Gunked-Up Radiator Issues / Questions
 

2000 XJ

Seems like I've had cooling issues since I got my XJ. I've had plenty of radiators replaced due to build up inside. I have the orange, sludgy build up all in my system again.
Is this common?
Is it just from my neglect of not keeping up with flush and fills?
I've got almost zero heat, I've blown nasty crap out of my heater core in the past, engine runs a little hot in the warmer weather.

What's the best radiator to get? 3 core?

Certain fluid better than others? I remember hearing a mechanic way back say that this vehicle needed a certain type likee the "orange stuff"?

Is all this build up just from a rusty engine block?

If your system has been neglected or abused (like mine was) it will take many flushes to get it clean. There's *lots* of gunk in your engine, radiator and heater core.

It's been my experience that XJ's love radiator maintenance and if you want to keep your system clean and nice, be prepared to flush and fill regularly. There's a vid on youtube channel called ChrisFix where the guy flushed his system like 3 complete times before it ran clean.

Every time I see a cooling system post on a 2000-01 4.0 XJ, I always wonder if it has the cracked 0331 head.

Those years are notorious for doing that. Factory flaw.

I was thinking the same thing about the 0331 head. I had similar symptoms with my 0331. If I had a 2000 with the problems described here, I would try to rule out a head crack before sinking any more money into cooling system components that would just get ruined again.

There is a lot of information here on the 0331 heads. Just do a search, and you'll find more reading material than you ever wanted.