2013 XJ X351 3.0 SC Head Gasket Replacement
#1
2013 XJ X351 3.0 SC Head Gasket Replacement
Hello Jaguar folks. I am new to this forum and here is my story.
I have a 2013 XJ with V6 s/c with 84,000 miles here in Southern California. I bought this car as-is on auction and found there is a problem with overheating. I put a new water pump, take off the thermostat but it doesn't help at all. Then I found that there is a combustion gases in the coolant system. Jag slowly gets up to 95 degrees Celsius in about 30-40 minutes and then gets up to 120 C in the next couple minute. Coolant starts boil and I shut off the car. So it looks that I need to put new head gaskets and this should resolve all the problems.
Did someone here do this job before? I was trying to find any information but haven't find anything similar. I am a mechanic, but never worked with 3.0 Jags before.
What type of special tools do I need to have to complete this job?
Any information would be helpful.
I will keep you guys updated. Firstly, I need to order special tools and figure out how to put marks on timing chain.
Thank you!
I have a 2013 XJ with V6 s/c with 84,000 miles here in Southern California. I bought this car as-is on auction and found there is a problem with overheating. I put a new water pump, take off the thermostat but it doesn't help at all. Then I found that there is a combustion gases in the coolant system. Jag slowly gets up to 95 degrees Celsius in about 30-40 minutes and then gets up to 120 C in the next couple minute. Coolant starts boil and I shut off the car. So it looks that I need to put new head gaskets and this should resolve all the problems.
Did someone here do this job before? I was trying to find any information but haven't find anything similar. I am a mechanic, but never worked with 3.0 Jags before.
What type of special tools do I need to have to complete this job?
Any information would be helpful.
I will keep you guys updated. Firstly, I need to order special tools and figure out how to put marks on timing chain.
Thank you!
Last edited by loompy; 01-25-2020 at 10:45 AM.
#2
#3
That's right. There are combustion gases in the coolant. Tested with a special tester and there are bubbles in the coolant reservoir.
#4
OK just did not you to change stuff unless it's needed. Now you have a bigger decision to make?
Since you don't know what happened the heads and engine might be junk and you will need a new engine. Sometimes if over heated severely it ruins the entire engine from warping the heads and the block.
Pull the heads and see what you have as you have nothing to lose at this point.
Do you have the shop manual? It's free and located in the stickies at the top of this forum.
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Since you don't know what happened the heads and engine might be junk and you will need a new engine. Sometimes if over heated severely it ruins the entire engine from warping the heads and the block.
Pull the heads and see what you have as you have nothing to lose at this point.
Do you have the shop manual? It's free and located in the stickies at the top of this forum.
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.
.
#6
Block and heads are aluminium. What you have to do is check the block for warping when you have the heads off. If it is, then parting-out the car might be your best option, unless you can find another engine cheaply. The problem you have is that the car is now 7 years old and its mileage, whilst reasonable for that age, means its value is not very much even if it were a good running car.
#7
Hang on a sec. Did you use a single chamber or double chamber cooling system tester? The single chamber ones are known for producing false positives. Experienced this myself on my XJS V12.
Next thing I would do is examine the spark plugs (leaky cylinders should look too clean), and do a compression test. Then you will know which head. Why pull both?
Head gaskets do fail and usually blocks survive. The head might be slightly distorted but could be skimmed if it isn't too bad.
Last head gasket failure I experienced resulted in erosion of the head which had to be built back up with a TIG welder and then skimmed. Hope that hasn't happen to the block.
Next thing I would do is examine the spark plugs (leaky cylinders should look too clean), and do a compression test. Then you will know which head. Why pull both?
Head gaskets do fail and usually blocks survive. The head might be slightly distorted but could be skimmed if it isn't too bad.
Last head gasket failure I experienced resulted in erosion of the head which had to be built back up with a TIG welder and then skimmed. Hope that hasn't happen to the block.
Last edited by Mark SF; 01-29-2020 at 05:55 PM.
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#9
Has anyone ever heard of Blue Devil?
They have a line of head gasket, head/block crack sealants and so forth.
I had tale-tell signs of a warped head, not in my wife's Jaguar though.
In this case, I noticed coolant loss, with no sign of coolant leak, and pressure building-up in the coolant system, misfires on start-up and diagnosis by a dealership of needing to replace a head.
Anyway, enough about me.
It took me a few bottles of the Blue Devil before I got it right, mostly as far as making sure I had all the air out of the system after flushing.
But after running the Blue Devil head sealant through it, it's been fine.
I did not want to use any of the general coolant sealers that gum-up the system with "particulate matter" of various sorts.
The Blue Devil has nothing solid in it, just chemical.
Other than having to remove the the thermostat, flush the entire system, fill with clean water, inputting the Blue Devil into the cold engine and letting it run for 50 minutes, letting it sit and completely cool for a few hours, then flushing the Blue Devil & water out, replacing the thermostat & filling with proper coolant and returning to normal use, it was easy. At least much easier than pulling a head, possibly replacing the head, and putting the top end back together.
It's a relatively cheap & easy option to try if the next alternative is an engine rebuild.
I know many will trash-talk it and say it'll ruin an engine, but I've noticed those people have pretty much never used it, or have used other products that just gum-up the coolant system.
This doesn't seem to do that from my personal experience.
A JLR dealership mechanic that I've known over the years actually mentioned Blue Devil as the only alternative they would try before having a very costly head gasket repair that may find more damage than just the gasket.
They have a line of head gasket, head/block crack sealants and so forth.
I had tale-tell signs of a warped head, not in my wife's Jaguar though.
In this case, I noticed coolant loss, with no sign of coolant leak, and pressure building-up in the coolant system, misfires on start-up and diagnosis by a dealership of needing to replace a head.
Anyway, enough about me.
It took me a few bottles of the Blue Devil before I got it right, mostly as far as making sure I had all the air out of the system after flushing.
But after running the Blue Devil head sealant through it, it's been fine.
I did not want to use any of the general coolant sealers that gum-up the system with "particulate matter" of various sorts.
The Blue Devil has nothing solid in it, just chemical.
Other than having to remove the the thermostat, flush the entire system, fill with clean water, inputting the Blue Devil into the cold engine and letting it run for 50 minutes, letting it sit and completely cool for a few hours, then flushing the Blue Devil & water out, replacing the thermostat & filling with proper coolant and returning to normal use, it was easy. At least much easier than pulling a head, possibly replacing the head, and putting the top end back together.
It's a relatively cheap & easy option to try if the next alternative is an engine rebuild.
I know many will trash-talk it and say it'll ruin an engine, but I've noticed those people have pretty much never used it, or have used other products that just gum-up the coolant system.
This doesn't seem to do that from my personal experience.
A JLR dealership mechanic that I've known over the years actually mentioned Blue Devil as the only alternative they would try before having a very costly head gasket repair that may find more damage than just the gasket.
Last edited by 12jagmark; 03-28-2020 at 07:57 PM.
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QP7 (01-27-2024)
#10
Running into this issue and there are no videos on YouTube..
hello jaguar folks. I am new to this forum and here is my story.
I have a 2013 xj with v6 s/c with 84,000 miles here in southern california. I bought this car as-is on auction and found there is a problem with overheating. I put a new water pump, take off the thermostat but it doesn't help at all. then i found that there is a combustion gases in the coolant system. jag slowly gets up to 95 degrees celsius in about 30-40 minutes and then gets up to 120 c in the next couple minute. Coolant starts boil and i shut off the car. So it looks that i need to put new head gaskets and this should resolve all the problems.
Did someone here do this job before? I was trying to find any information but haven't find anything similar. I am a mechanic, but never worked with 3.0 jags before.
What type of special tools do i need to have to complete this job?
any information would be helpful.
i will keep you guys updated. Firstly, i need to order special tools and figure out how to put marks on timing chain.
Thank you!
I have a 2013 xj with v6 s/c with 84,000 miles here in southern california. I bought this car as-is on auction and found there is a problem with overheating. I put a new water pump, take off the thermostat but it doesn't help at all. then i found that there is a combustion gases in the coolant system. jag slowly gets up to 95 degrees celsius in about 30-40 minutes and then gets up to 120 c in the next couple minute. Coolant starts boil and i shut off the car. So it looks that i need to put new head gaskets and this should resolve all the problems.
Did someone here do this job before? I was trying to find any information but haven't find anything similar. I am a mechanic, but never worked with 3.0 jags before.
What type of special tools do i need to have to complete this job?
any information would be helpful.
i will keep you guys updated. Firstly, i need to order special tools and figure out how to put marks on timing chain.
Thank you!
hi, my brother and i are running into the same issue.. We have a 2013 jaguar xf 3.0 v6 supercharged. We have verified it is the head gaskets. The issue is we are a little leery on moving forward.. We were hoping for a video but none exist or i just cant find them for this specific vehicle....were you successful? Does anyone maybe know of some videos or even advice to share? Thank you.
#11
Well, this is very interesting. My coolant tank has been decreasing coolant level by about an inch every week. No sign of a leak under the car, but the leak is so slow that is likely seepage. Mine is a 2013 but when I bought it I noticed it has already got the new model of JLR plastic coolant pipes - i.e. no seam at the front. But the bad news in that is it may mean my engine was over heated by the previous owner...? So what is the chance it is my head gaskets? I have very slight bubbles in the coolant tank but only intermittently - i.e. 1 in 6 or 7 times.
Tomorrow, I have my coolant system checked for a leak. Is there any advice on not over doing the pressure on the coolant system, or anything else to bear in mind?
Thanks for the advice on the Blue Devil.
Tomorrow, I have my coolant system checked for a leak. Is there any advice on not over doing the pressure on the coolant system, or anything else to bear in mind?
Thanks for the advice on the Blue Devil.
#12
Well, this is very interesting. My coolant tank has been decreasing coolant level by about an inch every week. No sign of a leak under the car, but the leak is so slow that is likely seepage. Mine is a 2013 but when I bought it I noticed it has already got the new model of JLR plastic coolant pipes - i.e. no seam at the front. But the bad news in that is it may mean my engine was over heated by the previous owner...? So what is the chance it is my head gaskets? I have very slight bubbles in the coolant tank but only intermittently - i.e. 1 in 6 or 7 times.
Tomorrow, I have my coolant system checked for a leak. Is there any advice on not over doing the pressure on the coolant system, or anything else to bear in mind?
Thanks for the advice on the Blue Devil.
Tomorrow, I have my coolant system checked for a leak. Is there any advice on not over doing the pressure on the coolant system, or anything else to bear in mind?
Thanks for the advice on the Blue Devil.
You should also test for exhaust gases in the coolant system at the same time with one of these testers that you can buy at the parts store or online.
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QP7 (02-29-2024)
#13
hi, my brother and i are running into the same issue.. We have a 2013 jaguar xf 3.0 v6 supercharged. We have verified it is the head gaskets. The issue is we are a little leery on moving forward.. We were hoping for a video but none exist or i just cant find them for this specific vehicle....were you successful? Does anyone maybe know of some videos or even advice to share? Thank you.
#14
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lotusespritse (02-29-2024)
#15
Very true, otherwise it's a ton of work for nothing. In the video I posted around 3:25, he shows the process of checking for warping with a special engine flat edge and feeler gauges.
#16
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#17
How hard is it to remove the engine out of the top vs dropping it down? Using an engine hoist is not an issue in my garage.
Last edited by lotusespritse; 02-29-2024 at 01:02 PM.
#18
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Getting to the back of the engine, even with the cowl removed, is difficult at best with the engine in situ.
#19
#20
That seems easier, but when I think about the effort to move to a house with a garage that can fit a lift or tear down my garage and build another one, it ends up being more work, lol.
How hard is it to remove the engine out of the top vs dropping it down? Using an engine hoist is not an issue in my garage.
How hard is it to remove the engine out of the top vs dropping it down? Using an engine hoist is not an issue in my garage.
The following 2 users liked this post by gt40:
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