1994 4 litre, 6 straight line, 162k country version, and I just bought it. I've been praying I didn't get screwed because I don't know about jeeps or engines, etc.

I was driving it for 20 mins. apx. and on a hot day 90s and the engine starts to get hot, right up to the red line, but not quite in there. There was traffic but I was trying to keep it cool. The hood started smoking, a thin-ish grey/light brown color of some and it was heavier from the driver's side. I saw the same thing out the rear window but I don't know where it was coming from (the hood or the exhaust ). It cooled down quickly and when I popped the hood there was no clear source.
Later I checked the oil and coolant, oil is the correct color, not watery or bubbly, and the coolant was at the right level.

Any educated guesses on a diagonsis?

 

did they power wash the engine to make it look "pretty"? maybe it was cleaner burning off.

 

i wasn't worked over or anything the jeep is worth what I paid $970 in part at the least! It runs now I'm just not driving it until I know what's wrong. Do you think it's the thermostat the head gasket or something else?

 

Change the T-stat, flush the coolant, and see what happens from there.

Was the electric fan running?
codfish