Breathing at Head gasket

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Apr 15, 2023 | 07:31 PM

280ezrider

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 52

Likes: 6

From: Southern Oregon Valley

Year: 1996

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0 LTR

Breathing at Head gasket

4.0 engine on a 96 XJ appears to be breathing right side at the head gasket (270K). There's no mixture of oil with coolant and no appreciable loss of either. I'm wondering if re-torquing the head-bolts would make any difference. Opinions?

Apr 15, 2023 | 07:59 PM

tech

CF Veteran

Joined: Jun 2016

Posts: 2,138

Likes: 278

From: Santa Clarita California

Year: 2001

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0L

You can try but if it's leaking I would change the head gasket . re-torqueing the head bolts one could brake or they can be stuck so be ready if something happens .

Apr 16, 2023 | 09:00 AM

cruiser54

::CF Moderator::

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 43,971

Likes: 1,578

From: Prescott, Az

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0

Breathing?

Apr 16, 2023 | 02:02 PM

lawsoncl

CF Veteran

Joined: Dec 2017

Posts: 4,365

Likes: 1,215

Year: 1989

Model: Comanche (MJ)

Engine: 4.0

It's alive!!!!

I wouldn't worry about a small amount of oil weeping on the passenger side though. It's just the pushrod galleys on that side.

Apr 16, 2023 | 02:31 PM

cruiser54

::CF Moderator::

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 43,971

Likes: 1,578

From: Prescott, Az

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0

So is it breathing and weeping, weeping. or just breathing?

Is this referring to the seep that is very common on the 4.0s above the distributor between the head and block?