E-Type

1961-1975 / Coupe / Roadster / 2+2 / United Kingdom

All E-Type problems All workshop issues

Common Engine

SU carburettor synchronisation issues

Symptoms

Rough idle, flat spots during acceleration, poor fuel economy, backfiring. The car runs badly and smells of petrol.

Cause

The Series 1 3.8 cars have three SU HD8 carburettors that need to be synchronised perfectly. Even the twin-SU setup on 4.2 cars is sensitive to maladjustment. Jets wear, needles wear, float heights drift, and diaphragms split. Most mechanics don't understand SUs properly and make things worse.

Fix

Strip, clean, rebuild all carbs.

Replace needles and jets.

Set float heights.

Synchronise with a proper flow meter (not just by ear).

A triple-SU setup done properly is a thing of beauty, but it takes patience and experience.

Budget $500-1,000 for rebuild kits for a triple-SU setup.

Cost mentioned in fix

Budget $500-1,000 for rebuild

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// More E-Type problems

Other known issues

Common Engine

XK engine oil leaks

Oil weeps from every gasket and seal, cam covers, timing cover, rear main seal, sump gasket. Most E-Types leave marks wherever they park.

Common Engine

Cooling system inadequacy (six-cylinder)

Engine runs hot, especially in traffic or on warm days. Temperature gauge climbs past the middle mark, car starts to smell hot, coolant may boil over.

Minor Engine

V12 overheating (Series 3)

The same as above, but worse. The V12 generates substantially more heat and the cooling system, despite being larger than the six-cylinder setup, is still barely adequate.

Minor Engine

V12 head gasket failure

Coolant loss with no external leak, white smoke from one bank of exhaust, mayonnaise under the oil filler cap, overheating.

Common Engine

Timing chain stretch and tensioner wear

Rattling from the front of the engine on startup that may or may not settle when warm. In severe cases, the chain can jump a tooth, causing valve timing issues or valve-to-piston contact.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Structural floor pan corrosion

Floor pans rot through, usually starting from the inside where moisture sits under the carpet and sound deadening. The car loses rigidity, doors stop closing properly, scuttle shake increases, the windscreen cracks.

View all 24 E-Type problems