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mud in the radiator...literally dirt

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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 09:24 AM
  #1  
alloutperform's Avatar
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From: cape cod ma.
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 i6
Default mud in the radiator...literally dirt

ok this is not an over heat thread or a bad head sludge...i actually found dirt/sedement in my radiator...

ok so my waterpump crapped out (started pissing) last night so i changed it but in the radiator fill i had sand alot of it, and some came out of the bottom of the radiator so i flushed the hell out of everything and put it back together....i can't figure out how it got there unless it's sucking it in the overflow..any thoughts?
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 09:42 AM
  #2  
91 limited owner's Avatar
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From: Oshkosh, WI.
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Your overflow should be sealed, except a small vent hole. Maybe it's been there for long time. Although my XJ was keep mostly in northern Wis. (Sand country) And I was finding sand everywhere, in the glove box, Under the headliner, every nuck and cranny in the engine bay. So maybe after years of trails, It did suck some in!
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:04 AM
  #3  
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From: Warsaw, IN
Year: 2000,1990,1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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I think it's kinda normal, well not normal but common. That's how mine was when I bought it. Like a rusty looking gritty dirt?
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:41 AM
  #4  
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From: West Texas
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
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FYI,

all radiators over many many years of use, unless religously flushed per miles to service guidelines fill up with crap and eventually lose efficicncy due to breakdown of the materials internally and begin settling in the nooks and crevices withing the radiator and engine block.....

i have swapped out rads on my BMW and my Jeep and friends hondas etc etc etc..... and everyone of them weighed signifigantly more than a new one, due to sediment build up....

soooo maybe its time for a new rad install?

just my two cents folks,


cpnwrench
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:50 AM
  #5  
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From: Rocket Country MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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did the coolant smell kinda like poo
bars leak or silversolder could be your gunk you found as thats what it'll look like after it runs through your system for a year or two
also makes the brownish crap in the overflow
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:53 AM
  #6  
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From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
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Could be rust, casting sand, or actual dirt. Flush the system best you can and run a 50/50 mix, maybe add some water wetter with conditioner in it.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 12:03 PM
  #7  
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From: North Carolina
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Gas
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I was inside a Lexus engine that looked like it had mud in it yesterday.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 12:22 PM
  #8  
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From: Cove, OR
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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The engine block is sand cast, it could be some dirt that didn't get cleaned out of the coolant passages.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 12:32 PM
  #9  
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From: cape cod ma.
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 i6
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no...it was sand..new radiator 6 months ago i have been all through this thing the coolant was still bright green smelled, felt , looked great no foaming nothing just about 1/4 deep in sand at the fill and some same out when i drained it i got very little when flushing the system out with the hose (i strained everything as i flush to inspect)
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