As I was working on my jeep today a lady pulled up in an xj just like mine. She had smoke coming out of the engine compartment. I went out to check on her and she had overheated it. Maxed out temp on the guage. The smoke was coming from the valve cover and exhaust manifold area. Her radiator was almost completely out of fluid. I filled it up and told her to let the jeep sit and cool off for a few hours before starting it back up. Based on the smoke what kinda damage you guys think is possible?

 

Always a good idea to let it cool some 1st, then add water. Cold water on hot metal not good.

 

A lot of damage is possible. I've seen heads and blocks crack from overheating bad. Saw a truck overheat once, cracked the head but we didn't know that at the time, got a couple miles down the road, a cylinder filled with water and busted the rings on that piston. All from overheating.
Hopefully nothing like that happened to hers, but it could happen.

And you should have let it cool down before filling it back up with water.

 

Was she cute?

 

Well she came back and the jeep fired right up. Sounded ok. And ehh.. Not terrible. She had like 5 kids when she pulled up the first time!! Lol