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How tough is it to change out the coolant pipes on a 351 XJ
Well, looks like our 2013 XJ is getting close to that deadly 50k mark when lots of folks experience coolant pipe failures. So, my question is how tough is it for the OLD GUY here to do it at home ? Have the tools, maybe not enough skin on the arms to loose but don't want a blown engine down the road. Looked on Youtube and found a XF that someone did, he had removed the top end Turbo charger and pulled off the pipe and replaced it. I found replacement ones in METAL instead of the infamous failing PLASTIC Crap from Jaguar on Ebay for about $60.00 which seems reasonable. Just need to know if I should undertake it or not, the car is NOT a daily driver. Your comments are welcome..... Jag coolant pipe
Not a very hard job take pictures of where all your brackets are and hose placement other than that the pins that hold the supercharger down can be a little stuck, I found wiggling front to rear loosened it enough to get it off. I changed rear crossover pipe when I took it off as well as the water pump and pipe that I also got a metal on for on Ebay that goes into the oil cooler.
Not a very hard job take pictures of where all your brackets are and hose placement other than that the pins that hold the supercharger down can be a little stuck, I found wiggling front to rear loosened it enough to get it off. I changed rear crossover pipe when I took it off as well as the water pump and pipe that I also got a metal on for on Ebay that goes into the oil cooler.
Ian, do you remember what the part looked like or who you might of bought it from on Ebay??? The one that I am looking at getting has the front and rear pipes. so I guess I would want the other one that goes to the oil cooler also if it is all apart....
Many, many threads with pictures on this repair. Easy to find with searches. I found and posted these Aluminum parts when they were first released last year? This forum is WAY ahead of anything on YouTube!
Remember all 5.0L engines regardless of what model they are installed in are all the same. So an F-Type, XJ, XK, all take the same parts. As posted above most people remove the SC (we don't have a turbo?) to do this repair. It is a great time to replace other stuff like the water pump and SC snout and SC oil
Consider getting the kit like Ian posted above as there are several more things to replace while it's all apart. Note the Aluminum water transfer tube that goes from the water pump to the oil cooler brick. Plus the nice brass nipple that again replaced crappy plastic factory junk.
One thing I would add is to replace the rear water manifold. Even though it's still plastic, it is a known failure point and not too expensive to add to your list.
Up to you too but if I was doing all this work I would also throw a new serpentine belt on. It has to removed to do the repair so zero extra work to replace it.
Also the coolant has a 10 year life and your car is ten this year. You need to drain the coolant to do this repair so again a good time to refresh the coolant. Others might even throw in a new thermostat.
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Last edited by clubairth1; 06-04-2023 at 02:59 PM.
Many, many threads with pictures on this repair. Easy to find with searches. I found and posted these Aluminum parts when they were first released last year? This forum is WAY ahead of anything on YouTube!
Remember all 5.0L engines regardless of what model they are installed in are all the same. So an F-Type, XJ, XK, all take the same parts. As posted above most people remove the SC (we don't have a turbo?) to do this repair. It is a great time to replace other stuff like the water pump and SC snout and SC oil
Consider getting the kit like Ian posted above as there are several more things to replace while it's all apart. Note the Aluminum water transfer tube that goes from the water pump to the oil cooler brick. Plus the nice brass nipple that again replaced crappy plastic factory junk.
One thing I would add is to replace the rear water manifold. Even though it's still plastic, it is a known failure point and not too expensive to add to your list.
Up to you too but if I was doing all this work I would also throw a new serpentine belt on. It has to removed to do the repair so zero extra work to replace it.
Also the coolant has a 10 year life and your car is ten this year. You need to drain the coolant to do this repair so again a good time to refresh the coolant. Others might even throw in a new thermostat.
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Any remotely sensible person would love and appreciate that post - Thank you !!
Remember all 5.0L engines regardless of what model they are installed in are all the same. So an F-Type, XJ, XK, all take the same parts.
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I wish this were true, but not really.
The aluminum parts only fit the supercharged 5.0L engines.
I know this because they are not available for my wife's Naturally Aspirated (NA) 5.0L AJ133.
There are many 5.0L XJs (and others) that are not supercharged.
And although I looked and may have missed it, I don't see where Ken Dreger described just which engine is in his 2013 XJ. Couldn't it be supercharged, but a 3.5L?
Sorry and very good point on the Aluminum pipes I forgot to add! They are for the 3.0L and 5.0L SC engines ONLY. The NA 5.0L guys are still waiting BUT the vendor has posted that those plus the rear water manifold are under consideration for release in Aluminum. Nothing released yet?
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06-03-2023, 11:13 AM
How tough is it to change out the coolant pipes on a 351 XJ
