XJ Jake

Just blew mine up today.....Same phantom coolant issue.
She's done. I took off the oil cap and it looks like a milkshake in there.
New motor time..

shooter5635

Not to beat a dead horse, but i'm just looking for some clarification...

If you cracked the head, it would consumer a rather large amount of coolant, am i correct?


Secondly, Is there a certain temp range that this crack develops at?

Humps0406

Where the hell was this 3 months ago hahahaha

Humps0406

Viper.... Dont forget a new thermostat!

gone4x4

so does anybody have any actual dealings w/clearwater or atk heads yet?? im looking at a 00 with 103k-it was traded at the dealership i werk at and i was going to trade for it--started to service it yesterday and intermix came out when we pulled the oil pan plug--nuthin had showed previously on the dipstick,and there was no "bubbling" in the radiator when we pulled the cap and COLD started the engine which is usually indicative of a cracked head-and i also have no idea how long the condition has been prevalent i did drive it about 30 miles on a test drive-the oil pressure stayed at 40 until ONCE-just ONCE when i came to a stop and it dropped to like 15?? i didnt like that-of course, whomever traded it had the oil changed just before trade?? what does the brain trust on here think about my dilema? or my options,really not a dilema--what would ya all do???

gone4x4

^`sumbuddy--anybuddy?? bump

99 Purple XJ

My friend used a alabama cylinder head awesome service great heads

gone4x4

thanks for responding-thats 1 forward step!!

Erkmed XJ

SYMPTOMS

Unexplained coolant loss.
Oil pressure may go down after starting, warming up.
No heat; Low coolant.
Poor idle; Misfire. Check Engine Light.

Are these the only symptoms to look for? Im in the market of buying a cherokee and found a good deal on a 2000 but im afraid of buying a 2000-2001 bc of the head issue. So are these the only things i should look for when i go to look at this cherokee?

viper_venom600gtsr

I just bought and installed a Clearwater cylinder head (from Patrick) last month and so far so good. She's holding up. I had unexplained coolant loss, never overheated and drove probably 500 - 1000 miles before I replaced the head. I never had a CEL, but did get the check gauge light for low oil pressure once and now I idle at 11 hot and 40+ under load and cold.

@gone4x4: If you work for a dealership I'd recommend installing the TUPY 0331 head or one from alabama or clearwater on that thing before you cause too much more damage and

@ Erkmed XJ: I bought my 2000 XJ sport with only 77k miles for a "good deal" before I knew about the head issues, it had regular oil changes, coolant was clean and flushed when I bought it and just my luck that the head cracked without it ever overheating. So if I could go back, I'd look for a 1999 model with the 630 stamped head and one that maintains good oil pressure (13+ min.) at HOT idle b/c that will give you an idea on the state of the main, rod and cam bearings at least. I'm sure others here can provide more info.

Erkmed XJ

Yeahh, ive been looking for a 99 but this one really caught my eye and as long as its not cracked to begin with first thing ill do is switch out the head so i wont get the problem i just dont want to have to get a new engine when i get it and hopefully check it out before hand with no problems

rrich

CAUTION!

I was in a hurry, I ordered a rebuilt head from NAPA. '95 4.0
I don't like welding cracks, they sometimes last, sometimes not. I was promised it wouldn't be welded. I think the rebuilder's name is Moore?

WORSE!
This one was PIN REPAIRED.
2 big cracks had been "fixed?" Both on either side of #4.

The rebuilder drilled holes along the cracks, then put screws in the holes! Probably about 15 screws altogether. I'd never seen that before.

Asking several repair shops after I returned it (no problem with NAPA returning it) they all said that kind of repair will last about 3 months.

You could see where the surface looked different where they ground the head surface, and looking in the water jackets you could see the ends of the screws!

I'd rather see it fixed with JB Weld - but that's not acceptable either

Carefull what you buy. I wanted one from Alabama Head, but they were back-ordered.
INSPECT IT REAL CLOSE!

tjwalker

Wow, what a cautionary tale. I can't even believe Napa would sell a head repaired like that.......Trying to weld a cracked 0331 head is just not going to work. Don't go there.

I generally recommend Clearwater Cylinder Head or Alabama Cylinder Head. Or you can source a used 0331 head from a 2003 or newer Grand Cherokee or Wrangler 4.0. Be darn sure that it is a TUPY head; that should be stamped somewhere in the vicinity of cylinders 3-4. TUPY is a redesigned 0331 head that Chrysler sourced from the Braziliain foundry after Chrysler finally admitted that the early 0331 head is a dog.

viper_venom600gtsr

Clearwater cylinder heads had it in stock when I ordered over the phone. You can also look up their Ebay store from their website.

cherokeewilson

i am new to the community and i just purchased a 2000 xj sport that was manufactured in 11/99 the jeep has 223,149 and i keep reading about this cylinder head issue and i was wondering if that manufacture date was effected at start-up i have 50psi and when warm it hovers around 30psi and after interstate driving it goes down to around 20psi any info would be awesome thanks