Coolant Leak

[rosemary]

Hello Folks
Well the S Type is staying true to form. Now leaking Coolant. It has been losing a small amount over the last few weeks and I put Rad-Weld in to see if it would stop, it didn't so another dose of rad-weld went in and it stopped but only for a week. I looked all around the engine bay with a torch whilst the engine was hot to no avail. Getting under the car to look is not an option for me and there were no puddles to help. I was beginning to fear the worst case with no obvious evidence,

of cylinder head joints. However today I had a puddle. After a short drive to get some softener salt I parked the car took the salt indoors and charged the softener up. When I returned to the car I noticed a puddle slowly forming under the engine bay. A sort of relief felt. Backed the car away, got a tissue and soaked up some of it and this confirmed the colour orange. Fairly comfortable that this is Jaguar Anti Freeze fluid. Moved the car back to the yard where it normally parks and saw on returning to the puddle another smaller one where I'd previously backed the car. Went around to the local village garage along with the tissue and Chris one of the mechanics immediately said Anti Freeze. Booked car in Jan 3rd for a look-see and repair.

[Montana5]

Don't dismiss the Expansion Tank, it may not look like its leaking but under pressure it can, many have dismissed this and paid many hours of a Mechanics time only to finally realise the Tank was the culprit.

See the many posts below about this subject.

Doug.

[rosemary]

Hello Montana
I had an expansion tank crack on a previous 3.0L Petrol 1999 model, does the 2.7d 2005MY have the same problem. The puddle is located it seems, I can't get under the car. from more or less the rear of the under tray area, is there anything above there that's prone to leaking, heater matrix? I hope not!.
Thanks for the reply
Dave

[Montana5]

Yes they too are prone to cracking and also leaking from the bleed screw, though I think you would see discolouration around that.
I was more thinking about wrapping a cloth around the Tank and run the engine to discount a leaking Tank.

The other infamous area for leaks on the 2.7D is the Inlet hoses and fittings, see post #23 on below link for pictures...
https://www.jaguarforum.com/showthread. ... 150&page=3

Doug.

[J44EAG]

A heads up on a 2.7D coolant leak article that is due to be published in the X350 pages of the January 2019 magazine.

As S-type and X350 share the same engines which includes the 2.7D, this article may well be useful. It concerns a very well hidden and difficult to access engine block, o-ring and stub pipe assembly from which one of our members had an issue.

The magazine should be arriving on our doorsteps within a matter of days. Sit tight.

Mike K

[rosemary]

Hello Mike
Thanks will do. Had another look this morning from above, removed engine cover, couldn't see anything. No puddle under car so assume leak occurs when engine is a at full temperature and system is pressurised.
Dave

[rosemary]

Hello Folks and Mike
I read the article in the latest magazine and my mind is made up. Unless I can get someone to fix it at a reasonable price, the car has got to go. However, on second thoughts , now that Tata is reported as thinking about ditching the Jaguar marque it might become a curiosity and be worth more than a push bike so I might wrap it up and keep it in the yard.
Dave

[steve_m]

You could try this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Trade-Dire ... B00904HIBG

It worked on my X Type where the Radweld didn't.

[rosemary]

Hello Steve
Thanks,just ordered some, we'll see if it works.
Dave

[rosemary]

Hello Folks
Well an update. The car has been in the local garage for 2 days, they've driven it round, pressurised the system, had it up on the four poster, engine running, temp up, thermostat open, under tray off, analysed the coolant for cylinder gases, none, and they agree there is a loss of fluid about 100ml/150ml over the 2 days. They said that major dismantling to gain access would be the next step but they were unwilling to go that far and recommended a specialist Jag Repairer rather than waste money with them. They gave me a bottle of k-seal and advised me to put it in and consider getting rid of the car given that the investigation would cost more than car is worth. I'm going to mothball it and put it on SORN when the insurance runs out. I've had enough.
Dave

[Montana5]

Take it to an independant Jaguar specialist, they will fix it no problem, have you read the link I posted and the January Magazine article Mike mentioned.

Doug.

[rosemary]

Hello Doug
Yes I looked at the Post and the Article in the January Mag. However as I have said I've had enough.I have become attached to this car over the years but enough is enough, it has been the most unreliable car I've ever had and I've had a few in 57 years of motoring which include 3 Jaguars. 4 SAABs and various other makes,Triumph, Austin, Renault, Citroen, Morris, Rover, BMW, SIMCA, etc, excluding the Jags none has come remotely close to the costs incurred keeping this car on the road. I should have seen the signs shown by my first 1999 S-Type when things started going wrong with that and now my XF is exhibiting worryingly similar signs i.e. I've just had to have the front bearings replaced the same as the first S-Type and this S-Type. Note bearings were changed on 99 car at 57k, on this 05 car 43k, and the XF at 86k so an improvement at least. These however are the least of the problems some for example include,Expansion Tanks.Radiator, Air Con System, EGR valves, Injectors, Gearbox, Suspension Links, Brake Cylinders, and a myriad of minor defects and Electrical glitches, Heating ECM and DCCV, Flat Batteries, Door Locks, Exhaust System brackets rotting off, the list goes on.
In conclusion I think the answer is sticking with cars that are better made if such a thing exists and with extended Warranty, KIA for example, and letting someone else have the problems and cost. This unfortunately will not include Jaguars.
Dave

[rosemary]

Hello Folks
Well new car on order, not JLR, and S-Type tucked up in the yard, funny though, in the February issue a letter in the S-Type section described my problem to a tee. David Marks brief description of how to fix it echoed the write up in the previous month’s, January, issue in the 350 section ref difficult to access. I am assuming the part is referred to” Water Inlet Pipe part C2C23804 in the SNG catalogue for £35.69 inc. Although now on SORN I might have a go in the summer when the weather is warmer. If successful I might take it off SORN and insure it.
Dave

[rosemary]

Hello Folks
Just a brief note re Part C2C23804 in the SNG catalogue. The exploded view of the part shows the "0" ring as separate. The part actually comes with the "0" ring fitted. Because it's shown separate I bought one, you don't need to. For anyone else contemplating this job you can save yourself an extra couple of pounds.
Dave

[rosemary]

Hello Folks
Well re-Taxed car 1st June, 5th June:- car dumped all the Coolant Fluid on the drive in the yard after a short journey to Marlow and back.
Clearly it gave up the ghost just as I got home, the temperature hadn't gone up like it did the last time in 2014 in the middle of France to warn me. When I went to the car later to go out, on starting I had the coolant level low come up . Got out and then I saw all the coolant on the concrete a lovely shade of pink.
Going to take it around to the village garage tomorrow, I'm sure they'll find it this time. The car is staying true to form, reliability is an unknown entity to this car, something in the realms of impossible imagination. Mind you it has done 150,500 miles with significant expensive, none routine, issues for each of the 14 years of its existence. Updates to come. At least the S-Type will appear in the Forum after being absent for a while.
Dave