I have always had the opinion that any additive (oil or coolant) that prevents the base fluid from leaking past something (e.g. radiator, valve seal, piston rings, worn cylinders) then its likely to gum up other areas that you don't want it to.

 

We have had good results with Restore on this forum. If it was not a good product I would not recommend it. And I do not work for them!

 

No argument, Gus. The anecdotal information on the forum indicates that this product does what it says it does. I put some in my car, but haven't driven the 500 miles the can recommends for it to really work. The engine, however, does seem a little quieter and smoother, and for that I'm satisfied. It's still smoking on startup, so I'm not sure what, if anything, RESTORE (or any other product) can do to improve worn valve seals. I'll wait to I get more mileage on it to form definitive opinion.

 

I put on my Kevlar vest and decided to update and revive this thread. It's been about a thousand miles since I treated my engine with Restore, and while the initial smoking on startup became minimal for awhile, it's now back at the same level it was before. The real solution is simple; install new valve seals and be done with it, or just suck it up, and add oil as needed. The new valve seal route, even if done without removing the heads, is a good deal of work frought with the possibility of dropping things into places they ought not be. I decided to try a third option, turning it into a chemical experiment by mixing in a few quarts of Mobil 1 High Mileage synthetic, which allegedly has additives that will soften and swell the seals, and hopefully provide some benefit(I can already hear the sound of weapons being loaded and flame throwers being lit).


I've done a fair amount of research on the web, starting with Bob Is The Oil Guy, on the possible risks involved in this course of action. The additives could further deteriorate the seals as well as affectiong seals and gaskets all over the engine, introducing possible oil seepage from multiple areas. Or, maybe nothing will happen, good or bad, and I'll have thrown away $ 50 on brand name snake oil (literally). As I said, I plan to mix in a quart or three in the next few months just to see what happens. If nothing, than I'll buy a few cases of synthetic oil and just add it as necessary. If the engine turns into an oil sprinkler (which I doubt will occur), shame on me. But, if it happens to work, even on a limited basis, it might be a stopgap measre for others with the same problem.


Comments or suggestions welcome, as long as they don't begin with "just how f*****g stupid are you"?


Max

 

I have been using Mobil 1 high mileage 10W40 in both of my cars since I bought them 3- 4 years ago. I don't know what was in the XK8 but the XJ6 had been running 10W50 regular oil. There is a slight leak from the XK8 rear main, but that might have been there when I bought the car. Other than that, no leaks.

 

I've been using Mobil1 10w40 high mileage in my XK8 for nearly 4 years now - nothing has exploded/imploded, car runs well, no oil leaks- uses perhaps half a pint between 5000m oil changes. Present mileage is 89000.

 

I have also seen excessive sludge from poor oil or lack of maintenance clog return holes. Oil build up in the top of the cylinder head which can weep past valve seals causing oil burn at initial start up. Rich

 

When I got this car, the engine was indeed pretty sludged up. In the course of replacing the timing chain tensioners, the indie doing the work advised me of that fact, and flushed the engine until it was reasonably clean. I've had an additional oil change since then, and the oil was (and is) like new. I would hope that he also checked out the oil return holes in the head at the same time, but need to check back with him to confirm that. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Not quite the same problem but ...

I put Valvoline's Max Life semi-synthetic 5W30 in last week during a routine oil and filter change. Now I've got a slow oil leak coming from the oil pan area. The thing was dry as a bone before. I've cleaned the area a couple of times just to be sure it wasn't residual spillage. It isn't.

Should I try going back to 10W30 first or is it time to replace the lower oil pan gasket? Opinions?

UPDATE: Using some better search terms I found this thread:https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...l-woes-133295/

Lufferman never came back and said what his fix was.

I'm leaning toward replacing this beautiful new oil with a heavier one but still would like to hear the latest opinions!