What might have just happened to my Jeep?
04-25-2015, 06:07 PM
#31
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
you can see the posts from the other guys...the challenge is you have a year that's known head failure, you've been kind of hard on the old girl and the cooling issues are not likely stemming solely from a busted hose. I would say keep it(looked pretty good in your pics and videos except for the obvious issue), save up some cash or borrow from Dad maybe and take it to a good local mechanic. A Cherokee is a great vehicle, it just needs some cooling love occasionally. It seems like you don't have time or tools for a DIY fix( although It is a pretty good weekend project). A good mechanic can swap radiator, hoses, water pump and thermostat no problem. Plus they can tell you if the head is cracked and give you an estimate. All in all I bet it's not as bad as you think and a Cherokee keeps the rain off a lot better than a mountain bike.
We actually got in there and swapped the water pump and thermostat about 5 months ago when it first overheated. Obviously something else is going on.
Probably. I peeked around the oil well many times looking for the infamous milky residue. Everything looked good, but I'd need to test for hydrocarbons in the coolant to be sure.
Well let's see here:
1. Unexplained coolant loss for at least a year.
2. Used straight water in sub-freezing temperatures; overheated.
3. Multiple overheating episodes, pegging the gauge.
4. Blown radiator.
5. Blown main radiator hose; extreme overheating. Continued driving. I'm not sure if it's fair to say extreme. Temp gauge was only up to 220. Only drove another 1/4 mile afterwards.
6. Steam from back of engine even after replacing blown hose. Not true
7. Failure-prone 0331 head that has been through more overheating episodes than can be counted.
Does that about cover it?
1. Unexplained coolant loss for at least a year.
2. Used straight water in sub-freezing temperatures; overheated.
3. Multiple overheating episodes, pegging the gauge.
4. Blown radiator.
5. Blown main radiator hose; extreme overheating. Continued driving. I'm not sure if it's fair to say extreme. Temp gauge was only up to 220. Only drove another 1/4 mile afterwards.
6. Steam from back of engine even after replacing blown hose. Not true
7. Failure-prone 0331 head that has been through more overheating episodes than can be counted.
Does that about cover it?
04-26-2015, 12:51 AM
#32
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: Golen 4.6L
Yes. You contact Blackstone and have them send you a free sample collection kit. Then, at your next oil change (or when the oil has a few thousand miles on it) you collect a sample of oil while the engine is hot, send it to Blackstone, pay them $25, and they send you an oil analysis report that tells you all sorts of stuff about your oil, including how much coolant (if any) is in it.
04-26-2015, 09:47 PM
#34
CF Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Quote from your first post: "I've been down this road a hundred times and I'm waiting for it to spike up to 275."
You're right. The steam came from the back of the head shortly before the eruption at the front of the Jeep. I can't believe you all are shooting ice cold water into a thermostat neck that is shooting out steam and boiling coolant like Old Faithful.
You're right. The steam came from the back of the head shortly before the eruption at the front of the Jeep. I can't believe you all are shooting ice cold water into a thermostat neck that is shooting out steam and boiling coolant like Old Faithful.
Last edited by Firestorm500; 04-26-2015 at 09:51 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cane
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
40
08-26-2015 12:08 AM
petejeep95
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
08-22-2015 11:39 AM
Brynjaminjones
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
2
08-22-2015 05:01 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)