dragon 23

...sorry if this has been asked before.

if you were to buy a 2001 XJ sport, 95k on clock, excellent condition, and service history and found that it had a 0331 head, would you consider replacing it just in case it cracked, or is that madness?

if it did crack, and you noticed it early, estimated cost to fix?
if you decided to be cautious and replace anyways, what would that cost

or should i just say what the .... and just get on with it

Gee oh Dee

Depends on what the replacement head will cost.

But I've always been a believer in not fixing something unless it needs it.

dragon 23

that's what i am thinking. i see enough people's pics on here of 2000/01's to know not all of the heads will crack. but i guess, as i am new to XJ's i am a little cautious.

Gee oh Dee

Start putting small amounts of cash aside and keep your eyes on teh classifieds here and on craigslist for people parting things out. Pick up a head for cheap when you can, and go from there.

dragon 23

do all 2001 XJ sport have the 0331 head? or would a later model, of 2001 have a different one? getting a mechanic to check the XJ today, but be interested in an expert opinion here (he is not a Jeep specialist, my mechanic)

irishexpat

they all have it. they dont all go bad. if yours is not cracked.....make sure you dont overheat it....thats when they crack.


if you are loosing coolant but have no leaks....you might be in trouble

Spunkmeyer

Yes, all came from the factory with the 0331 head in 2000-2001 model years.

dragon 23

so in your opinion, if it was not cracked now, was maintained and driven well (no wheeling, just to work and back and a bit of hill climbing as i live up some steep hills) should i be ok, or is the 0331 issue something that can strike anyone at anytime?

dragon 23

thanks for that

irishexpat

well the reason it cracks is that the casting is weak between cylinders 3 and 4....but it should only crack in an overheating situation....it will just be more likely to crack than a non-defective head.

dragon 23

ok, that's really helpful, just found this thread too:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/03...ig-deal-76842/

which seems really sound advice. i hope to get more in to mechanics owning an XJ, i am pretty poor atm. was just thinking with some stuff i read, if it did go, i would be looking at 1000's in repair bills.

irishexpat

same here, i bought my xj a month ago and ive already replaced the alternator myself...ripped off the valve cover yesterday and replacing the oil pressure sending unit tonight. i had no prior mechanical experience. just scour the web and troll these forums....these engines arent tough to learn on.

new head is 400, junkyard replacements are 1-200, and you can put them in yourself if you're daring.

413maxwedge

Not quite late 1999-mid 2001 are the castings in question, like most are saying not all go bad, but for the price and insurance of a replacement its best to do it . You can replace by yourself for around 600.00 with a new or recast head ,gasket, new head bolts, and thread sealant .Before the core charge.

Spunkmeyer

Are you saying some 2001 XJs came from the factory with something other than the 0331 head?

tjwalker

00-01 all have the 0331 head. And they are all the suspect 0331 head with the defect.

As for replacing it as a preventive measure, kind of radical, but I will say that you aren't the first one to consider it.

My strategy would be to ensure cooling system is absolutely top notch. That includes all hoses (replace them if originals), cap, thermostat, coolant, radiator, water pump.

You do NOT want an overheat, as an overheat is almost certainly going to crack the 0331 head.

The next thing with any owner of an 0331 head is to realize that your new hobby is checking coolant level in the reservoir. That doesn't mean checking the level when you change your oil. That means checking your coolant level at least every week at minimum. How long does it take? About 30 seconds.

If you keep an eagle eye on this, and if you do have a cracked head, you can get to it before that coolant gets to your engine bearings.

Know this: The #1 symptom of a cracked 0331 head is "unexplained coolant loss".

Good luck!