Looking at buying a 2001 Cherokee Classic. Do all the 2001 Cherokees have the bad 0331 head or did they change them during the build? Also if it does have the suspect head does anyone think it is worth swapping it out as a precautionary measure rather than maybe having to replace the engine later? Does the cracking happen at higher mileage or can happen anytime?
Thanks

 

1. All 2000 and 2001 XJs have the 0331 cylinder head.

2. Swapping it as a precaution is something to consider if it helps you sleep at night. If you have a factory 0331, you should check coolant level in the reservoir at least weekly. Unexplained coolant loss is the #1 symptom of a cracked 0331 head.

3. The higher the mileage, the better the chance of cracking, but it can happen at any mileage. Failure to maintain the cooling system increases the chance of a crack, especially an engine overheat. But I have seen the 0331 head crack on perfectly maintained XJs.

4. Knowledge is power. Looks like you've done some reading on the subject already. You want to make an informed decision, which is wise.

 

Thanks, that is exactly what I needed to hear.

 

There is a thread with posters posting at what mileage theirs cracked. Unfortunately there is no info that I know of of how many cracked. 1/4, 3/4 ?, Idk.

 

It's not a bad idea to swap it out if you have the technical ability to do so. If you have to pay someone else to do it for you, it becomes less attractive. If I were buying another '00 or '01, I would swap in a Clearwater head preemptively so that I could have confidence in it and not always wonder when it was going to pop.

This is completely non-scientific, but the crack seems to make itself known most often between 140K and 160K. However, there have been people on here with a crack at 80K, and there are people with more than 200K on their original 0331s with no issues at all. It just depends on your luck.

 

No its depends on maintenance. Judging by the post on here its more likely your going to have an annoying electrical problem than the head cracking.

 

Personally I wouldn't worry about it. I have seen the 0331 head outlast the Jeep. As long as you keep up on you maintenance it can last a very long time. As other have said just keep an eye on you fluid levels.

 

Maintenance has very little to do with crack/no crack.

Overheating just once will usually get them. But some crack for no apparent external reason.

Then the engine starts ingesting coolant. Sooner or later, it will go supernova on you.

After that, your Jeep will ingest a lot of your money.

 

^^^^^ This, Ive had my 2000 since new, take great care of cooling system, never over heated it once. Still had the head go.

 

Bought a cream puff 01 with 120k on it. Then found out about the 0331 head. I'm not proficient enough to swap it myself, so I am watching the coolant and getting oil sampled every oil change. Just sent my first sample to Blackstone. I'll post results when I get them. In the meantime, I am enjoying my XJ.

 

Of course maintenance of the cooling system will help prevent, (or prevent), an overheat, last thing you want!

I found that survey. Not quite sure what to make of it...seems like very few go after 150K I guess.

Click on "poll results" in this link>

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/how...-68400/index7/

 

I have had mine since I drove it off the lot new in June 2000. I followed the maintenance schedule to the letter and never overheated it. It cracked anyway. Some of them do that, because the head design was flawed.

I find it rather offensive when someone who obviously hasn't been through it blames the victims.

 

Yes I have 2000. Aaaand I also have a cracked head. It is very annoying and honestly very hard to decide what to do about it, replace head/ ride it out/
If I ride it out and she does crap out on me as I know she will eventually. Remanufactured motor or junkyard if u get a junkyard you have to swap headers and make mounts for coil pack,that is if u get an older model without the 0331 head...sorry had to vent. If it were me I'd take my time and get a 99 or older but I guess it depends on how deep your pockets are and how much you absolutely love to work on your jeep

 

If you know the head is cracked but the block is still good, you need to replace the head. Otherwise the coolant leaking into your oil will ruin the bearings, and you'll lose the whole engine. As long as you have coolant running through the bearings, it's doing damage. Replacing the head is a much smaller job and a lot less expensive than swapping engines.

 

Don't get your panties in a bunch. Where do you park your Jeep? I park mine in a garage but after seeing the temp guage rise above 220° on hot days I always pop the hood after I pull it in. On a hot day if I run into my local grocery store for a few minutes I come back to 215°. We're do you live that you can say it's never been over 210°? I see it more of a design flaw than a casting flaw or really no flaw at all. 285k+ XJ were made those two years. They built a cheap head that outlasted the warranty. If you want a vehicle that last forever take a nap and have a dream. Most of the post on here of XJ problems our guys having stupid electrical problems they can't figure out on 98 or older XJs. Are you one of those that get butt hurt when your 20 year old tv stops working?

What's this guy on. I want some Man Decided if your head is blown or not before you post.