Hey Jeep Geniuses - I came back from a week of vacation and fired up the XJ yesterday but noticed the engine was running a little funky at idle. Nothing serious, just the type of arrhythmic cha-chug it will get after running really hot but this was only after like 5 minutes.

I opened up the hood when I got home and immediately noticed there was a decent amount of fluid caked into the front of the engine head...then, about 20 seconds later coolant fluid started leaking out from the front left side of the engine and down the head.

Is this just a failing water pump or thermostat or indicative of something worse? Here's what it looked like:

 

check that heater hose connection. Maybe cut an inch off hose and re-clamp it.

 

It wouldn't be therm housing or water pump if its up that high.

Check those heater hoses as mentioned.

 

When you say "leaking from the front left side of the engine" did you determine the actual source of the leaking or was the fluid just running down that spot?