I have a 1997 XK8 THAT IS LEAKING A SMALL DROPS OF OIL. Mechanic says its from the rear main seal and to leave it alone its a big job to replace. any suggestion or others who have this issue?

 

Probably has the oil gallery plug and/or the rear crank seal.
One of my XKRs has the oil gallery seal leaking but it is a GEARBOX OUT repair that I will get to 'someday'.

 

Replacing rear main means having to move the transmission, so it can be an expensive job with shop rates.

However it may not be the rear main oil seal - is your mechanic intimately familiar with the XK8 engine?

There's a small plug above the rear main that has been known to leak. You can see in the two photos of the second post here: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...oblems-267476/

 

That plug is another brilliant Jag design. They couldn't just use a pipe plug with sealer, nor could they use an aluminum crush washer. Theirs has a metal washer with a rubber ring in the inner perimeter. The rubber perishes after a while and then it's time to pull the trans. Sigh.

 

thank you not sure how much he knows about this engine. I will check the site out.