05 XJR - Random coolant smell coming from right front of engine bay
#1
05 XJR - Random coolant smell coming from right front of engine bay
Just bought my 05 XJR a few days ago, starting to dig into it a bit.
One of the first issues I noticed is prominent coolant smell near the coolant reservoir tank at the RH side of the car. I see no drips or stains of coolant anywhere.
The car is in good shape overall, 73k miles on it, no signs of abuse.
Any ideas?
One of the first issues I noticed is prominent coolant smell near the coolant reservoir tank at the RH side of the car. I see no drips or stains of coolant anywhere.
The car is in good shape overall, 73k miles on it, no signs of abuse.
Any ideas?
#2
Just bought my 05 XJR a few days ago, starting to dig into it a bit.
One of the first issues I noticed is prominent coolant smell near the coolant reservoir tank at the RH side of the car. I see no drips or stains of coolant anywhere.
The car is in good shape overall, 73k miles on it, no signs of abuse.
Any ideas?
One of the first issues I noticed is prominent coolant smell near the coolant reservoir tank at the RH side of the car. I see no drips or stains of coolant anywhere.
The car is in good shape overall, 73k miles on it, no signs of abuse.
Any ideas?
Coolant leaks are common on these cars.
Here is a search:
Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum - Search Results
The leaks can be pinhole sized. UV dye and a pressure tester form your local auto parts store is the best way to find it. Pressure test at the reservoir @ no higher than 14.2 psi.
Also if you can get ahold of the history, it may have been fixed before and the coolant is left soaking in the undertray. The smell can linger for a year.
Try the pressure check first. Best of luck.
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Don B (04-14-2017)
#3
Hey ST welcome to the forum. You've only had the car a few days so I assume if the seller was dubious, he could have topped off the coolant.
Coolant leaks are common on these cars.
Here is a search:
Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum - Search Results
The leaks can be pinhole sized. UV dye and a pressure tester form your local auto parts store is the best way to find it. Pressure test at the reservoir @ no higher than 14.2 psi.
Also if you can get ahold of the history, it may have been fixed before and the coolant is left soaking in the undertray. The smell can linger for a year.
Try the pressure check first. Best of luck.
Coolant leaks are common on these cars.
Here is a search:
Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum - Search Results
The leaks can be pinhole sized. UV dye and a pressure tester form your local auto parts store is the best way to find it. Pressure test at the reservoir @ no higher than 14.2 psi.
Also if you can get ahold of the history, it may have been fixed before and the coolant is left soaking in the undertray. The smell can linger for a year.
Try the pressure check first. Best of luck.
I was hoping to find out the common areas so I can look more closely into them. .
#4
Another issue I have is It appears the car has been filled with green coolant.. I read some scary stories about how orange/pink and green dont mix well.
I have no idea if this car has been flushed out or not.. Is green acceptable to use on these cars? What's everyone running?
Im concerned about clogging my heater core.. if it isnt already :x
I have no idea if this car has been flushed out or not.. Is green acceptable to use on these cars? What's everyone running?
Im concerned about clogging my heater core.. if it isnt already :x
#5
Green coolant is fine as long as the system was completely flushed and all Dexcool removed. Just note, it is not the Manufacturer's recommended coolant and if you decide to go back to Dexcool, you must completely flush all of the ethanol coolant.
Next, It's easy enough to see is your core is clogged with a $20 Infrared thermometer. Let the engine warm to operating temp and turn your heat on high. Point your IR thermometer at the vent on the drivers side. Then do the same on the passenger side. If you're within 1 or 2 degrees, your fine.
Nothing else from my original comments changes. Use a pressure tester and UV dye to test for leaks. Remove the under tray and check it (night is best). You can search every related thread, pressure testing with UV dye is the proper procedure.
Sorry, not sure what happened to the search but from the X350 page, enter coolant leak in the search box (see pic). You will get a lot of not relevant stuff but the titles will give you a clue.
Next, It's easy enough to see is your core is clogged with a $20 Infrared thermometer. Let the engine warm to operating temp and turn your heat on high. Point your IR thermometer at the vent on the drivers side. Then do the same on the passenger side. If you're within 1 or 2 degrees, your fine.
Nothing else from my original comments changes. Use a pressure tester and UV dye to test for leaks. Remove the under tray and check it (night is best). You can search every related thread, pressure testing with UV dye is the proper procedure.
Sorry, not sure what happened to the search but from the X350 page, enter coolant leak in the search box (see pic). You will get a lot of not relevant stuff but the titles will give you a clue.
#6
Hey Shawn,
Thanks for the suggestion, Ive been searchign alot of topics today, here are a few things Im going to check:
-Thermostat housing
-Lower connection on coolant overflow (no visible leaks on top connections)
-Auxiliary cooling pump (both heater and SC)
I have every intention of doing a proper flush with the correct coolant. Hopefully I can find the leak in the mean time.
Thanks for the suggestion, Ive been searchign alot of topics today, here are a few things Im going to check:
-Thermostat housing
-Lower connection on coolant overflow (no visible leaks on top connections)
-Auxiliary cooling pump (both heater and SC)
I have every intention of doing a proper flush with the correct coolant. Hopefully I can find the leak in the mean time.
#7
My car smells like coolant after it's been run. You can smell it when walking past the front of the car or open the hood. I'm not losing any coolant that I can tell so I just have my fingers crossed. There are some known leak spots but if the coolant level isn't dropping (keep an eye on it from day to day for at least a week, but always when fully cooled down or cold) you might be able to get away with just monitoring the issue for now. A leak test is by far the best way to diagnose the problem.
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#8
#9
My car smells like coolant after it's been run. You can smell it when walking past the front of the car or open the hood. I'm not losing any coolant that I can tell so I just have my fingers crossed. There are some known leak spots but if the coolant level isn't dropping (keep an eye on it from day to day for at least a week, but always when fully cooled down or cold) you might be able to get away with just monitoring the issue for now. A leak test is by far the best way to diagnose the problem.
My leak was at the overflow from the coolant reservoir which is apparently common because sometimes the outlet tube cracks.
I replaced the reservoir recently even tho I could not see a crack and I still get a slight leak there.
First time I could see that the bleed screw was not in tight so tightened it.
Still getting the leak but it appears to be the rubber hose which I had cut back before so have ordered a new rubber hose now.
Question.... what type of hose clips do you have on your car stham the OEM clips?
Only ask because if the previous owner used the jubilee clips that could be a problem as DonB has posted before.
#10
Factory clips still on mine.
I looked closely around the reservoir, and i see no sign of leakage anywhere.
For the overflow tank, is it possible the top black half and bottom translucent half can separate at the seam? I wonder if its seeping through there.
If coolant was leaking, it would undoubtedly leave a small stain no matter how small it is... I just cant find any stains yet.
I looked closely around the reservoir, and i see no sign of leakage anywhere.
For the overflow tank, is it possible the top black half and bottom translucent half can separate at the seam? I wonder if its seeping through there.
If coolant was leaking, it would undoubtedly leave a small stain no matter how small it is... I just cant find any stains yet.
#11
Factory clips still on mine.
I looked closely around the reservoir, and i see no sign of leakage anywhere.
For the overflow tank, is it possible the top black half and bottom translucent half can separate at the seam? I wonder if its seeping through there.
If coolant was leaking, it would undoubtedly leave a small stain no matter how small it is... I just cant find any stains yet.
I looked closely around the reservoir, and i see no sign of leakage anywhere.
For the overflow tank, is it possible the top black half and bottom translucent half can separate at the seam? I wonder if its seeping through there.
If coolant was leaking, it would undoubtedly leave a small stain no matter how small it is... I just cant find any stains yet.
I agree that where coolant leaks it should leave a stain no matter how small.
One thing you could try, although it is a pain, is remove the underbody shield and see if there are any signs of coolant stains on it.
That shield can hold coolant long enough to dry without dripping onto the ground with small leaks but would still be stained.
#13
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I haven't heard of a seam separating on an X350 coolant reservoir, but that doesn't mean someone isn't going to be the first to have it happen. A friend's Chrysler van just suffered this problem with a separated seam and we found it by pressure-testing the system as Sean has recommended.
Our '04 XJR developed a pinhole leak in one of the hoses in the tangled nest under the reservoir. I had UV dye on my shopping list but found the leak by waiting till dark and shining a flashlight up underneath while the engine was running. The spray from the pinhole was only visible when the flashlight beam highlighted it. The mist of coolant was immediately dissipating in the flow of the radiator fan and not leaving a telltale stain, which had made locating the leak more difficult.
Cheers,
Don
Our '04 XJR developed a pinhole leak in one of the hoses in the tangled nest under the reservoir. I had UV dye on my shopping list but found the leak by waiting till dark and shining a flashlight up underneath while the engine was running. The spray from the pinhole was only visible when the flashlight beam highlighted it. The mist of coolant was immediately dissipating in the flow of the radiator fan and not leaving a telltale stain, which had made locating the leak more difficult.
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don B; 04-14-2017 at 09:46 AM.
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paydase (04-15-2017)
#14
#15
#16
You'll want to drop the under tray when you do that and make sure you get all excess coolant cleaned up when you put t back together. Also wash the under tray. Dexcool has a strong odor that can linger for a year, even in small amounts. It'll drive you nuts smelling it every time you walk past the engine.
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Don B (04-21-2017)
#17
Prestone manufactures a coolant that can be used in all vehicles. There is a GM version known as Dexcool which has a red dye and another version that is green, the all vehicle version, that is green. I believe both would be acceptable in your Jag.
My coolant overflow tank was replaced at less than 50,000 miles when the car was about 4 years old. There are reports that the coolant pumps for the heating system can leak.
I also had to replace one radiator hose that had a slow leak under pressure.
RyeJag
My coolant overflow tank was replaced at less than 50,000 miles when the car was about 4 years old. There are reports that the coolant pumps for the heating system can leak.
I also had to replace one radiator hose that had a slow leak under pressure.
RyeJag
#18
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The corrosion inhibitors in traditional ethylene glycol (EG) "green" coolants are based on Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT).
The inhibitors in Zerex G-05 blue/clear PG coolant are based on Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT).
The most widely-reported caution is that mixing coolant types can result in the incompatible inhibitors forming a sludge or gel that clogs narrower passages in the cooling system (and not just the small pipes in the heater core).
Another issue is that OAT and HOAT coolants do not control electrolysis in cooling systems made of more than one metal (especially when one of them is brass), and they do not protect steel water pump impellers from electrolysis or cavitation erosion, which is why plastic impellers were introduced with OAT coolants in the S-Types and X350s.
New formulations of OAT and HOAT coolants continue to be developed, and some "universal" formulations are claimed to be compatible with other coolants. But since many automakers state in their technical literature that IAT should not be mixed with OAT or HOAT, and OAT and HOAT should not be mixed together, the safest route is to use the coolant specified by Jaguar for your model and VIN and do not risk your engine on the marketing claims of Prestone or any other third-party coolant maker.
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don B; 04-24-2017 at 11:04 AM.
#19
#20
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From my research I had come to believe that Airtex/Wells is the OEM of the Jaguar pumps, and this has been confirmed by Jim Lombardi on the X308 forum. The same pump was used from the X100/X308 to the 2010 XF, and also on the Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird. Airtex/Wells model AW4124 is the pump Jaguar currently supplies as a replacement and it is available from Rock Auto for less than $33.00. Here are some of my posts on these topics:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...8/#post1618854
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...1/#post1303811
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...3/#post1614731
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...0/#post1601801
Cheers,
Don
Last edited by Don B; 04-24-2017 at 09:30 AM.
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jackra_1 (04-24-2017)