Something to share, something to ask. So as new to me owner I could not help myself, but to dive in and do all kind of maintenance things, some more needed than others, but once you take all these plasticky thingies off and lift the engine... might as well. Plugs, coils, coolant pump,engine brackets, bearings for idler pulleys, alternator, reservoir for power steering, (was cracked just enough to leak slowly slowly), coolant expansion tank, oil pan gasket, some other stuff like breather , gasket for valve covers, intake manifold gaskets etc. Car kas 160K, engine about 80K Jaguar S type 2003
All good, all is working, I think the smell is gone, just lingering in carpets, as a matter of fast under the hood smells way better than inside... Some detailing tasks are in order.
Two things worth mentioning:
1. non jaguar alternator caused trouble with "No charge " icon, its all about voltmeter. I took voltmeter from old alternator :Jaguar Denso" and all is working perfectly, no warnings. Its literally just 6 little screws. Old alternator was fine, just soaked in oil from oil pan;'s leaking gasket. Has anyone found by any chance a place to buy Jaguar Denso voltmeter? I think many members would benefit as oppose to overpaying OEM parts.
2. I repainted valve covers. Totally unnecessary effort, considering that most of valve covers surface is not visible. Couldn't help myself,. Now a real question to experts. Why driver side valve cover is silver color or maybe not painted at all, just magnesium and passenger side is black? First I though that maybe someone worked on engine and swapped one of them, but I checked in other S type and.. same situation. Engineers typically don't do needless tasks, does anyone know what is the logic or reasoning? Moth are out of magnesium. but one is black. Why?
Cheers






Before valve cover cleanup and paint. While searching why my jag smells like oil inside

Repainted valve covers coming back together

All cleaned up, almost done

 

Nice job, does it work ok after all that?

 

Hi Steve,
It all works, oil smell seems to be gone. Car is quite, no misfires, no vibrations, no smell. There were some unpleasantries for first test drive, I didn't have fuel line sensor wire plugged back in, my house to expansion tank disconnected... and as mentioned "no battery charge". I suppose lost focus a little bit in the end. Anyhow, I plugged all back in, added coolant, re-used all voltmeter and cleared all codes. Still things to do with suspension, paint and interior,but engine compartment is good to go.
I took it for a spin yesterday, it was great.