Nikasil Paranoia
#1
11-27-2007, 10:21 AM
Guest
Posts: n/a
Nikasil Paranoia
I have a 99 XK-8 48k miles. I'm in love with the car however after reading many posts I am a bit paranoid about nikasil. Just a few questions for those in the know: 1.Is it only a matter of time beforeALL pre 2000engines suffer the fatal nikasil curse or do you have a fighting chance with runninglow sulpher fuel, good warm up etc.. If its not a forgone conclusion, what percentage of engines are terminally effected by the problem.2. Speaking of low sulpher fuel, what brand or brands are safest for my engine. I can't seem to find a good website listing the qualityof various brands of gaoline. (I Live in North Carolina, Sunoco stations are scarce.)
Thanks to all.
Thanks to all.
#2
11-27-2007, 11:40 AM
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
This has helped Nikasil engines a million, but ultimately we aren't sure exactly how much.
"Beginning in January of 2004, refiners and importers began to supply lower sulfur gasoline for use in new cleaner Tier 2 vehicles.Gasoline sulfur levels will be phased down by about 90 percent of the levels in 2003, and earlier by the time the three-year phase-in of this program is complete.With the introduction of low-sulfur gasoline, the gap between the emissions benefits of conventional gasoline and cleaner burning gasoline, like RFG, has shrunk considerably."
Source http://www.api.org/aboutoilgas/gasol...ine-octane.cfm
"Beginning in January of 2004, refiners and importers began to supply lower sulfur gasoline for use in new cleaner Tier 2 vehicles.Gasoline sulfur levels will be phased down by about 90 percent of the levels in 2003, and earlier by the time the three-year phase-in of this program is complete.With the introduction of low-sulfur gasoline, the gap between the emissions benefits of conventional gasoline and cleaner burning gasoline, like RFG, has shrunk considerably."
Source http://www.api.org/aboutoilgas/gasol...ine-octane.cfm
#3
11-30-2007, 06:26 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
I too own an early model XK8 ('98), live in NC (Raleigh), and used to worry incessantly about nikasil. I don't anymore. There are a lot more things out there to worry about than some nickel and silicone lining which may, or very likely never will, give you a single problem.
That's not to say you won't have problems. I am on my 4th Jaguar and 6th British made car. They all give you problems. They are all expensive to work on. They are all engineered in such a way that very few linear thinking people have ever understood. Jaguars are not for the faint of heart. If you wanted a meticulously well-made, well-engineered, bullet-proof, slow depreciating, reasonably priced, car you should have probably bought an Acura or a Lexus.But you didn't. You bought something in my opinion far more important--a carthat can actually make you feel good about yourself and bring a smile more often than not to your face.
enjoy.
That's not to say you won't have problems. I am on my 4th Jaguar and 6th British made car. They all give you problems. They are all expensive to work on. They are all engineered in such a way that very few linear thinking people have ever understood. Jaguars are not for the faint of heart. If you wanted a meticulously well-made, well-engineered, bullet-proof, slow depreciating, reasonably priced, car you should have probably bought an Acura or a Lexus.But you didn't. You bought something in my opinion far more important--a carthat can actually make you feel good about yourself and bring a smile more often than not to your face.
enjoy.
#4
11-30-2007, 08:02 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
You are quite right. This is my first Jag but I have owned a few Austin Healey's and Triumphs.
When I was a kid in the mid 60's my dad owned a fewE Types and I have always loved Jags. He oftensaid they are much like a beautiful woman that you can not resist that is high maintenance andalways knows how to bea pain in the ***.
Yes, you can buy other cars that are less maintenance, better engineered and better performing but I will take the Jag. They arevery special cars. The feel, ride, looks, smell and appointments are unparalleled.
No Jap cars for me thank you. I'll keep my Jaguar.
No regrets!
When I was a kid in the mid 60's my dad owned a fewE Types and I have always loved Jags. He oftensaid they are much like a beautiful woman that you can not resist that is high maintenance andalways knows how to bea pain in the ***.
Yes, you can buy other cars that are less maintenance, better engineered and better performing but I will take the Jag. They arevery special cars. The feel, ride, looks, smell and appointments are unparalleled.
No Jap cars for me thank you. I'll keep my Jaguar.
No regrets!
#5
02-16-2008, 11:00 PM
Member
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
Your father must be a bright, insightful man.
"He often said they (Jags) are much like a beautiful woman that you can not resist that is high maintenance and always knows how to be a pain in the ***."
I also live in NC (Winston Salem), have had concerns about Nikasil, and wonder what brand of fuel to use. I have a 97 Carnival Red XK8. I have had the tensioners replaced, always allow a full warm up, and have chosed to use BP 93 octane for no reasonably coherant thought process other than I believe that it's high quality fuel and a British engine might enjoy drinking British Petrol.
I think that if you're doing these things, you're doing all that you can. Now, it's time to stop worrying about the car and keep enjoying it. If my engine blows up, I'll replace it with a cast iron sleeved engine and keep driving it every pretty day I can.
I first saw the XK8 in person at the London Motor Show in 1999 when I was studying at Oxford. I stopped and stared for 20 minutes thinking, "This is the most gorgeous automobile that I have seen in my life." I still grin when I think about actually having the fortune to own one. It is the first car I have owned that I have no intention of ever selling.
We should have a NC XK meeting sometime.
"He often said they (Jags) are much like a beautiful woman that you can not resist that is high maintenance and always knows how to be a pain in the ***."
I also live in NC (Winston Salem), have had concerns about Nikasil, and wonder what brand of fuel to use. I have a 97 Carnival Red XK8. I have had the tensioners replaced, always allow a full warm up, and have chosed to use BP 93 octane for no reasonably coherant thought process other than I believe that it's high quality fuel and a British engine might enjoy drinking British Petrol.
I think that if you're doing these things, you're doing all that you can. Now, it's time to stop worrying about the car and keep enjoying it. If my engine blows up, I'll replace it with a cast iron sleeved engine and keep driving it every pretty day I can.
I first saw the XK8 in person at the London Motor Show in 1999 when I was studying at Oxford. I stopped and stared for 20 minutes thinking, "This is the most gorgeous automobile that I have seen in my life." I still grin when I think about actually having the fortune to own one. It is the first car I have owned that I have no intention of ever selling.
We should have a NC XK meeting sometime.
#6
02-16-2008, 11:24 PM
Veteran member
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
ORIGINAL: tonycottrell
<snip> and have chosen to use BP 93 octane for no reasonably coherant thought process other than I believe that it's high quality fuel and a British engine might enjoy drinking British Petrol.
<snip> and have chosen to use BP 93 octane for no reasonably coherant thought process other than I believe that it's high quality fuel and a British engine might enjoy drinking British Petrol.
#7
02-17-2008, 08:49 AM
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
Lol...I think that BP is now from somewhere other than Britain. Possibly the car will enjoy petrol paid for with British pounds. BP is a good gas. All preference at the endof the day. I personally don't care for contributing to exxon mobils profit margin any more. Chevron also good.
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#8
02-18-2008, 08:14 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
TonyCottrell,
Thanks for the reply. Pasted below is some info that I sent to jagjoel regarding nikasil and what little I have learned about it.
A NC gathering sounds great to me. I don't plan to sell mine either.
> I have learned a little lately that is a bit comforting.
> I'm lucky here (Charlotte NC) to have a great, honest and reasonable
> shop to do my maintenance. I have also visited the dealer (Scott Jaguar)
> with a check engine light issue and have been very impressed with their
> Service Managers willingness to answer questions and their pricing as
> well. They loaned me a X type that had 9 miles on it free for two days
> while they worked on my car and I didn't even buy my car there or have any
> warranty whatsoever. Total bill was only around $400.00!
>
> Regarding Nikasil, here's what I have learned:
>
> Nikasil engine fatalities are not very common, tend to be regional and
> have been very few in the more recent years. Probably due to regional fuel
> quality standards.
>
> New, more restricted fuel standards were phased in nation wide beginning
> in 2002 with mandatory compliance in 2004 and later regarding sulfur
> content making the nikasil issue much less of a threat.
>
> The consensus of these mechanics is if you haven't been bitten by now you
> probably wont.
>
> Best thing you can do is give the car a good warm up, avoid short trips
> where the engine doesn't have a chance to reach normal operating temp and
> run good fuel.
>
> As far as fuel goes I have not found a good source for finding the best
> brand of fuel but I keep reading that Shell is one of the best. I try to
> run Shell whenever I can and when I must run something else I try not to
> use an off brand. If you can find any better fuel info please forward.
> I'm not to worried at this point either, I'm enjoying the car
> immensely.
> Thanks again for the e mail. Keep in touch with any developments, I will
> as well.
Thanks for the reply. Pasted below is some info that I sent to jagjoel regarding nikasil and what little I have learned about it.
A NC gathering sounds great to me. I don't plan to sell mine either.
> I have learned a little lately that is a bit comforting.
> I'm lucky here (Charlotte NC) to have a great, honest and reasonable
> shop to do my maintenance. I have also visited the dealer (Scott Jaguar)
> with a check engine light issue and have been very impressed with their
> Service Managers willingness to answer questions and their pricing as
> well. They loaned me a X type that had 9 miles on it free for two days
> while they worked on my car and I didn't even buy my car there or have any
> warranty whatsoever. Total bill was only around $400.00!
>
> Regarding Nikasil, here's what I have learned:
>
> Nikasil engine fatalities are not very common, tend to be regional and
> have been very few in the more recent years. Probably due to regional fuel
> quality standards.
>
> New, more restricted fuel standards were phased in nation wide beginning
> in 2002 with mandatory compliance in 2004 and later regarding sulfur
> content making the nikasil issue much less of a threat.
>
> The consensus of these mechanics is if you haven't been bitten by now you
> probably wont.
>
> Best thing you can do is give the car a good warm up, avoid short trips
> where the engine doesn't have a chance to reach normal operating temp and
> run good fuel.
>
> As far as fuel goes I have not found a good source for finding the best
> brand of fuel but I keep reading that Shell is one of the best. I try to
> run Shell whenever I can and when I must run something else I try not to
> use an off brand. If you can find any better fuel info please forward.
> I'm not to worried at this point either, I'm enjoying the car
> immensely.
> Thanks again for the e mail. Keep in touch with any developments, I will
> as well.
#10
02-19-2008, 06:25 PM
#11
02-28-2008, 05:53 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Nikasil Paranoia
Before I bought 01 XKR, I askedseveral mechanics about the Nikasil issue. Their reply was "DO NOT use cheap gas."
They did say in some regions of the country this issuse has happen due to the regional fuel quality standards.
Tomcat74 [sm=americanasmiley.gif]
01 XKR Conv.
91 ZR1
They did say in some regions of the country this issuse has happen due to the regional fuel quality standards.
Tomcat74 [sm=americanasmiley.gif]
01 XKR Conv.
91 ZR1
#12
09-21-2009, 05:06 PM
Veteran Member
I would add to this thread information on the closing date of the Nikasil engines so it can effectively be added to a new FAQ link.
The first engine serial number with steel cylinder linings is 0008181043, which translates to August 18, 2000.
If your car was built somewhat after that date you probably have steel lined cylinders.
The only way to positively know is to verify the engine serial number.
The first engine serial number with steel cylinder linings is 0008181043, which translates to August 18, 2000.
If your car was built somewhat after that date you probably have steel lined cylinders.
The only way to positively know is to verify the engine serial number.
#13
09-21-2009, 05:15 PM
Veteran Member
#14
09-21-2009, 09:03 PM
All fuels now can not have a sulphur content of more than 30 PPM. So what brand of gasoline you buy really doesn't have too much bearing on sulphur content. Regardless of what brand you buy it probably all came from the same fuel bank in your area. Gasoline companies buy fuel from fuel banks, that is why you will see Chevron, Shell (BP), Mobil etc trucks all in line at the same fuel bank waiting to get filled. You wonder what's the difference, it's the additivies in the tankers that are different. The additivies get mixed with the raw gasoline while being delivered to the gas station. There is a tremendous difference in the additiives from brand to brand.
High sulphur content fuels were an issue in the late 90's in some areas all the way up until 2002.
Nikasil is a very durable coating, nuch harder and longer wearing than a steel sleeve as long as it is not abused. Nikasil's enemies are heat and sulphur. As long as the motor has never been overheated and subjected to high sulphur fuels consistently it should give miles of trouble free service. There are many Jaguar nikasil motors still running today with over 200K miles on the clock. Porsche has used nikasil in their engines for years. Give a me well maintained nikasil motor over a sleeved motor any day.
High sulphur content fuels were an issue in the late 90's in some areas all the way up until 2002.
Nikasil is a very durable coating, nuch harder and longer wearing than a steel sleeve as long as it is not abused. Nikasil's enemies are heat and sulphur. As long as the motor has never been overheated and subjected to high sulphur fuels consistently it should give miles of trouble free service. There are many Jaguar nikasil motors still running today with over 200K miles on the clock. Porsche has used nikasil in their engines for years. Give a me well maintained nikasil motor over a sleeved motor any day.
#15
04-10-2011, 03:07 PM
Greetings!
I am still getting used to my 01 XKR, 69K miles, which was produced in June of 2000, so it does have Nykasil plating.
I have a bit of an issue here, my oil level slowly goes down. After about 2K miles oil went from absolute MAX on the dipstick to about 1/4" below.
Also, I do have slow leak on the front crank seal, which always leaves me new ~2" oil drip on the garage floor, when parked overnight, before that I had leaking valve cover gaskets, which I fixed about 1K miles ago. So oil consumption seems to be leak related, however few minutes ago I saw my wife pull out of driveway in XKR and when she took off, it blew a little puff of smoke from left pipe (resonator is removed and exhaust lines are not crossing). Puff was whitish and not bluish, like your typical oil smoke that stays in the air for a while, like a blue haze.
Motor runs perfect and had absolutely 0 vibration at idle, it is perfectly calm at red lights.
My questions is, whould I measure compression in left bank to see if I have cylinder issue, or it might be fuel related puff?
I am not easily freaked out about any car problem, but I do like to know your opinions.
Thank you!
I am still getting used to my 01 XKR, 69K miles, which was produced in June of 2000, so it does have Nykasil plating.
I have a bit of an issue here, my oil level slowly goes down. After about 2K miles oil went from absolute MAX on the dipstick to about 1/4" below.
Also, I do have slow leak on the front crank seal, which always leaves me new ~2" oil drip on the garage floor, when parked overnight, before that I had leaking valve cover gaskets, which I fixed about 1K miles ago. So oil consumption seems to be leak related, however few minutes ago I saw my wife pull out of driveway in XKR and when she took off, it blew a little puff of smoke from left pipe (resonator is removed and exhaust lines are not crossing). Puff was whitish and not bluish, like your typical oil smoke that stays in the air for a while, like a blue haze.
Motor runs perfect and had absolutely 0 vibration at idle, it is perfectly calm at red lights.
My questions is, whould I measure compression in left bank to see if I have cylinder issue, or it might be fuel related puff?
I am not easily freaked out about any car problem, but I do like to know your opinions.
Thank you!
#16
04-10-2011, 04:04 PM
White is water, blue is oil, black is fuel. A little white puff when cold or during high humidity is normal, usually condensation inside the exhaust steaming away. If it has a sweet smell and/or you're losing coolant it's probably a head gasket.
Several years ago GM, and later other OEMs, approached fuel retailers in order to develop certain base requirements for decent, consistent fuel supplies. Mostly to stave off excessive warranty/performance issues resulting from crap gas but also to help meet and maintain emissions standards. What was developed was/is known as 'Top Tier' fuels. I have no idea if the original companies that agreed to adhere to the standards continue to do so, if I recall correctly BP was on the list but no longer. It is surprising to see which brands are/are not on the list. See: Top Tier Gasoline to learn more.
Agree with Nikasil not being an issue. Do yourself and your engine a favor by using good fuel and not making short trips that don't allow the engine to warm up. Face it, if the trip is that short, why not just walk?
Several years ago GM, and later other OEMs, approached fuel retailers in order to develop certain base requirements for decent, consistent fuel supplies. Mostly to stave off excessive warranty/performance issues resulting from crap gas but also to help meet and maintain emissions standards. What was developed was/is known as 'Top Tier' fuels. I have no idea if the original companies that agreed to adhere to the standards continue to do so, if I recall correctly BP was on the list but no longer. It is surprising to see which brands are/are not on the list. See: Top Tier Gasoline to learn more.
Agree with Nikasil not being an issue. Do yourself and your engine a favor by using good fuel and not making short trips that don't allow the engine to warm up. Face it, if the trip is that short, why not just walk?
#17
04-10-2011, 04:40 PM
Veteran Member
I think you are being overly concerned today. I would venture to say that all Jags use a little oil between changes and taking in consideration with the weather changes a little oil consumption is not unusual. As for the white puff that could be condensation from sitting overnight. You ask about Nikasil and are concerned if it is a problem. I did a lot of research on the subject and posted the results on my page and you are welcome to read it. A link to my page is also on the FAQ list at the bottom. I think it will provide you with a little peace of mind.
This is the link Nikasil
I hope this helps!
This is the link Nikasil
I hope this helps!
#18
04-10-2011, 05:01 PM
Wife just came back from shopping and I had her going up and down the street, hummering on gas pedal. Not a slightest hint of spoke, so I suppose that puff was a drip from one of the valve seals, or maybe some steam. BTW, cooling system is perfectly tight, antifeeze level is the same, ever since I replaceed intercooler pump.
Thank you guys!
Thank you guys!
