Jaguar XJ8

[fixitflav]

I’m looking at a 1998 Jaguar XJ8 petrol 3.2 litre that my son’s GF’s grandad wants to shift! Only 80k miles.

It has a water leak which is thought to be head gasket, at least it’s nothing more obvious. A few queries if anybody can help.

It’s a V8 – is there a way to check which head is the problem?

Is the head likely to need skimming if aluminium (can’t find material on the web)

Any general comments?

 

[JohnD]

has it been garaged?

the 1998 XJ has a steel body and can rust. This series is called the X308.

I don't know this model, but although a big Jag can be cheap to buy, in your first year you will find problems that may well cost several thousand to fix.

You might find something here

or here

 

[Burnerman]

Does the engine run? If it does you can probably identify the faulty bank with a stethoscope.
Generally speaking, if an alloy head has been overheated it will definitely need skimming....you find the area of the blown gasket and then look very carefully for a steam channel that has been carved on the head- I've seen this many times in the past.
The steam channel is a few thou deep and must be machined out.
John

 

[fixitflav]

has it been garaged?

the 1998 XJ has a steel body and can rust. This series is called the X308.

I don't know this model, but although a big Jag can be cheap to buy, in your first year you will find problems that may well cost several thousand to fix.

You might find something here

or here

Thanks. Body doesn't look too bad, pics attached

 

[fixitflav]

Does the engine run? If it does you can probably identify the faulty bank with a stethoscope.
Generally speaking, if an alloy head has been overheated it will definitely need skimming....you find the area of the blown gasket and then look very carefully for a steam channel that has been carved on the head- I've seen this many times in the past.
The steam channel is a few thou deep and must be machined out.
John

Thanks for the tips. I think it runs, but I haven't seen it yet. I don't think it overheated, caught in time, but need to check. Still need to find out if it's alloy head or CI.

 

[JohnD]

nice and shiny, but you need to crawl underneath.

Very nice wheels, usually seen on the Daimler variant. I have an idea they are called "luxury"

rear passenger space on that model is a bit cramped, unless LWB. Test out all the luxury toys (there will be a lot) and look for instruction book and service history.

you can look up MoT history on https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
That will show you if any faults were prompty attended to, and the mileage pattern. it shows you tyres and parking brake were neglected and inner sills rusted. Annual mileage has been very low since (at least) 2006.

See if you can find an independent Jag specialist near you - try that website I posted. Main dealers are not an economic proposition, but you need someone familiar with the model.

These cars are often owned by prosperous older men, and cosseted.

 

[Gasguru]

A relation of mine had all the problems with the BMW Nikasil fiasco back then and it looks like it plagued the Jag engines too so do your homework....

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a6643/top-automotive-engineering-failures-jaguar-nikasil-v8/

I'd also be checking out seemingly minor electrical issues...it was certainly the case with the S types that Ford (who owned Jaguar at the time) were using their American electronics manufacturer for the modules.
Another relative had an S type and a simple rear light failure turned out to need a new (programmed) rear body control module at £800. No recons were being done at the time.

 

[JohnD]

I think I heard that all the Nikasils had new engines fitted under warranty.

If any missed it they must surely have been scrapped.

 

[fixitflav]

Thanks for everybody's comments, much appreciated