buying a Nik engined car if all appeared well, BUT simply because the Nik engine was present would knock off £1500 as an insurance against the car going sick. On the basis of that, for preference I`d buy a steel lined car if there was that alternative.

With Nik engined cars now being quite old and there being a plentiful supply of cheap J8`s on the market, buying a Nik engined car would be a rather unnecessary risk. There are so many decent steel lined cars around now for well under £2k that buying a Nik car would seem a questionable buy.

Mike

Reading of your experience was something of a deja vu experience for me. I am the owner of a 1998 XJ8 which failed to start last winter and hasn't started since. I am now finding out the hard way about nikasil, lack of compression/ starting problems on this model. unfortunately, the money has run out, so the car is a static exhibit untill i decide what to do about it.One of the problems i am finding out is that this model has a tragic lack of workshop manual information. There is no Haynes manual and getting documentation is like getting blood from a stone!
I take some comfort in knowing that i am not alone!

With best regards

John Hughes

Well, as some of you know my cars engine went south after the top hose fell off and it cooked itself after chucking all the coolant out. The engine was already showing signs of wear (a bit smoky and rough at idle) so I was not surprised although a little disappointed that I had not noticed the temp gauge go into the red until it was too late.

Anyway, there then followed a few weeks while I searched for an engine and eventually found a car being broken with a genuine replacement one in it with only 16,000 miles on it and bought that for £1100. I then had to save up the money to get it fitted and while there have the gearbox oil replaced as well and to cut a long story short it is now home and sitting at my door. The bill for fitting it and changing the gearbox oil was £900 - not bad considering the oil was the best part of £200 and I was also getting the LPG system refitted as well.

Unfortunately while it was getting the engine fitted my MOT ran out so i now have to wait until the 17th of this month before I can legally drive it again - apart from a couple of trips up and down to the garage for MOT prep work that is.

Over here in Northern Ireland we have to get our cars tested in purpose built centres so we have to make appointments and wait (usually two weeks) I could not book my car in until the work was done hence why I now have to wait.

Still, I had to wait this long to get her back so another week or so won't matter and it gives me time to source a replacement drivers side front wing as the one on it is really bad now.

I had wanted to change my alloys but I'm broke so the ones that are on it will have to do for now - I'm putting two tyres on and hopefully nothing else will crop up during the test *fingers crossed*

Try this, John.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... Xw&cad=rja

Hard copies available from Derek Boyce at Jaguar Heritage. Usually about £10 plus post.

The volume of material involved with a modern Jaguar car is huge. far too much for a Haynes Manual to cover. The information is available for a fee from the Jaguar Topix base for more detailed requirements via the internet. Day, weekly, monthly or yearly subscription charges apply.

However, this might help you.

Mike

John, I very much doubt that the problem you have will be Nikasil related issue, not impossible, but unlikely, the sulphur that caused the break down of the Nikasil was removed from fuel in circa year 2000, whereabouts in the UK are you, we may be able to point a knwoledgeable 308 memebr in your direction to help with diagnosis

I agree with the lack of readily available info on V8 cars, but Jaguar stopped producing any sort of customer manuals back in the X300 days in 1994/5