Hi Guys,

More questions about the XK's. From research the Nikasil engines stopped in August 2001. The question is what is the worry about engine failure with the cars that have survived to now?

As I have been shopping I have seen many cars MY 1998 to 2001 with 40k to 80k on the clock in really good shape. Now that gas is low sulfur do we still worry about engine failure in these cars? What is the likely hood of the engine going south?

Can we do the bit of maintenance required, tensioners, hoses, bushings ect. and have an older albeit very nice car to drive not garage?

If the engine fails are we way past the factory doing anything? I'm sure I know the answer to this....

Thanks for your indulgence with my questions.

Griff

 

It's going to be a matter of opinion, but I think the general consensus is that a Nikasil engine that's survived until now is probably OK and may actually be better than an engine with steel-lined cylinders.
Tensioners, hoses, bushings are all important / essential maintenance items and can be done fairly easily by someone practical, and/or not too expensively by any competent garage (shop ?)who is not a Jaguar dealership that charges silly hourly rates to do pretty basic stuff.
No - too late for factory rescue.


Some early cars (mine is one) had the engine replaced due to the Nikasil problem, so date of manufacture is not necessarily an indication that the car has this engine.

 

I believe the nikasil liners are susceptible to damage by overheating, so having a device that reads temp. real time and an alarm would be good protection. I have both the Realgauge mod and an Ultragauge.

And no, the factory is long past replacing the engine.

 

Was 99.9999999999% sure that a factory rescue was not going to happen.

Maybe I'm ruling out MY cars that I shouldn't be. I know maintenance trumps mileage but I've been writing off the early MY cars because of the engine.

I'm still a little worried about the early engines. I read that Porsche uses Nikasil lining.

Any more opinions on early MY cars that have 40k to 90k on the engine?

Thanks,
Griff

 

The real concern is how much damage took place before you take ownership. This link might help.

Link JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

Link JagRepair.com - Jaguar Repair Information Resource

 

Thanks Gus I read your stickies, great information.

Griff

 

All other things being equal, l believe Nikasil engine to be superior to steel liner unit but that's just my opinion.

 

Hi I wouldn't worry about nikasil most of the damage was done in the early days by now the engines were replaced or it's ok I have had lots of xj8 and xk8 and all have been good, just looking after it properly and it will last forever

 

It's actually August 2000 that they switched to steel liners, although I agree with the others that if the engine is still going strong 15-20 years on its not likely to suddenly die from Nikasil failure.

 

98' XJR original nikasil engine 235K miles here in the U.S. When I took the heads off for a blown headgasket, I was still seeing the crosshatch. Albeit I 'think' it was under the nikasil?? Anyways, it got new MLS headgaskets and still runs strong. It's simply a matter of maintenance. 3K miles for conventional oil and 5K miles for synthetic...period!

 

Yep, head gaskets will still need to be changed at some point, but on what typical car is that not a maintenance item eventually? I had both of mine done (only 1 needed) early last year. Zero troubles of any major effect, could easily be my daily driver (and has been occasionally). The engine is rock solid at 140k+ and I think a quietly kept secret. The strong have survived.

 

I bought my car in January 2011 and in the 5.5 years since have put 29k miles on it; it is a daily driver when there isn't salt on the ground; I don't go that many places so that isn't me trying to keep mileage off. I really don't drive my XJR or A8L at all in the summer unless I need 4 seats, and actually let my parents drive them for periods of time in order to not have them sit too much.

Nikasil didn't bother me enough that I bought a second nikasil car; my XJR. It didn't bother me on my 7 series BMW I owned (pre-alusil); at almost 200k the s***box 5HP24 gearbox failing the second time did bother me(first owner paid the first time, I sold it for $500 less than I bought it for after it failed [paid a fire sale price]). In these cars, nikasil doesn't scare me; the garbage 5sp ZF gearboxes do. The 4.0SC cars having a Mercedes 722.6 is a HUGE plus to me.

 

Hi my car is a 1997 has the original engine, I purchased it at 63,000 miles now has 98,000, I have done the tensioners, chains, water pump and other bits myself, the car still drives beautifully and I love driving it every day.

 

It is not under the nickasil, if it were your engine would not last another 100 miles with iron rings against a bare aluminum cylinder. The nickle-silicon Carbide coating is extremely strong. Barring breakdown for some reason (poor fuel or overheating), you will probably wear out your rings and pistons before the coating wears off.

That said I would prefer an iron cylinder insert, if something does happen it would be a bear to machine a nickasil engine.

As for the OP, my car 01XKR has a Nickasil engine with 104k and is doing fine.