Cooling leak / part no. advice

[RL_XJ]

Hi

I've got a cooling system leak causing overheating on a 97 3.2 Sport V8. With apologies for the lack of expert understanding: right at the front / top of the engine there's a T-shape rigid pipe assembly, horizontal top section then a connection coming out the underside and going back between the heads. When the engine's warm, water's spraying out of a crack / a couple of pinholes at high pressure causing rapid coolant loss and overheating.

Any ideas how I source the part number? Is there a diagram online anywhere?

Also, when it overheats the interior heater blows cold - would it make sense that the two issues are linked?

Many thanks

Richard

[Cubist]

Hi There,
Check out the link below to SNG Barratt, if you follow the 'Find Parts' link it will take you to a set of exploded diagrams associated with parts and numbers. You may find what you're looking for there.

https://www.sngbarratt.com/uk/#!/English/home

Also, a temporary/emergency fix I've used in the past is to wind some good quality insulation tape, overlapped by about half the width of the tape, around the circumference of the pipe starting about 2cm before and ending 2cm after the leak. If space is restricted you can also cut several lengths of tape, a couple of centimetres longer than the pipes circumference, and lay these on individually but again overlapped. I've used this on flexible hoses but it may also work with the plastic you need to deal with. Just make sure that the surface you're applying the tape to is clean and free of greasy deposits.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Cubist

[Andy P]

Hi RL_XJ,
The pipe your referring to is the heater feed hose.

Heater feed hose

Number 1 in the Diagram.
Here's the link to that page:
https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/uk/j ... and-return
Try not to drive too much while it is overheating,it will quickly cause you more problems.
Take Care.
Happy Holiday's
Andy

[Orkney]

Hope you get sorted and as Andy says don’t let it overheat!
Following Cubists reply and along the same theme I always carry self amalgamating tape. It’s used to waterproof electrical fittings but is great as a temporary hose fix. Many years ago I had a hose go on a Mk 1 Escort (would be worth much more than my Daimler these days) and wrapped the top hose in this tape - totally forgot when I got home and it did about 6 months before I replaced the hose.
If you are not familiar with this stuff you remove the backing and stretch the tape to about twice it’s length and wrap around the hose, overlapping as you go like Cubist suggests. It gradually becomes one mass and virtually impossible to unravel after a while.

Ian

Forgot to say that classic Jaguar spares have a good web site where there are great exploded views so you can identify the part number you need.

[RL_XJ]

Thanks all for your comments. Turns out this is the one I was after:

https://www.justjagsuk.com/thermostat-w ... pipe-22265

I did use the self-amalgamating tape stuff, nightmare to get it to hold and bond, in strips, when there isn't space to properly wrap it around the pipe! However it's holding well, the engine's not overheating and there's just a bit of a weep when it's warm.

From what I can see, the replacement looks fairly accessible and a straightforward fix I can do in the New Year. Because it's right at the top, I'm assuming I won't need to drain down when I do it? Are problems with airlocks likely?

[Andy P]

Hi RL_XJ,
Straight forward job my friend,but worth checking the thermostat housing and if it's still of the plastic variety change that at the same time for the up-rated aluminium one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... T&_sacat=0
No problem with air locks as the system is self bleeding.
Fill up from top of thermostat housing,run car up to temperature then let cool down and check the reservoir tank and top up if necessary.
Make sure you use the correct coolant though(very important).
Good luck.
Take care.
Andy