I recently changed the engine oil & filter, air filter & fuel filter. My next job will be to change the spark plugs. My question is, what do I do about the inlet manifold gasket? Apparently a new one cost about £70, but it doesn't need changing if it's still OK. How do I know if it's OK without removing it? Bit of a 'Catch 22' situation. I buy a new one & don't use it, or I don't buy one & the car's off the road for a week till I get one & finish the job.

Andy, surely the inlet manifold gasket isn't a service part?

 

In which case, I would leave well alone if the car is performing OK.

Hi Paul,

            I will need to remove the manifold to change the plugs.

Ah, I see. Thanks for enlightening me Andy :)

It seems that you can get them a lot cheaper than the price you suggest on fleabay Andy.

If you need to remove the inlet manifold it will need a new gasket there is no point in refitting it because it will already be compressed and won't seal correctly.

Thanks everyone, I am taking Michael's advice & buying new gaskets. Has anyone done this before? If you have, which gasket is it? There's a Jaguar S Type Inlet Manifold Gasket XR843536 & a Jaguar S Type Upper Inlet Manifold Gasket XR85294.. Both at Berkshire Jag Components. Or on Flea Bay .JAGUAR S-TYPE 3.0 V6 INLET MANIFOLD GASKET. PART- XR85398...

Have a look here.

When I order the right or wrong parts fr this job, I shall give you all the information & part numbers.

Ok, here's what I've found out so far. The lower gasket set XR843533 costs £88.84 & the upper gasket set costs £51.22. That's a total of £140! So I was way out with my guess of £70.

http://www.mytonautomotive.com/product_details/-Jaguar-S-Type-X-Type-X350-X351-%28new-XJ%29-XF-Lower-Inlet-Manifold-Gasket/6389/623158/?model=&q=xr84353

http://www.mytonautomotive.com/product_details/-Jaguar-S-Type-X-Type-X350-X351-%28new-XJ%29-XF-Upper-inlet-manifold-gasket-%28set-of-6%29/6389/623159/?model=&q=xr84353