Fuel Line Deterioration
Symptoms
Fuel smell, visible fuel drips, fuel stains on components near the engine or under the car. In extreme cases, a fire risk.
Cause
The rubber fuel hoses throughout the engine bay and under the car perish with age and are attacked by ethanol in modern fuel. The XJ-S has an extensive fuel system with multiple rubber connections, each one a potential leak point. On V12 cars, fuel lines run near the exhaust manifolds, making a leak particularly dangerous.
Fix
Replace every rubber fuel hose in the system.
Use ethanol-resistant fuel hose (marked R9 or E10 compatible).
Inspect the hard fuel lines for corrosion and replace if needed.
This is a full-day job on a V12 due to the number of hose connections.
Budget $200-500 in parts.
This should be considered essential maintenance on any XJ-S that hasn't had its fuel lines replaced in the last 10 years.
Know something we don't?
Owned a Jaguar XJ-S? Share your experience with this issue. What worked, what didn't, costs, tips. Help the community.
Submit an update