| As with all auto engines, severe overheating | | | | replacing the water pump, with a cold engine, take |
| problems can be very frustrating and nerve | | | | the filler cap off the expansion tank and then ask |
| racking especially in hot weather and slow moving | | | | someone to run the engine for you at 1200 rpm. |
| traffic. If not resolved it can be potentially very | | | | Should the pump be working correctly, water |
| expensive! It's critical to ensure your XK8 cooling | | | | should be circulating / swirling well in the tank. If |
| system parts are in tip top order for piece of | | | | there is a problem, then there will be very little |
| mind. Worse case severe overheating scenarios | | | | swirl and therefore indicative of a problem with |
| are; blown head gaskets, damaged cylinder heads | | | | the water pump. If you are going to the effort of |
| and potentially a deterioration in engine lubrication | | | | checking it then it's worth replacing with the latest |
| quality. The latter can then affect the longevity of | | | | XK8 parts including water pump and other cooling |
| crankshaft bearings and the general life of the | | | | system parts. |
| XK8 engine. | | | | Pre 2003 cars also suffered from breakdown of |
| Prior to 2003 and the introduction of the 4.2 XK | | | | other plastic cooling system parts. These relate to |
| engines, earlier cars suffered from using poor | | | | the thermostat housing rising out of the block and |
| quality parts in the form of lightweight materials. | | | | the bridge pipe linking the cylinder heads on |
| Relating to the water pump, this manifests itself in | | | | naturally aspirated cars (the XKR has an alloy |
| the disintegration / breaking up of the plastic | | | | pipe). The thermostat housings are now available |
| impellor within the water pump. This then leads to | | | | in alloy and we hope that the bridge pipe will |
| reduced coolant flow, localised heating and the | | | | follow. The Jaguar Part number for the water |
| worst case problems mentioned above. Indicative | | | | pump is - AJ8008912 and all later water pumps |
| signs of a cooling problem on the XK8 engine are | | | | supersede to this part number. |
| the cooling fans staying on for long periods | | | | If you are going to the trouble of the above then |
| regardless of temperature and / or one of the | | | | we recommend you change the thermostat and |
| top hoses blowing off. | | | | check / replace all hoses as required. |
| Before going to the effort of removing / | | | | |