Re: Winter Storage

["Kirbert" <palmk@mailer.gadcomm.net>]

> From:          "Al Blue" <alblue@cvn.net>
> Jag owner for two years. Car is 1990 XK-S conv. 5.3L V12 w/35K miles.
> Serial is
> #171838.  Since purchase, car has used one quart of oil per 1000 miles. I
> have been told this is quote normal unquote. Oil is Castrol 10-30 per
> owners manual.

We'd better discuss this.  The Supplement to the repair manual indicates that 
10W/30 is not supposed to be used above 15 deg C (59 deg F).  The Haynes 
manual rather clearly states "Engine oils of 10W/30 or 10W/40 must not be 
used when the ambient temperature is above 60F (15.6C)".  What's worse, I 
once heard somewhere (cannot remember where) that Jaguar would invalidate the 
warranty on the engine if 10W/30 or 10W/40 oil was used.

If the owner's manual of a car as late as a 1990 recommends 10W/30, something 
must have changed -- either in the construction of the engine itself or in 
the attitude of somebody at Jaguar.  Whichever, I'd like to learn enough 
about it to cover it in the XJ-S help book.

> Car is not driven from Nov to April.

The only time the thin oil is acceptable!

> Questions: 1. Is the oil usage figure indeed normal?

No.  It shouldn't use oil.

> 2. Are these dead-cold starts doing more harm than good?

Depends.  I would kinda expect that doing a rudimentary storage procedure in 
the fall (spraying something in the plug holes, etc.) and leaving it alone 
until spring would probably be better.

> 3. If answer to #2 is yes, what should be done to prepare the car for five
> months of
>     total inactivity?

Many people suggest pulling the plugs and spraying WD40 in there.  Pulling 
the plugs is, of course, a PITA.  How does the group feel about this idea: 
pour a bunch of two-cycle oil or Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas tank (perhaps 
running the tank a little low first), then drive a while to get the fuel 
system full of the mixture.  Then, before storing, disconnect the ignition 
and turn the starter a few times to spray the gas/oil mix into the cylinders. 
 The gas should evaporate fairly quickly, leaving the oil on the surfaces.  
Will that work?

 -- Kirbert      |     If anything is to be accomplished,
                 |     some rules must be broken.
                 |          - Palm's Postulate

---

References:

• Winter Storage
• From: "Al Blue" <alblue@cvn.net>

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