Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

head gasket need opinion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 08:55 PM
  #1  
blkcherokee's Avatar
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Space Coast, Fl
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default head gasket need opinion

Ok guys I haven't been on in a while since someone pulled out in front of me and totaled out my xj well now I am looking at a new one and the head gasket is blown he just noticed it was over heating and when he went thru it he found that there was oil water mixture. I offered him $1500 for it and its an 01 with 120*** on the motor is it easy to replace the gasket
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 09:31 PM
  #2  
Firestorm500's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

It's not just the gasket. It's also not easy.

It very well could have bearing damage. And/or a cracked head.

To be on the safe side, figure on spending $2500+ depending on what you can do yourself to make it reliable again.
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 10:32 PM
  #3  
blkcherokee's Avatar
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Space Coast, Fl
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

thats 2500 with the vechial purchase?
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 10:33 PM
  #4  
poorstang's Avatar
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Richlands VA
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Have u heard it run? Could also been a blown motor like mine.
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 10:40 PM
  #5  
blkcherokee's Avatar
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Space Coast, Fl
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

still starts runs and drives
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 10:57 PM
  #6  
Jeepjunky's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,529
Likes: 1
From: somewhere Gee oh Dee cant find me...
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Default

op, how long has the guy know that it has a blown head gasket, and how long did he keep on driving it?

Originally Posted by Firestorm500
It's not just the gasket. It's also not easy.
i disagree with it being a hard job, it really isnt if you do it right and its simple
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2012 | 11:00 PM
  #7  
poorstang's Avatar
Seasoned Member
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: Richlands VA
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Mine still ran and drove too without a #5 piston granted not very well but still ran
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2012 | 12:20 AM
  #8  
Firestorm500's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

Originally Posted by blkcherokee
thats 2500 with the vechial purchase?
$2500 in parts and labor after the vehicle cost, depending.

If you do decide to get it and later come out cheaper, and still fix it right, that's good.
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2012 | 12:23 AM
  #9  
Firestorm500's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

[QUOTE= i disagree with it being a hard job, it really isnt if you do it right and its simple[/QUOTE]

And I disagree with you, because as I said earlier, it depends on how much he can do on his own. Not everyone has the same mechanical aptitude.

It has the 0331 head and the original owner has driven it apparently a fair amount before coolant was discovered in the oil.

Last edited by Firestorm500; Apr 24, 2012 at 12:27 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2012 | 12:57 AM
  #10  
Radi's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 23
From: Wisconsin
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by Firestorm500
to make it reliable again.
That's the key there. Bearing damage from the coolant might not appear until after you've replaced the gasket and forgotten about it.
It's not unusual for bearings to fail shortly after someone repairs the top half of a motor, which they commonly blame on "all that new power", lol.
That isn't why...
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2012 | 07:59 AM
  #11  
Firestorm500's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

Originally Posted by Radi
That's the key there. Bearing damage from the coolant might not appear until after you've replaced the gasket and forgotten about it.
It's not unusual for bearings to fail shortly after someone repairs the top half of a motor, which they commonly blame on "all that new power", lol.
That isn't why...
Exactly. All too often people worry about just the head when it is the whole engine.

Then they spend at least double money and time going back into it again.
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2012 | 08:36 AM
  #12  
1991Jeep_Man's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,867
Likes: 16
From: Fauquier County, Virginia
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 HO
Default

I'm gonna agree with Firestorm,

This is an '01, and anything late 99-01 had that flawed 0331 Cylinder head (with the exception of the TUPY head, but Idk if the XJ came with the TUPY). If the seller is so clueless that he just now realized that it is overheating and has coolant in the oil, I'd either run from this rig or buy it REALLY cheap considering you're likely gonna need at the least a new cylinder head. Here's another big deal maker/breaker: what's the oil pressure reading? Wouldn't surprise me if the coolant hasn't already started wiping out the bearings.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
t.mcginley.jr
Jeep Builds
105
Jan 31, 2024 04:58 PM
lild
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
14
Sep 30, 2015 08:40 PM
nvcasper
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
6
Sep 19, 2015 11:35 PM
seanie11
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
11
Sep 11, 2015 04:42 AM
Azzy
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
Sep 8, 2015 10:49 PM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:15 PM.