Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 XK8.
The 1998 Jaguar XK8, equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission, returned EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined. Within the model's 1997–2005 production span, this early year stands out as the highest in owner-reported complaints at 32, with the power train identified as the top complaint area and two recalls on file. That figure is roughly three times the model's low point of 10 complaints recorded in 2001, situating the 1998 XK8 at the weakest end of the nameplate's reliability history—a baseline worth flagging for any researcher tracking how dependability evolved across the XK8's run.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 680 CCA battery, OE oil filter EAZ1354. Note the factory cabin air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | EAZ1354 |
| Engine air filter | NJA3558AA |
| Fuel filter | C2C35417 alt HJA3099AA |
| Spark plug | C2A1535 |
| Battery | C2D61169 |
| Front wiper blades | GJA8960BB alt GJA8962CB |
| Thermostat | NCA2246BA alt AJ86484 |
| Cabin air filter | MJD6863AA discontinued |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Overall length | 187.4 in |
| Overall width | 72 in |
| Overall height | 51.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 102 in |
| Curb weight | 3867 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 58.7 / 58.7 in |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 16 / 23 / 18 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine USE SHELL SPIRAX TS90 OR EQUIVALENT in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 75 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | USE SHELL SPIRAX TS90 OR EQUIVALENT |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3 Pints |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 8.0 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 15-16 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 13 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 9 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 75 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 238 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.035-0.039 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 11.0 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.32-1.54 lbs |
| Oil Type | PAG |
| Oil Capacity | 5.41-6.76 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 49 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 680 cca |
| Injector Primary Resistance | 12-18 ohms |
| Intake Valve Lash | 0.0008 in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | 0.0014 in |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 40-120 ft-lbs / 18-22 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 94 ft-lbs / 40-52 ft-lbs |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.004 in / 0.006 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 1.103 in / 0.768 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 1.103 in / 0.768 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 1.024 in / 0.728 in |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi.
| Every 10,000 mi | Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1998 Jaguar XK8 sits early in the generation’s lifecycle, with 32 complaints and 2 recalls—nearly identical to the 1997 launch year’s 31 complaints and 2 recalls. However, Technical Service Bulletins dropped sharply from 192 in 1997 to 60 in 1998, suggesting that many initial production issues were documented and addressed. The complaint trend then declines steadily through 2001 (23, 11, 10 complaints respectively), indicating that later years achieved greater reliability. The 1998 model’s top complaint areas are Power Train and Engine & Engine Cooling, each with 5 reports, along with Visibility and Vehicle Speed Control at 3 each, and it recorded 1 crash-related complaint with no fires. Given that 1998 still carries the elevated complaint volume of the early generation but benefits from a significant reduction in TSBs compared to 1997, it represents a transitional year; a buyer should prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on the powertrain and cooling systems.
All 32 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CABLE ADJUSTER BRACKET NUT ON THE OUTER SLEEVE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROMTHE CABLE ABUTMENT BRACKET ON THE ENGINE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND MODIFY THE THROTTLE CABLE SYSTEM.
Showing 5 of 60 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM59597Attachme | 2021-04-14 | Electrical System | Attachment. |
| SSM59597Attachme | 2021-04-14 | Electrical System | Attachment. |
| SSM59597Attachme | 2021-04-14 | Electrical System | Attachment. |
| SFCC_09AUG18_REV | 2018-08-20 | Electrical System | A customer may report "Hood Open" message displays on IP with hood closed. |
| SFCC_09AUG18_REV | 2018-08-20 | Equipment | SIM card activation issues |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.