So today was not a good day as far as the XJ...

I drove it to work and back, had to bring my fiance to talk to a florist about our wedding and as soon as i turned the truck off the upper radiator hose blew off the jeep and fluid went everywhere...

A big thanks gos out to alienoutlaw89 for giving me a hand getting water back into her and trying to get back on my way...

Unfortunately I only drove for about 3 miles before the following happened...

I started hearing a tapping sound as the temp rose... finally at about 230 degrees the truck stalled out. What I don't understand is that I had smoke coming from either behind or under the valve cover. Not sure what it is but the oil was checked and I have no water in the oil, the pressure is fine but she wont stop overheating...

I think my thermostat is stuck closed but not sure...

Any Ideas guys?

 

I had a similar problem when my lower hose blew. The hardest part was getting the coolant to cycle all the way through. Try squeezing the upper hose to try and get things flowing and you should eventually feel it start to get hot. Do that before you start driving to give yourself some more time before things get toasty.

 

And what year is yours?

 

if your using straight water thats #1 nono.. water boils at 100 deg.. jeeps run 190+. when water boils it creates air pockets and steam thus overheating. check your clutch fan and t-stat. and make sure the radiator and cooling system is flushed and clean

 

True story.

 

Sorry, but water boils at 100 degrees C, or 212 degrees F @ sea level. The higher in altitude you go the lower the boiling point.

 

I was just about to post that... lol

 

got that mixed up.. but straight water in a closed engine cooling system is force boiled like a pressure pot

 

Yes...not good! lol

 

Yeah I know water isnt good but you have to do what you have to do when your stranded and thats all you have...

I just don't know what all that smoke was after the fact.

 

1998

 

Actually, straight water is the best coolant as far as heat transfer is concerned.

Smoke could have been residual coolant burning off after the burst hose, or oil residue burning.

The tapping sound, followed by the stall, was the engine overheating and beginning lockup.

I wonder how hot it got before the hose blew off?

 

How long has it been since any cooling system maintenance? Usually only really old hoses split/crack/leak. Using a 15 lb rad cap and straight water will yield a +/-257F boiling point. Hoses should withstand way more pressure than the rad cap release point.