250 miles from home, bad coolant leak
#1
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250 miles from home, bad coolant leak
I'm a four hour drive from home and noticed water leaking from the bottom of the jeep. It looks like its leaking from the freeze plug on the back of the cylinder head. I cant do the job here, since my tools are home, but what can i do to patch that rear freeze plug? Just need a temporary fix that will last the drive home.
#2
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
If it isn't pouring out you can try leaving the radiator cap loose and drive it home.
I wouldn't try adding stop leak, that stuff causes more problems than it fixes.
I wouldn't try adding stop leak, that stuff causes more problems than it fixes.
#6
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
#7
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Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: BIG! HUGE!
Is it too bad of a leak for a egg? Or pepper?
http://m.wikihow.com/Seal-a-Leaking-Radiator
http://m.wikihow.com/Seal-a-Leaking-Radiator
Last edited by purplegrocerygogetter; 04-25-2012 at 10:19 AM.
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#8
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
MarineTEX sounds interesting... But I would use JB weld or any 2 part epoxy that hardens quickly and can handle the heat. I always keep some in my jeep for things like this
#9
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
What year is your XJ? If you have a 2000-2001, DEFINITELY take it to a shop to get it fixed. You don't want to risk cracking your head.
If you have an earlier year, I'd also try one of the remedies above.
If you have an earlier year, I'd also try one of the remedies above.
#10
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Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Originally Posted by purplegrocerygogetter
Is it too bad of a leak for a egg? Or pepper?
http://m.wikihow.com/Seal-a-Leaking-Radiator
http://m.wikihow.com/Seal-a-Leaking-Radiator
#11
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Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Find a NAPA that has emergency core plug kits. It's a rubber plug with a bolt that you tighten up and it spreads out, it wedges it self in the the hole. Never use JB Weld or anything like that, you'll just make more work for yourself later when you repair it correctly/
#12
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Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Find a NAPA that has emergency core plug kits. It's a rubber plug with a bolt that you tighten up and it spreads out, it wedges it self in the the hole. Never use JB Weld or anything like that, you'll just make more work for yourself later when you repair it correctly/
I found out the hard way that there is a "boss" just inside the hole where a valve stem runs. This will prevent the plug from seating flush on the head. Since it is cocked, it WILL blow out.
Since the head has to come off to really fix this, I eventually jerked the whole darn engine out the rest of the way and rebuilt everything.
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Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
XXX^, cap off, or loose enough to not make pressure, check it often.
Ha Ha!, Was Yesterday!
Last edited by DFlintstone; 04-25-2012 at 11:03 PM.
#15
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Thread Starter
Well, the leak ended up being where I suspected it to be, on the freeze plug behind the cylinder head.
I took some sandpaper and roughed it up and cleaned it nicely. Then I took some quick weld putty that you mix mash together to get mixed up and shoved it into the freeze plug.
It took me home with no problem.
It's a 1998, so no issue with a cracked head that I'm aware of, it drives great.
I took some sandpaper and roughed it up and cleaned it nicely. Then I took some quick weld putty that you mix mash together to get mixed up and shoved it into the freeze plug.
It took me home with no problem.
It's a 1998, so no issue with a cracked head that I'm aware of, it drives great.