96XJ - Coolant reservoir almost empty
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
96XJ - Coolant reservoir almost empty
Hi all,
I recently purchased a 1996 XJ 4x4 with the 4.0. 146K miles, no rust. It's in incredible shape inside and out with every single maintenance record since brand new, including the original window sticker and dealership paperwork. It has a brand new RC 3" lift with pro comp wheels and BFG KO2s.
I was changing the fuel filter today and noticed the coolant reservoir was just about empty! I had the oil changed about a week ago (approx 50-75 miles since then) and fluid levels were great. I've never had any overheating issues and the needle on the temp gauge has never crossed over the halfway mark. I have no puddles or obvious leaks, no smokey exhaust, no sweet smell through the vents and the heat works great. However, as I was under the car I noticed a small drop of green liquid on the bottom of my front passenger side shock tower, near the top of the coil spring. This area is directly below the reservoir so I took my reservoir out and did not notice any wetness or obvious signs of a leak. There was a tiny drop of coolant on the inside of a washer that secures the reservoir but that's it. I checked the corners of the radiator and did not notice any pinhole leaks, as well as the water pump weep hole. My only guess is a hairline crack in the reservoir which is allowing coolant to leak and evaporate while the engine is running. Any ideas? I love this thing want to keep it in prime shape.
Here are some pics since this is my first post.
http://imgur.com/a/Nm6ikVD
I recently purchased a 1996 XJ 4x4 with the 4.0. 146K miles, no rust. It's in incredible shape inside and out with every single maintenance record since brand new, including the original window sticker and dealership paperwork. It has a brand new RC 3" lift with pro comp wheels and BFG KO2s.
I was changing the fuel filter today and noticed the coolant reservoir was just about empty! I had the oil changed about a week ago (approx 50-75 miles since then) and fluid levels were great. I've never had any overheating issues and the needle on the temp gauge has never crossed over the halfway mark. I have no puddles or obvious leaks, no smokey exhaust, no sweet smell through the vents and the heat works great. However, as I was under the car I noticed a small drop of green liquid on the bottom of my front passenger side shock tower, near the top of the coil spring. This area is directly below the reservoir so I took my reservoir out and did not notice any wetness or obvious signs of a leak. There was a tiny drop of coolant on the inside of a washer that secures the reservoir but that's it. I checked the corners of the radiator and did not notice any pinhole leaks, as well as the water pump weep hole. My only guess is a hairline crack in the reservoir which is allowing coolant to leak and evaporate while the engine is running. Any ideas? I love this thing want to keep it in prime shape.
Here are some pics since this is my first post.
http://imgur.com/a/Nm6ikVD
#2
CF Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: PA
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Could be a loose hose clamp or a cracked reservoir as they can get brittle with age. I broke atleast two at the yards trying to remove them. Fingers went right thru like they were eggshells.
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
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Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
Hi all,
I recently purchased a 1996 XJ 4x4 with the 4.0. 146K miles, no rust. It's in incredible shape inside and out with every single maintenance record since brand new, including the original window sticker and dealership paperwork. It has a brand new RC 3" lift with pro comp wheels and BFG KO2s.
I was changing the fuel filter today and noticed the coolant reservoir was just about empty! I had the oil changed about a week ago (approx 50-75 miles since then) and fluid levels were great. I've never had any overheating issues and the needle on the temp gauge has never crossed over the halfway mark. I have no puddles or obvious leaks, no smokey exhaust, no sweet smell through the vents and the heat works great. However, as I was under the car I noticed a small drop of green liquid on the bottom of my front passenger side shock tower, near the top of the coil spring. This area is directly below the reservoir so I took my reservoir out and did not notice any wetness or obvious signs of a leak. There was a tiny drop of coolant on the inside of a washer that secures the reservoir but that's it. I checked the corners of the radiator and did not notice any pinhole leaks, as well as the water pump weep hole. My only guess is a hairline crack in the reservoir which is allowing coolant to leak and evaporate while the engine is running. Any ideas? I love this thing want to keep it in prime shape.
Here are some pics since this is my first post.
http://imgur.com/a/Nm6ikVD
I recently purchased a 1996 XJ 4x4 with the 4.0. 146K miles, no rust. It's in incredible shape inside and out with every single maintenance record since brand new, including the original window sticker and dealership paperwork. It has a brand new RC 3" lift with pro comp wheels and BFG KO2s.
I was changing the fuel filter today and noticed the coolant reservoir was just about empty! I had the oil changed about a week ago (approx 50-75 miles since then) and fluid levels were great. I've never had any overheating issues and the needle on the temp gauge has never crossed over the halfway mark. I have no puddles or obvious leaks, no smokey exhaust, no sweet smell through the vents and the heat works great. However, as I was under the car I noticed a small drop of green liquid on the bottom of my front passenger side shock tower, near the top of the coil spring. This area is directly below the reservoir so I took my reservoir out and did not notice any wetness or obvious signs of a leak. There was a tiny drop of coolant on the inside of a washer that secures the reservoir but that's it. I checked the corners of the radiator and did not notice any pinhole leaks, as well as the water pump weep hole. My only guess is a hairline crack in the reservoir which is allowing coolant to leak and evaporate while the engine is running. Any ideas? I love this thing want to keep it in prime shape.
Here are some pics since this is my first post.
http://imgur.com/a/Nm6ikVD
No other real way of finding small leaks if you have one.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I didn't notice any obvious signs of cracking or general aging on the reservoir bottle. However, the coolant loss seemed to start when I placed a hose clamp over the feeder line from the radiator to the reservoir. I noticed the hose on the reservoir side did not have a clamp on it and could come off rather easily. I don't think it would be possible for a clamp to cause some type of coolant loss since the clamp was over the spout of the reservoir, preventing any type of collapse. I'm gonna buy a new radiator cap and refill with coolant to get an idea on how substantial the leak is. May buy some dye and a UV light as well yo assist in tracking it down.
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2016
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Year: 96
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
or switch engine off and listen for a hiss, as coolant temp rises for a couple of mins
a universal pressurising device can be home built with a bike inner tube, pump, and some clamps
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thank you everyone for the replies. I refilled the reservoir and drove about 15 miles. I now noticed a small bit of coolant right that seemed to be coming from a heater hose. See the attached pics. Could this hose be causing such a large loss?
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
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Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
I personally hate those spring clamps and always switch out for a worm clamp.
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#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I'm just glad I found it! Do you happen to know what heater hose that is? I see it goes to the heater control valve and mounts to the top of it. The hose is 5/8"x11/16". I didn't see any that size on Rock Auto
#10
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Hunt County Texas
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...se+/+pipe,6892
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
The heater hoses are under the heat and air conditioning section
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...se+/+pipe,6892
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...se+/+pipe,6892
#12
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Groton, MA
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
That engine and compartment look beautiful - I'm jealous. I'd love to find a late year 4wd 5spd 96 with no rust, low miles and a great maintenance history. I love the older interior style and the late year 96's have that, plus ODB2. Great find!!
#14
Old fart with a wrench
It's a chunk of standard 5/8 heater hose you can buy in ANY auto parts store, for cripes sake! Absolutely nothing special. AND get rid of those spring-action clamps! Use new worm-drive clamps. You can eliminate that heater control valve and run both hoses direct to the heater core. Just cap off the vacuum line.
#15
Senior Member
It's a chunk of standard 5/8 heater hose you can buy in ANY auto parts store, for cripes sake! Absolutely nothing special. AND get rid of those spring-action clamps! Use new worm-drive clamps. You can eliminate that heater control valve and run both hoses direct to the heater core. Just cap off the vacuum line.
Just one other thing to be careful of.
When taking the hose off of your heater core inlets, be gentle. More than likely your heater core is old, and if you tug on those hose to hard you will destroy it. Then it is a 10 hour repair to replace the heater core.
My suggestion would be to cut the hoses off (if you are replacing them) with a utility knife, and to support the core end till they are cut off.