XK8 Blow Job!

Author
Discussion

robocop

Original Poster:

489 posts

244 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
That got your attention!

Having read all the previous posts about Nikasil problems I decided to have a 'Blow-by' test done at an independent Main Dealer(one I havn't been to for servicing), to put my mind at rest.

I did get one before I bought the car in May but that was just a 'pass', and since then I have learnt from my fellow P/H's you need the actual score and that 40+ is a fail!

Well I now have a true reading ...... 15

Considering mine is one of the early Nikasil XK's - a Dec96 with 67k - and was around at the time of the worst fuel, I think thats a pretty good score. It certainly goes well enough....er...officer

Anyone care to comment? What is a new engine reading, is it ZERO?

Rgds

banny

58 posts

247 months

Monday 8th November 2004
quotequote all
I had the test done before i bought my 97 xk8

Similar milage scored a 13 made me very happy to but I think I will dont this anually from now on.

CheekyChap

110 posts

250 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
Fair enough, but I thought the original problem was with the sulphur content of UK unleaded at that time dissolving the nikasil bore linings.

Since the unleaded recipe has now been changed I'd say if it passes the blow test now it should continue to pass.

Anyone know anything different?

banny

58 posts

247 months

Tuesday 9th November 2004
quotequote all
I have read somewhere that it is also not wise to run lots of short trips so you turn the engine of before it is fully warmed. As to how it contributes I dont know? I hope you are right about that though

robocop

Original Poster:

489 posts

244 months

Wednesday 10th November 2004
quotequote all
I think you are right Dave, stop/starts and poor fuel were the two main contributing factors. We have better fuel now so thats one problem solved, but too much of the other would probably not help.

Service Manager I spoke with gave the example of people starting the car up, reversing out the garage, switching off, washing car then putting it back in the garage again!

I think a yearly blow-job wouldnt hurt...just for peace of mind!

...come to think of it...would be like another birthday!

Rgds


Apologies to Mrs Robocop!

V8Smith

3,510 posts

260 months

Monday 15th November 2004
quotequote all
As far as I know the blow by test is supposed to be done free of charge with every service, so in theory it already gets a test assuming your dealer is following Jaguars guidelines, just ask!!!!

So if the main problem is the quality of petrol then I assume if someone has always used the higher grade super unleaded then the car should be OK??? yes/no?? My father has a 1998 XK8 with 100K miles on it, hes had no problems and always uses the best fuel would he have known by now if there was a pending problem???

Later

Mike

craigy

106 posts

260 months

Thursday 16th December 2004
quotequote all
Hello all!

I've just defected from the TVR section having sold my TVR 'S' and replaced it with a Mark II Jaguar along with a 1998 XJ8.

Luckily my Mark II is too refined to need a Blow Job and is sexy enough as it is!

However I did treat the XJ8 to one today which came out at 20 ltrs p/min.

Mine has 85,000 on the clock with a full Jaguar history - starts and runs beautifully cold or hot and uses no oil at all.

The Jaguar technicians tell me that this is very good news for the age and mileage.

Furthermore I spoke to another Jaguar dealer who tells me that we would all know for sure by now if our engines were going to suffer.

Apparently when these engines were failing whilst the cars were reasonably new and at low mileages, the blow - by meter would either show between 12 - 16 ltrs p/min (i.e perfect & as new) or they would simply go off the scale!

Lets hope that this means that my engine is only half way through its' life at 84k as are most other Jags at this stage.

Any other advice or info would be greatly appreciated as I like people other than myself to convince me not to worry about these sort of things.

Thanks all,

Craig

Robocop

Original Poster:

489 posts

244 months

Thursday 16th December 2004
quotequote all
Hello Craig and welcome to the world of Jags

I think you can relax now that you have found a decent one with a reasonable reading. The nasty high-sulphur fuel that was responsible for corroding the Nikasil linings away, is no more , so you should be safe.(apart from ordinary wear and tear that is )

Rgds

craigy

106 posts

260 months

Friday 17th December 2004
quotequote all
That's comforting to know!

Many thanks indeed.

Cheers

Craig