Living with an E Type

[Stephanie Plum]

So I'm six months and about 550 miles into my ownership and still smile every time I walk in the garage. As some of my other posts will have indicated I am learning all the time, but it occurred to me yesterday that there are lots of little tricks that I just don't know.

I went to Goodwood and a friend who is very mechanically astute had his head under the bonnet. He casually mentioned you need to keep the oil topped up in the SUs. Now I saw Grahame doing this when he was tuning them last week so I know it needs doing - but my quandary is how often? I went onto SC parts website last night and found the very oil for the job which is now on order, and had a look at the owners manual where it said - 'periodically top up the oil' - well how often is periodically? Do you see my challenge?

I check oil levels and coolant before every drive but there must be other regular maintenance checks that you chaps make out of habit.

I have searched the forums and had a look in the knowledge base but nothing is shouting out at me. Has anyone ever written a 'how to' type guide for newbies like me? Or can you point me at a particular book that would help? We have the Haynes manual but you need to know what you're looking for in that.

I'm hopeful I can pick a few brains at Bicester when some of us meet but in the meantime if anyone can point me at any material I'd be ever so grateful :)

[mgcjag]

Hi Stephanie......do you have an operating,maintenance and service handbook..of not then well worth getting http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-4-2L-4 ... SwKIpWEEjK

They are always available new on ebay so you dont have to buy a used one....I would also recomend the Jaguar Manual....it contains all the info you have asked..the manual starts with the 3.8 and tnen has supliments for all the additional models.... much better than the Haynes...they are about ?70 or you can see a copy of it the the knowledge base section under technical....hope this helps Ps page A17 gives you the basic service info you want, cant copy it here mabey someone can...

[Heuer]

Dash pot oil - check it once a year. No need for special oil, engine oil will work. It is there to dampen the SU's pistons from bouncing around over bumps and give progressive throttle opening. Just fill to the top of the damper tube, any excess will be taken into the engine.

[Moeregaard]

Ideally, you want something in there having a viscosity of SAE 20W, but as David says, engine oil will work. Too high a viscosity will slow throttle response slightly. Some mechanics brew their own with a 50/50 mix of Castrol 20/50 and 3:1 household oil, but this really isn't necessary.

[cactusman]

Dash pots. Unscrew the plunger top and lift an inch or so....no need to take it out. Now allow to drop back in. The end will hopefully reach the oil so you will be able to use a finger to push the top the last centimetre or so. If there is no squidge as it moves down the oil pool in the top of the piston then you need to add a very small amount..a couple of millilitres is enough. Best done cold when the oil is thick. As posted, engine oil will be OK but you can get damper oil which I guess you have on order. A bottle will last a lifetime.

Yearly

Oil hinges and locks etc.

Drain and refresh the coolant using a blue antifreeze additive. Very important!!!

Change the engine oil and filter.

Every other year

Flush the brake and clutch hydraulic systems through with fresh DOT 4 fluid.

Drain and refill the diff.

As said...get the service book...lots of stuff in there. Don't forget to check all the exterior bulbs too.

[Stephanie Plum]

Thanks all - a great help - just to check - have I got the right manual?

[Heuer]

Yes. Actually everything you need in terms of maintenance lists is in the S2 drivers handbook.

This lists everything you should do at 3,000 miles and other intervals. The Workshop Manual is worth having if you are going to do some of the larger maintenance jobs yourself. If you want the ultimate S2 book then get yourself one of these: http://www.xkebooks.com/shop/product_in ... ucts_id/30 It is the only illustrated parts manual for the S2 and a superb body of work done by a S2 owner. Personally I use the parts manual for my S1 more than the workshop manual. The Factory parts book is not illustrated.

[paulsco]

Over the years playing with SU's on Minis and for that matter my 340 (my E is running, but I haven't finished restoring it yet), I have found that two thick an oil in the dash pot slows down the acceleration and ritchens the mixture upon acceleration as it slows down the ability for the piston to raise quickly.

I have experimented with engine oils and thinning it down with perhaps 3 in one bicycle oil for best results, even bicycle oil on its own seems better than thick engine oil.

On multiple carb set ups where one piston is raising more quickly than the others; varying the oil mixtures can go some way towards evening this out.

Just my experience.

Paul

[mgcjag]

Hi Stephanie....yes thats the one

[cactusman]

Just remember with the service intervals the mileage assumes a daily driver

Unless you do a lot of miles I would adjust a bit to yearly or biennial intervals!

[Stephanie Plum]

Thanks so much everyone, and for the PMs. It doesn't look too complicated. All the major work will be done by Grahame, so it really is the minor stuff I'm talking about, though over time it would be nice to be able to tackle a few simple jobs. I used to look after my own motorbikes in the 80s but I guess I've lost a bit of confidence over the years.

My car has done very little mileage since 2006 due to the sad death of the previous owner, so it's done more in the last few weeks than for a long time, and I'm expecting a few issues to raise their heads.

Looking forward to meeting some of you in a few weeks time :)

[caveman]

Totally agree with Julian. I was dropping engine oil and changing filter annually but the oil was as clean as the day it went in, literally. I change every other year now. I'm only averaging 200-400 miles/year though! I also use Castrol XL 20/50 engine oil, works well in my sub 50k mile engine.

[dal2.0litrefrogeye]

Hi welcome from another Seloc Lotus / Jaguar owner