Engines · Land Rover and Jaguar
Jaguar Land Rover 5.0 V8 (AJ133) common problems
The AJ133 is a 5.0 litre direct-injection V8 with an aluminium block and heads and variable timing on all four camshafts, introduced in 2009 for the 2010 model year in place of the 4.2 V8. It came naturally aspirated and, as the AJ133S, with an Eaton twin-vortex supercharger, and powered V8 Jaguars and Land Rovers until 2024, including the XE SV Project 8 and Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography. It is a strong engine that responds well to regular oil changes.
Common problems and what to look for on the 5.0 V8
The known issues most worth checking when you view a car with this engine. None of them means a car is a bad buy, but they're worth knowing about before you buy, and a good history often shows they've been dealt with.
Timing chain tensioners and guides
What to look for: Ask for the engine to be completely cold when you arrive and feel the bonnet to check. Stand at the front with the bonnet open while it starts. A rattle or clicking from the front of the engine that lasts beyond a second or two, or that can be heard at idle once warm, is the thing to note. Check that no engine warning light or restricted performance message shows, and ask for any invoice for timing chain, tensioner or guide replacement.
Why it matters: Worn tensioner levers and guides let the timing chains go slack, giving a rattle at start-up and at idle, and as the chains stretch the engine logs camshaft timing codes (P0016 to P0019) and can show a restricted performance message. Engines from 2010 to 2014 are the most often affected, and Land Rover's 2014 bulletin for 2010 to 2012 model year cars replaced the tensioners and tensioner levers. Jaguar Land Rover redesigned the guides and tensioners in 2011 and again in 2014. It is a long job, so a car with the work on invoice has had the main job on this engine taken care of. Long oil change intervals speed the wear.
Rattle from the supercharger coupler
What to look for: On supercharged cars, listen at the front of the engine with it warm and idling. A metallic rattle at idle points to the supercharger coupler. Ask whether the coupler (isolator) has been replaced.
Why it matters: The coupler that drives the supercharger wears, and its rattle at idle is easily confused with timing chain noise, so a specialist should tell the two apart before purchase. A new coupler is a far smaller job than timing chain work.
Water pump failure
What to look for: With the engine cold, check the coolant level in the expansion tank, and look below the front of the engine and on the pump area for pink or crusty coolant residue. Watch the temperature gauge on the drive. Ask whether the water pump has been replaced.
Why it matters: Water pump failure is common on the 5.0. Failures have been seen from as early as 20,000 miles, and specialists most often replace them at about 50,000 to 85,000 miles. A leaking or failed pump can lead to overheating, which this aluminium engine does not tolerate. A replacement pump in the history is a positive sign.
More known issues, covered in the full guide for each car
- Coolant crossover pipes and thermostat housing
Cars with the 5.0 V8
- Jaguar XF X250: 5.0 V8 and 5.0 V8 Supercharged, 2009 on
- Jaguar XFR / XFR-S X250: XFR and XFR-S, supercharged
- Jaguar XK / XKR X150: XK 5.0, XKR 5.0, XKR-S and XKR-S GT, 2009 to 2014
- Jaguar XJ X351: 5.0 V8 naturally aspirated and supercharged, including the XJR
- Jaguar F-Type X152: Supercharged V8 S, R and SVR
- Jaguar F-Pace X761: SVR, supercharged, from 2018
- Land Rover Range Rover L322: 5.0 V8 and 5.0 V8 Supercharged, from 2009
- Land Rover Range Rover L405: 5.0 supercharged V8
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport L320: 5.0 supercharged V8, from late 2009
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport L494: 5.0 supercharged V8
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR: 5.0 supercharged V8, all versions
- Land Rover Discovery 4: 5.0 V8 petrol, rare in the UK
- Land Rover Defender L663: P525 supercharged V8, from 2021
A pre-purchase inspection guide for your car
The CrankSight guide is a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) you do yourself, written for the exact model and generation you're viewing. It walks you round the car on your phone, with every check for that version, engine included: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
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General points for the engine, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with any manufacturer.