So I was taking my XJ on another cross country trip from Bremmerton, WA back to NC, second time doing this. I've noticed that when I had the engine coolant flushed and refilled in WA it seems to be heating up quicker.
What I mean by that is for example when I'm sitting in traffic for an extended period of time the temperature gauge is steadily rising past the halfway point and further towards 260 degrees. It's not rising quickly but steadily. It's never overheated before or after the maintenance. It starts going down when I'm moving again but it's starting to worry me. I've been checking my coolant reservoir and it's definitely using more coolant than normal and like it said, it wasn't using this much coolant nor rising this quickly before the maintenance.
Is this normal or should I be worried. Just FYI it's a 1999 4.0 with now 132k, with Stock engine components. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Normal is not using any coolant at all. Sounds as if you had a problem that's gotten worse.

 

What do you think the issue is?

 

when did you get it flushed? how much have you driven?

it depends if its "using coolant". there are 3 possibilities:

1. its leaking coolant.
2. coolant is going somewhere in the engine it shouldnt, ie into the oil or combustion chamber. check your oil, if it looks milky, or way high, you have a problem.
3. there was air in the cooling system and by driving it, its getting burped, and the reservoir is going down as coolant replaces the air in the hoses/rad/etc.

hopefully its 3.

 

Pretty sure you have the 3031 head which is known for developing cracks. BUT before we go there any chance your leaking coolant from somewhere?

 

I've driven 3k since the coolant was flushed and replaced. I've parked it on concrete and haven't seen any fluid at all, not even condensation from the AC because I don't run the AC.
The oil isn't milky, or high. It's at the "safe" mark.
As far as the 3rd option...what can be done to correct that?

 

If it's a 99 I doubt it's the 0331, but let's set that asside for a minute...

Check all hoses where they connect, and look under the pass floor board see if it's wet, when it got flushed you might have developed a leak. Also, if it's only while sitting still, I'm suspect of the fan clutch

 

after 3k it should be completely burped by now.

how much coolant are you having to add, and how frequently?

 

I've suspected the fan clutch too. Well, its got to have some added right now. The last time I added some was a month ago roughly.

 

X2 on the fan clutch. That'd be the first thing I would fix

 

As far as the floorboards, I've recently put new carpet in and while I was replacing the carpet I didn't notice the pans wet throughout the process. It was driven daily.

 

As far as the fan clutch goes...is anyone familiar with the flex a lite radiator/electric fan combo? The reason I bring it up is that it will replace the fan clutch. Or would it be better to stay stock?

 

What r the specs on the efan conversion? OE stock efan moves something like 2300 CFM and a properly functioning clutch fan will move way more CFM than the OE efan at just above idle rpm. Do your home work......the OE rad fans r not the weak link in the XJ cooling system.

 

Sounds like fan clutch to me as well...
I would start with that... As previously stated..

Ant...

 

Put a stock style, good brand fan clutch on it first.`

It might be getting so hot it is boiling the coolant in the bottle, letting it escape as a gas. That may be why you have to add coolant occasionally.