E-Type

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

Common Engine

XK engine oil leaks

Symptoms

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

Cause

The XK engine was designed in the 1940s with rope seals and cork gaskets. Modern sealants help, but the casting surfaces are rough and it's nearly impossible to get them completely dry.

Fix

Replace gaskets and seals methodically.

Start with the cam covers (easy, cheap) and work down.

The rear main seal requires gearbox removal.

Accept that a small weep is normal, you're aiming for "doesn't drip on the garage floor," not "operating theatre clean."

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// More E-Type problems

Other known issues

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

SU carburettor synchronisation issues

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

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