milmat1

Wife was driving my 2000XJ today and it was HOT here. Pretty close to 100 degs outside. The plastic side tank of the radiator looks like you hit it with an AXE !!...LOL

Question: What options are there??

Have the old one repaired? ( Can these Plastic Jobs be repaired ??)

Find a Replacment Radiator?? Find a Bigger Radiator ?? (i do pull my boat with this Jeep)

ALSO: I recently replaced the top hose and T-Stat, And I geuss I didnt flush it very good because The water that came out of the busted radiator looked Really Rusty and dirty ??

I would like to just go ahead and Tune Up the cooling system with new/Repaired radiator, Replace the water pump now instead of waiting on a failure, AND Replace the rest of the hoses etc.
How is the best way to do a Really Good Flush of the cooling system???

Any Suggestions would be appreciated !

tj40

Not to worry you but...... the 2k 4.0 has some head issues. I think that if it blew that violently maybe you had some major psi in there when it came apart? Well I guess the cap would have failed first. I just got alarmed when I saw the 2k and the color of the coolant. I think you can score a 4.0 radiator from the wal-mart of autoparts for under $200

fishtaconc

http://radiatorbarn.com/ all metal 2 row

milmat1

That is the baby There !! Thanks !!

Sounds like a Compression test is in order as well if the 2K had head problems ????

milmat1

How can I test the head/head gasket seal.

Use a radiator pressure tester?

One of those Coolant Sniffers ?

jeepkid03

If you tow, go for the 3 row radiator. I'm going to be doing this upgrade myself soon. According to people who have installed it, even when crawling in 90+ degree weather the temp never goes above 210.

OverlandZJ

www.dpgoffroad.com 3 row metal rad.

milmat1

Ordered the two row Aluminum radiator (Thanks Fishtaconc)..

I'll flush the heck out of her and inspect everything while waiting on it to get here, My SIL has a Pressure tester to test for leaks after it's installed. And I'm gonna do a compression test as well. And maybe try to find someone with a "Sniffer" to look for compression gases in the Coolant....Hopefully the old radiator just gave up the ghost...

Crunch

Just pull your oil filler cap and shine a flash light at the head between the 3rd and 4th cylinders... if it's cracked you will see it most likely....

milmat1

Not Sure I understand what you mean, Why pull the oil cap ?
You mean look down from above at that area ? I dont think its leaking anywhere on the head, But I am worried that the head may have an internal crack that is letting compression into a water jacket or something....??

I Picked up a new Water pump on my way home, So now its new radiator, New water pump, T-Stat is new and top hose is new. Might even throw the clutchfan away and put another (2nd) Electric fan on her.

I'm Getting ready to pull it out now so I'll post some pics of the carnage in a while...

THANKS EVERYONE !!!

Crunch

That is where the heads seem to crack on our year XJ's.. You can usually see it (if it is cracked) though the oil fill on the valve cover.....

scavengerj

FWIW, you might want to opt for the heavy duty fan clutch (ZJ) for your application (towing) as well.

milmat1

OK,, gotchya !!
yep, or a flex (non clutch) fan

milmat1

Well I was suprised to find that after ripping the plastic tank the rest of the way apart, The Radiator was not full of gunk. In Fact it was pretty darn clean. Maybe a little bit of buildup down in the tubes but very little.
After I removed the water pump exposing the #1 Cylinder and water jacket, It was Clean as a Whistle too. No rust, no Calcium buildup, Just clean and a little green coolant left in there...Looked Great !!

Installed new pump and Degreased and power washed the whole darn engine and engine compartment.
I Had a brain fart and Thought "Heck I can just throw the battery back in start it up to get it back into the garage". Which I did !!
HOWEVER I FORGOT about the Tranny lines being loose, Now I have tranny fluid EVERWHERE !!!....ARGHHHH!!!

Now just waiting on the big brown truck to bring my new Aluminum radiator...WOOO HOOOO !!

Bigequip

Never use a cheap Chinese Thermostat sold by Kragen, O'Reilly, Pep Boys, etc. Go to a NAPA store and buy a good american thermostat.