ok so im starting to get really mad at my cooling system. it started a few months ago when it puked out bout half a gallon of coolant by pushing the lower radiator hose off the water pump. i replaced the hose, then it started doing it on the radiator end of the lower hose. so i eventually ended up replacing the water pump, thermostat, upper hose, and radiator cap. the radiator got replaced in january. its still puking coolant but now its on the upper radiator hose on the radiator end. i cant figure it out, need help cuz buying coolant all the time is expensive

 

I'm assuming your talking about a 1995 as listed in your profile which I believe has the open system with a cap on the radiator. The first time the hose came off may have just been a fluke because of bad hose or loose clamp but it sounds like you now may have a compression leak which is building excessive pressure in your cooling system. Start it up cold with the cap off and full of coolant. If it bubbles continuously (and it may not start bubbling until it gets warmed up) you have compression leaking into the cooling system which can only come from the head gasket or a cracked head. If your lucky and there is no bubbling you may have a defective cap that is not releasing the pressure properly.

 

forgot bout this, so anyway, i did this and got bubbles, i talked to multiple mechanics and they think its a head gasket that is just bout to go. so it looks like my 4.7 stroker motor has got to be done sooner than i than i thought lol

 

It may also be exhaust getting into the coolant system. This happens when a head gasket goes. I learned this by experience. The easiest way to confirm if this is happening is to go to a shop that has emissions equipment for inspections. If you place the tailpipe probe at the radiator inlet on a hot engine and you get readings, that confirms it.

 

ya im almost positive its the head gasket, so im putting in a new motor

 

I highly recommend only 4.6. Once you hit 4.7... any machinist worth his salt will tell you there is no more room for a safe bore. Meaning that anything requiring another bore basically means you require another block. It's not that all of the cylinder walls are compromised, but in particular the one in the very front where the water pump is, is thinner than the rest.

I only have 4.7 because the place that built my engine f*cked it up. I didn't realize until I was rebuilding it myself down the road that I actually had a 4.7.

Then again... I can't complain. I like the number 7 more than 6.

 

Wait a minute! Youre pretty sure its the head gasket so youre putting in a new motor!?!?!?!?! Because of a $40 dollar gasket!?!?!?!?!

 

Thanks for bringing this point up.

Just replace the gasket. Unless you have a cracked cylinder wall itself there is no need for a new motor.

 

ok, well i already got the motor, it had to be bored out 0.030" got a comp cam and a new used crank along with obviously new pistons and rods. all i got to do is replace the crank and rods and then i got myself a 4.7L

as for the gasket, this motor already leaks oil out the Rear main seal, the front crank shaft seal and the distributor, it pukes coolant, and has a very loud and constant valve train knock. i got the motor, and i want to put it in the xj, i just thought it was guna be later down the road in a year or 2. if im guna be tearing down the top end of the motor, then i think it would be better in the long run to just put the new motor in

 

ANd does this new motor have a new head with it? Already machined?

 

No offense man, but new gaskets are always cheaper and easier than a completely new motor, even if you got the motor for free. You could put that "new" (its not brand new, correct?) motor in an have it have a catastrophic failure next week and then where are you? I guess I dont understand tossing someone that just needs a little work for something else that might have issues, but hey, good luck.

 

ya it got a complete head and valve job, with new valves and springs

i know what your saying, its just the motor thats in there needs a lot of work and i plan on keeping this jeep for a long time and i just want it running at its best (and leak free...hopefully) it prbly would be cheaper, but it wouldnt be as fun lol

and your right, its not a completely brand new motor, pulled it out of a 1993 zj with 185xxx miles on it

 

In the meantime, while you're still troubleshooting, try just putting in water instead of coolant/antifreeze. It's summer so you won't have to worry about it freezing for now

 

Don't do that for too long. It'll rust out your radiator and you'll have a leak. Even bigger disaster.

That happened to me while I was on a long trip up north. I refilled it with more water a couple of times but the leaks just kept getting worse along the way. I had to rebuild the engine.

I had water in it for a few months. I wouldn't have the water in there for more than 2 weeks max.

Play with fire, you get burned. Play with water, the engine gets burned.