[xj] The unending Lucas spark coil saga

To my horror I noticed oil oozing from the HV output of the spark coil. I
had the same symptom when I got the car 5 years ago. Its a 84 xj6. I
replaced the coil with the correct one (to be used without a ballast
resistor) 4 years ago. Took the coil off and noticed it sloshed a bit.
took out the screw, terminal and rubber washer from the HV output and saw
oil residue but it was not full as expected. After fiddling, cleaning etc
(with coil held in my hand) the oil level started to rise into the terminal
hole! That was not expected at all.
After letting it cool and the oil recede, I cleaned and replaced the oring
and terminal (with RTV sealant on the bottom of the oring). The car runs
fine.
Harold

Harold, I believe the placement of the coil high in the engine bay, over the
water rail, gives it in unnecessary heat stress, so it may well be that causes
coils to leak. I plan to move ours down on the fender wall under the air
intake. But sloshing seems to be true for most coils – I’ve checked 2
Japanese coils as well as the Lucas ones I have, and they all slosh a little.
I think the heat stress is just too much in the Jag – I’ve never seen a car
with the coil placed that way before.

Alex
79xj6

“Orlando, Harold (AES Grumman)” wrote:>

To my horror I noticed oil oozing from the HV output of the spark coil. I
had the same symptom when I got the car 5 years ago. Its a 84 xj6. I
replaced the coil with the correct one (to be used without a ballast
resistor) 4 years ago. Took the coil off and noticed it sloshed a bit.
took out the screw, terminal and rubber washer from the HV output and saw
oil residue but it was not full as expected. After fiddling, cleaning etc
(with coil held in my hand) the oil level started to rise into the terminal
hole! That was not expected at all.
After letting it cool and the oil recede, I cleaned and replaced the oring
and terminal (with RTV sealant on the bottom of the oring). The car runs
fine.
Harold

Harold: to begin with, these are not LUCAS coils. They are Ducellier coils,
made in France “to Jaguar specification” if you have the OEM unit (DAC3001).
Both my original 82 and 84 coils were identical to the new Jaguar
replacements even to the yellow paint slash on the bottom. So let’s give
poor old Joseph Lucas some repose. If your coil has leaked any oil, it
really should be replaced (and this oil should not touch your skin, I have
been told: PCBs?). Coil failure can be sudden, or intermitttent, but always
a nuisance. The rising oil level in yours is fascinating!
Gregory----- Original Message -----
From: Orlando, Harold (AES Grumman) Harold.Orlando@aerojet.com
To: jag list xj@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 7:58 AM
Subject: [xj] The unending Lucas spark coil saga

To my horror I noticed oil oozing from the HV output of the spark coil. I
had the same symptom when I got the car 5 years ago. Its a 84 xj6. I
replaced the coil with the correct one (to be used without a ballast
resistor) 4 years ago. Took the coil off and noticed it sloshed a bit.
took out the screw, terminal and rubber washer from the HV output and saw
oil residue but it was not full as expected. After fiddling, cleaning
etc
(with coil held in my hand) the oil level started to rise into the
terminal
hole! That was not expected at all.
After letting it cool and the oil recede, I cleaned and replaced the oring
and terminal (with RTV sealant on the bottom of the oring). The car runs
fine.
Harold