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I read your car-by-car breakdown on second-hand Jaguar XKRs and XK8s where you recommend avoiding 96 to 2000 models with a VIN numbers 001036 to 042775 inclusive. My XKR was registered on 20 04 2000 and the VIN no. is SAJAC42J4YPA0812 (and the engine no. PA0003191758). From the information above can you please tell me if my VIN number falls within the avoid category.

Asked on 10 October 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Sorry, no. That information could have come in 9 years ago and I can't tell you any more than is on the site. But an 04/2000 should be out of the trouble because it was caused by sulphur in petrol reacting with the Nickasil bore liners when the engines were flooded. Sulphur was largely banned from UK petrol in year 2000, so your engine should not have been affected. I should warn you, though, never ever start the engine just to move the car. That still washes out the engine with unburned petrol and will cause a problem eventually.
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