I've been wrestling with this for a while, seems like it should be a simple thing...

I noticed the Jeep will lose a bit of coolant after driving and then parking and shut off ... it just spews a bit on the ground.

This happens until the coolant gets down to about an inch left in the reservoir and then stops. If I top it off, it does the same thing again until about an inch is left.

I noticed that the fluid was coming from around the water pump, so I replaced that.

Problem continued.

Noticed it seem to be coming around the lower rad hose where its clamped to the water pump. So I readjusted that and tightened. Seemed to improve, but its back to it again. I redid clamp again, but still happening.

I guess my next thought is replace the lower rad hose, perhaps there's a very find crack that I can't see?

Figure I would ask around this time, maybe there's something I'm missing...

Thanks.

 

I had something similar. Turned out to be a crack in the radiator.took a few months until it finally gave out

 

Sounds a little like a faulty radiator cap. Or the wrong type of cap. Such that positive pressure is finding its way out of the system (through weak points like clamps), instead of properly going out through the cap to the reservoir. Then as the system cools, it is properly able to suck in from the reservoir. Eventually emptying the reservoir to the point where it doesn't pull from there any more.

 

Interesting.

I'll check that out, thanks.

 

Just a guess, but could be the water pump. There's a small hole close to the shaft that coolant sometimes will escape if the pump needs replaced.

 

Is the level in the reservoir going up when hot and sucking back down when cold? If not, I'd suspect the line to it from the radiator cap is broken or the cap is failing.

 

I'm going with the radiator cap theory. You are experiencing "afterboil" because the rad cap is relieving pressure too soon so the coolant boils in the block, raising pressure to the point where it will find a weak point to escape.

 

this^^.

and, it's likely this also:

 

Just curious, how old is the lower radiator hose? Could it be a small crack in the hose that is the weak point where the pressure will be relieved. Maybe if the cap was working as normal, it wouldn't show up.

 

If the age of the radiator hoses is unknown might be a good idea to replace them anyway. I'd guess a radiator cap as well because of where you are talking about the coolant dripping from. If it's really coming off of the lower rad hose connection it can't drip from the water pump go down the hose then back up the hose to the radiator connection.

 

Have you ever done a coolant flush before? If the hoses are older or of unknown age, its probably a good idea to change them. While you are doing that, (and have to drain the coolant anyway), it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to flush the system.

Remove the lower radiator hose, drain as much coolant as possible. Then put in water and maybe even some of that prestone chemical flush, button it up and drive it around for a little while. Then drain the flush and put in just regular water to rinse it out. Drive it for a little bit to flush out the flush and any other crap. Once that is done and you drain it out, try running some water through the system with the lower radiator hose off just to make sure it is as clear as possible. Finally, install the new hoses, and buy some new coolant and distilled water, mix as appropriate and fill it up.

 

Ill bet it's a leaky water pump AND a bad cap.
Git r done!

 

Woah, somehow I missed all this info.

Thanks guys.

Not the water pump -- just replaced it, confirmed its not leaking around WP seal.

Rad cap? Maybe, but it isn't doing the coolant going up and down symptom. I just leaks to about an inch in the reservoir and stays there.

I'm thinking its got to be the lower rad hose with a micro leak? I think I'll replace the rad cap and watch, then if still an issue replace lower rad hose.

Thanks again, this forum is one of the great things about owning a classic Cherokee.