1995 Jeep XJ (Cherokee), 6 cyl 4.0 (Straight 6)

I just replaced my entire cooling system, back flushed the heater core/flushed out all the coolant with a Prestone Flush kit, and installed a transmission cooler.

There are no leaks as of right now (that I know of) so that is good.

My Haynes manual says my cooling system capacity is 12.5 quarts (3.1 gallons). So I put 1 1/2 gallons of antifreeze/coolant. I was going to fill the remainder with distilled water. I started to put in the distilled water but could only get in about 3/4 of a gallon. I am assuming I can't pour the other 3/4 gallon of distilled water in due to water remaining in the system from the water flush (water was coming out clear).

I burped the system and ran my XJ for a while (adding distilled water as the level lowered). Is there a way to tell if your cooling system is full?

I have not driven it yet.

 

Drive it and monitor the coolant level. Check it often for the first 100 miles.

 

U really need to mix coolant/water together prior to pouring the mix in.

Let the motor idle with the rad cap off. Keep the rad full while idling. When coolant "burps" out the rad, install a new rad cap. For the next several days of driving (heat/cool cycles), remove rad cap (motor COLD) and fill rad to top, if needed. Always check the coolant level in the bottle, motor COLD.

 

Thank you both. I will definitely monitor it. I thought I had to do it separate since there was already water in the system from the flush, so by adding straight coolant I would get t o the 50/50 mix. Ha with my XJ nothing ever goes as planned (probably user error not machine).

 

I would suggest sometime before next winter (freezing weather), u drain the motor/rad (do not flush unless really nasty looking) and refill with premixed coolant/water.

 

Thanks djb383. I will do that. I read your post about just disconnecting the lower radiator hose to empty it out . . . that was definitely helpful. Also, I would have been lost installing my trans cooler without your advice of disconnecting the trans lines from the radiator and sticking them in a bucket to determine 100% the right return line. Mine were actually just as the popular diagram was (I think the lines are different on models that did or didn't come with a tow package).

 

There will always be residual coolant left in the system unless you're tearing down the motor, removing freeze plugs, yanking the head, etc. Nobody does that for a coolant change. Since you got 9 quarts in there you don't have any major air pockets you'd need to worry about. You know the system has 12.5 quarts so if you flushed it with water while idling/running, drained, and then added 6 quarts of coolant, you're nearly at 50/50. Check the overflow reservoir for a day or two after some driving and add as necessary. It will probably drop some.

If no flush, only draining and refilling, then I would pour only 50/50 in there. I buy the distilled water and pure antifreeze and pre-mix before pouring it in.

Next time after flushing you may try to pour a gallon of distilled water through the heater core supply line to get more of the flush water out of there (or just flush with distilled water).

 

Thanks md21722. That definitely makes sense. That is exactly what I did. I just drove it for 45 min and the coolant level was the same. So I think I am good to go (as long as I check it a lot over the next couple of days).

 

The motor must be COLD, as in off overnight, to properly check coolant level in the rad.

 

Jack up the front end a little or drive it up on portable ramps if you have them, then add coolant, air bubbles love to travel uphill.

 

Totally unnecessary, the motor is installed with the front tilted up.

 

^^^ X2