Jaguar AJ6 engine

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title: "Jaguar AJ6 engine" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["jaguar-engines", "gasoline-engines-by-model", "straight-six-engines"] topic_path: "general/jaguar-engines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_AJ6_engine" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox automobile engine"]

Field	Value
name	Jaguar AJ6
image	Jaguar AJ6 engine (1990 Daimler).jpg
manufacturer	Jaguar Cars
production	1984–1996
block	Aluminium
head	Aluminium
configuration	Straight-6
valvetrain	SOHC 2 valves x cyl.
DOHC 4 valves x cyl.
fueltype	Petrol
turbocharger	Twin-turbo version developing 330bhp was developed for the prototype XJ41 sports car
fuelsystem	Lucas fuel injection
coolingsystem	Water cooled
supercharger	Eaton M90 (some versions)
predecessor	Jaguar XK6
successor	Jaguar AJ-V6
Jaguar AJ-V8
displacement
bore	91 mm
stroke
compression	9.75:1
power	201–322 hp
torque	325–512 Nm
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The AJ6 (Advanced Jaguar 6-cylinder), and the similar AJ16, are inline-6 piston engines used by Jaguar cars in the 1980s and 1990s. The AJ6 was designed to replace the successful and long-used Jaguar XK6 engine, and was introduced in 1984. It was only the third all-new engine ever designed by the company. The AJ16 evolution was replaced in 1996 with the Jaguar developed AJ-V8 engine.

Jaguar had considered cutting their existing V12 in half to build a V6, or possibly a V8, but chose instead to develop a new inline six. The cylinders are inclined, as in a slant-6, by 22 degrees. It uses an aluminium block to reduce weight, and has an optional DOHC head for higher efficiency and power.

AJ6

The original engines were the DOHC 3.6 and the SOHC 2.9. The DOHC 3.6 was revised and enlarged to 4.0 in 1990. It is still essentially an "AJ6", however. This was, as per usual, offered for the XJ-S before it was built into the XJ40 saloon.

3.6

The 3590 cc was the first AJ6 engine, debuting in 1983 on the XJ-S. It had DOHC 4-valve heads with a 91x92 mm bore and stroke. Power was 165 kW with 325 Nm of torque. Power was reduced to 201 hp for versions having catalytic exhaust system. Early versions of the 3590 cc AJ6 as used in the 1984 – 1987 XJ-S cars had a conventional distributor type of ignition system with electronics within the distributor body. This early AJ6 ignition system is nearly identical to the system used on the XK engine in the Series III XJ6 cars. The Lucas fuel injection system on the 3590 cc AJ6 engines in these early XJ-S cars sensed engine load using a Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor just like the V12 cars from the same era. Later 3590 cc AJ6 engines as used in the 1986–1989 XJ40 cars had a crank-sensor type of ignition system with a bare distributor that only carried the spinning ignition rotor inside the distributor cap. The fuel-injection system used on the later 3590 cc AJ6 engines used a hot-wire Mass Air Flow sensor to determine engine load.

Vehicles using the 3.6 were:

1984–1989 Jaguar XJ-S
1986–1989 Jaguar XJ6
1986–1989 Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign
1986–1989 Daimler

2.9

The 2919 cc used a SOHC head from the Jaguar V12 engine, and was prone to failure. The block is the same as the 3.6, with the crankshaft and pistons lowering the stroke to 74.8 mm. Only the 1986–1989 Jaguar XJ6 used the 2.9. It was used for the entry-level XJ6 in Britain and Europe but rarely, if ever, seen in models exported to the US. The SOHC 2.9, which was generally considered somewhat underpowered for such a large car, was discontinued in late 1990 and replaced with a DOHC 3.2 (essentially identical to the DOHC 4.0).

The 2.9 Engine was, as in earlier years the 2.8 XK-engine, sized to match road-tax regulations in some European Countries like Italy or France. In France cars with more than 3 litres of engine size had to pay a luxury tax.

Unlike all other AJ6's, the 2.9l used Bosch LH Jetronic fuel injection and EZ-K ignition (rather than Lucas 9 or 15CU EMS)

4.0 (1989–1994)

The 24-valve DOHC 3980 cc version replaced the 3590 cc AJ6 in 1989. It featured a longer 102 mm stroke, and generated 183 kW power at 4,750 rpm and 392 Nm of torque at 3,650 rpm. The 3980 cc engines as used in the 1990–1994 XJ40 cars continued with the crank sensor and empty distributor type of ignition system and the hot-wire Mass Air Flow sensor type of fuel injection control system as the 1988–1989 3590 cc XJ40 cars.

TWR modified XJ40s resulting in the XJR. Jaguarsport was also formed as a partnership between TWR and Jaguar. The first XJR, the XJR 3590 cc, had extensive appearance changes coupled with stiffer suspension, anti-roll bar/links, power steering valve that reduced efficiency by 40% and an LSD but no performance enhancements. Interior-wise it included special stitching, "sport" or "XJR" embossed front headrests, and Jaguarsport speedometer labels and tread-plates.

1990 XJRs had the upgraded 4.0 litre engine with the old style body-kits, and appearance changers.

XJR 4.0Ls from 1990 on had all of the XJR 3.6 handling upgrades and benefits from engine enhancements such as high lift cams, improved double plenum inlet manifold, and a compression ratio of 9.75:1. They were sent to TWR in Coventry to be modified directly after being produced.

Total XJ40 cars built was 208,733 and supposedly 500 JaguarSport cars built, 200 of the round headlight versions and then about 300 with the square headlights like the Sovereigns and Daimler's. 1990+ XJR power output is around 250 bhp / 278 lbft.

The prototype Jaguar XJ41/42 sports car used a twin-turbo version of the AJ6 4.0, developing 330bhp.

3.2 (1990–1994)

A 24-valve DOHC 3239 cc, essentially a shorter-stroke of 83 mm 3980 cc, replaced the 12-valve SOHC 2.9 in 1990. It produced 149 kW of power at 5,250 rpm and 298 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, and proved a popular engine in Europe (sales outnumbered 3980 cc saloons roughly 4:1) but was not exported to America.

Following the launch of the Aston Martin DB7, the Jaguar AJ6 was used by Aston Martin as well (both companies being owned by Ford at the time). This version featured an Eaton supercharger.

Cars using the 4.0 and 3.2 included:

Jaguar XJS (4.0 only)
Aston Martin DB7 (modified, supercharged 3.2)
Jaguar XJ6
Jaguar Sovereign
Jaguar XJR (4.0 only)
Daimler Six

AJ16

Both the 3.2 and 4.0 were substantially revised for the 1995 launch of the renewed Jaguar XJ (X300) saloon. These are the "AJ16" engines, both featuring coil-on-plug distributorless ignition, new engine management systems, magnesium alloy valve covers, revised pistons and other detail changes. The AJ16 was discontinued with the launch of the AJ-V8 (XK8 and XJ8 in 1996/7).

4.0 / 3.2 (1994–1997)

For the launch of the new X300 saloon for 1995, substantial revisions were made to the 3980 cc and 3239 cc AJ6 engines. The new design was called the AJ16 to reflect the major differences between it and the original AJ6.

Cars using the 4.0 and 3.2 included:

AJ16S

A supercharged version of the 3980 cc AJ16 was released in 1994 in the Jaguar XJR which used an Eaton M90 blower to boost output to 240 kW and 512 Nm

References

Adams, Keith. (2021-03-28). "Concepts and Prototypes : Jaguar XJ41/XJ42 (1982–1990)".

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