GregGA

A little over a year ago I was bored and installed a Wix bypass coolant filter in my 87. Before I installed it, I cleaned the hell out of the original system, added the filter and then changed it after 3 months. Quite a bit of gunk was in the filter when I cut it open.

It's been a year now on the new filter, and I will take it off, cut it open, and attempt to upload pictures this weekend. I haven't posted pictures yet, so if I have problems I'll let you know.

I think it will be interesting to see if there still remains crud in a "clean" system. At least to me

cruiser54

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GregGA

Filter removed, going to pour in container




Bunch of sandy, gritty junk came out




This came from the filter can bottom




The can




The pleats were all covered with a paste like mud

So there you have it. I have owned this Jeep since new, and have always
maintained it per the factory maintenance schedule, basically a flush and fill every couple of years.

Before I added the coolant filter, I flushed and filled 4 times. This is the 3rd coolant filter to be replaced, and it was on one year. The other filters had similar gunk in them, but I swapped them out at about 3 months each.

I won't say you need a coolant filter, but since I am still on my original heater core and radiator, I feel it might be of some benefit. That grit seems like it would do a number on the water pump seals.

axekick

Pretty interesting to me. Is it just producing itself? I usually only use distilled water when topping off my systems.

cruiser54

Factory recommended interval for coolant change is 22,500 miles.

GregGA

Or 22.5 months.

cruiser54

Whichever comes first.

GregGA

Batman33165

have a picture of the setup? sounds like a great idea

jedijeb

That would be at least three years for mine, better go with months instead.

GregGA

I got the idea from Naxja, "coolant filter install". Not sure how to post a link, but google will get you there. Basically, it is a Wix filter adapter that taps into your heater hose. I got mine from fleetfilter.com and mounted it below the radiator. Not a hard job. Let me know if you have any questions after you go to Naxja.

sycoglitch

I just fixed a busted radiator and the several drains i had to do was clean but if i hadn't had to do that, I would be all over this mod

Hopkins

So if you have owned the XJ from new, where is the gunk coming from?

My 98 that I bought a year ago(100k on the 4.0) came with a severely neglected cooling system. Since I have flushed and refilled at least 4 times, replaced all hoses, water pump, tsat, and radiator. The coolant is no longer mud brown, but still nowhere near clean. Might have to install a filter to help further clean up the system.

HS00XJ

im sure some is rust

GregGA

I don't know what this stuff is. While I've owned the Jeep since new, I was not as fanatical about maintenance as I have been in the last 4 years or so. Due to the imploding economy, my Jeep became my daily driver. Maybe this is just granulated rust coming off the block? Any ideas?