4.2 Typical oil consumption

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:25 pm

I have recently bought a 1965 S1 FHC. I've not owned one before, so forgive the simple question: what oil consumption should I typically expect in normal use ? The mileage is 64K miles but the engine was replaced back in the '70s with a reconditioned unit, so I don't know how many miles this engine has done.

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:37 pm

Nick

Oil consumption can vary with the type of oil you use. Full synthetics are particularly poor in this respect in old engines. If you are using a 30SAE (20W/50 e.g. Penrite Classic HPR30) oil expect to use a pint every 1,000 miles depending on how the car is driven. Even when new the 3.8's were initially using up to a pint every 100 miles! The 4.2's improved on this considerably. How many miles are you getting per pint?

Moeregaard · Post by **Moeregaard** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:13 pm

Another factor to consider is whether seals were ever fitted to the intake-valve guides. Jaguar didn't get around to doing this until 1969 and even the early 4.2 used oil. I ran my '65 with the original guides until I rebuilt the lump in 1991, at which time I upgraded to the later guides and seals. Oil consumption dropped dramatically. I went from using a quart every 1,000 miles to well under a pint over the same distance. For oil I always run Castrol 20/50.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:45 pm

Heuer

Thanks. I haven't measured the level over distance yet. Unfortunately I didn't check the level when I picked the car up but after 85 miles at 60-65 mph the level was about 1cm below the minimum. It probably wasn't to level when I started. There is some oil seepage from the back of the engine, I think from one of the cam feed banjos, but not enough to use that much oil. I'm monitoring the level more closely now & will top up with 20W50.

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:35 pm

Nick

Seepage from the banjo's is a known problem so, if you can be bothered, replace the washers with new copper ones. The other area oil can seep from is the rear crankshaft rope seal. Again a known problem but the engine needs to be pulled to replace it - just had to have mine done and not cheap.

Fill to the top of the hatch area on the dipstick whilst the car is dead level and check after every journey. Also worth checking your dipstick is straight and is the correct one for the car - it should have an E engraved on the end of it, which does not stand for empty!

Welcome to the Forum by the way. Feel free to jump in anytime with questions and post a picture of your car if you get a chance.

David

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:21 pm

The consumptions stated above a rather flattering in my experience. My OTS leaks as much as it burns ! My newly rebuilt FHC engine will do better I hope, but experience of these engines over nearly 50 years, even when new, suggests that anything better than 200 miles per pint is perfectly acceptable. Incidentally, a common cause of excessive consumption is overfilling because of an inaccurate dipstick. Next time you change, drain and fill with the recommended quantity for your car ( probably 14.5 pints on a refill with filter) and then mark the dipstick accordingly to give an accurate full line

Echezeaux · Post by **Echezeaux** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:29 am

Funny that ! I have just replaced oil and filter in mine, poured 8.5 liters in it and the level on the dipstick is just in the middle !?
Re checked the factory manual ,engine refill 8.5 l or 15 Imp pints.
So, is the refill with or without filter ?
This is my first oil change on an E-type !!
Any advice ?.

Thanks for your time.
Thierry

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:26 pm

Thierry

That is about right, 15 pints should take it about midway on the dip stick assuming the stick is not bent and is the correct one for the car - 'E' on tip.

Echezeaux · Post by **Echezeaux** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:30 am

Thanks David,

So can I add another half a liter of oil to go to the max level on the stick ?
And yes, the dip stick is marked E (Not for empty, as you said earlier on)

Thanks for your help.
Thierry

Post by **Heuer** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:10 am

Thierry

Yes you can safely top it up to max especially if you intend throwing the car around bends, accelerating and braking hard. For 'normal' driving anywhere in the cross-hatch will be fine but do make sure the car is on the level when you check. Even a small incline can make a big difference to the reading hence Jaguar filled to the mid-point and allowed a fair amount of leeway on each side - avoided calls from concerned owners.

Bill Molloy · Post by **Bill Molloy** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:19 am

re: bent dipstick

I fell for this trick a few years ago, kept filling it up until it was almost overflowing out the top. Finally gave up and drained the sump and couldnt believe how much oil was in the car. That's when I noticed the dipstick was bent, towards the inside of the engine. So after straightening the stick and refilling with the exact quantity as per the manual, the dipstick measurement was spot on.

Incidentally, I checked the oil about a week ago and guess what ? the dipstick is bent again. Now I know for sure no-one else has removed it in the meantime, and I for sure haven't bent it .. so .. any ideas what's bending it other than Mr Gellar ?

I've straightened it again but I'm definately going to keep my eye on it

Echezeaux · Post by **Echezeaux** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:50 pm

Thanks a lot David , I feel more confident now, and when I will be more intimate with the beast ,for sure I will throw her around !

Bill, do you have any special gift ? Can be handy !!

Thierry

Bill Molloy · Post by **Bill Molloy** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:49 pm

Thierry,

I think the recurring bending dipstick answer lies more in physics than my talents. It can be explained by a 3 dimensional quadrilateral combination of Boyles law, Pythagoras Theory, Quantum Physics, and Newtons Second Law model.

QED.

Let me have your email address and I'll send you a copy of my calculations

Post by **Heuer** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:48 pm

Bill

I think you will find it is pentalateral problem - Boyles law, Pythagoras Theory, Quantum Physics, Newtons Second Law model and driving too fast 8)

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:21 pm

I favour Buys Ballot's law as the explanation : if you stand with your back to the wind in the northern hemisphere, the area of low pressure is to your left

Echezeaux · Post by **Echezeaux** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:46 am

Sorry to bother you but, I changed the engine oil again, and again I'm a bit confused with the oil dipstick.
Could you, by looking at my pictures know if your oil dipstick match mine?
I pourred 8.5 l of oil and the level still really low.

Another oil question, on the oil sender pic, do you think it is a factory one or an aftermarket as the oil gauge looks really new.
I wish to upgrade to a JEC oil gauge kit, but maybe mine is already one of them?

Thanks in advance.
Thierry

Do not ask me for a closer view as I had great difficulties to retreive the camera from inside the frame and all

Post by **Heuer** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:28 pm

Looks to be the correct one (E on end), straight and the measurements appear correct. Do you have an oil cooler? I assume the sump is the correct one for the car? I have seen these replaced by ones from different jaguars when the original has been damaged.

Echezeaux · Post by **Echezeaux** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:27 am

David, everything appears factory, no oil cooler, ribbed sump. But I checked the depth of the sump by sliding a piece of pipe instead of the dipstick, and went down another 2" before touching the bottom !!
I'm worried now :?

Thierry

Post by **Heuer** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:08 am

Thierry

The E-Type dipstick should 9 3/4" from cap to tip which corresponds to yours. If you are certain you have put in 15 pints then wherever it comes to on the dipstick is your target level regardless of the hatch. I have heard of dipsticks bending as you put them in because of contact with the sump baffles. Even a shallow bend will make a difference. Maybe worth trying a dipstick from another E-Type?

Echezeaux · Post by **Echezeaux** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:24 am

Thanks David, I will follow your advice. And the right quantity of oil is in the sump, so I should stop freaking out !!

Another question David, does your JEC oil pressure sender looks like mine ?

Thanks again.
Thierry

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4.2 Typical oil consumption

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