cherokeenation1

i want to run mmy jeep with the thermostat out to see if it still over heats where do i put the water in to fill it?

Gee oh Dee

What year is your XJ?

cherokeenation1

2000 cherokee sport

cherokeenation1

i had another post but noone is answering it , the jeep was making a tea kettle whistle ive recently replaced the water pump and thermostat yesterday it overheated and spit all the antifreeze out and idk why, i just went and got a new thermostat and gaskets but i wanna run it with water first to see if its the thermostat or something else

Gee oh Dee

If its cold use the radiator cap, then top off the overflow bottle as necessary.

VTJeep

Have you flushed system yet? It's cheap and easy and may save you buying new parts...

deekay911

Don't run with the thermostat out except as a temporary option. Your engine will be slow to warm up and you'll use more gas. If you have cooling issues and your thermostat if functioning corrcetly then you have issues elsewhere..

cpnwrench

Ummmmmm.......first, what year XJ do you have?

typically....the radiator is where you fill anytime you open up the system...
I.E., removing thermostat.

have you already removed said thermostat?

if not, in order to remove the coolant mix from the system, there is a drain "petcock" on the side of the radiator at the botom passenger side.
mine is accessable from the front by reaching up under the bumper and opening (with a BIG fat bucket underneath I hope you have). That way you can re-use the coolant.

once jeep is cool that is. (not driven for a couple of hours anyway).
open radiator cap, then open "petcock" let fluid drain out. (into bucket).
then leaving drain open... remove the upper hose from the thermostat housing, remove thermostat housing, clean the facing surface on both sides as clean as possible (putty knife, Good one, usually works best). I use scotchgard scrubber on the housing face and the engine face (obviously with a rag stuffed into the engine part so no stuff gets in there).

a suggestion for you, buy a new thermostat maybe one that opens up much cooler temp (say 165 deg). Anyway, what I have done to eliminate various other problems is I drilled a hole in the top of the thermostat (a 1/8" bit and through the area just below the mating surface crimp of the thermostat. the mating surface so you know is the area where the housing face and the engine block face and the gasket come together, so dont drill on that area of the thermostat.) then install the modified thermostat CORRECTLY!!!! (most have the direction of flow stamped on them so if you are paying attention you can't put it in wrong). then put all back together. Then CLOSE the petcock. now, if you coolant looks rather funky and dark and yucky, start with half gallon of your favorite anti-freeze, using a funnel and SLOWLY pour that into the radiator....then after say two minutes begin fillng radiator with water, having a jug with water in it is better than a hose, unless you have the hose on trickle so you can regulate how much water you put in. when it appears full......squeeze the bottom hose several times to work the coolant through......then wait.....several minutes and see if bubbles appear at the radiator opening.....add more water if the level drops down.... ok, now once you've done this......start the jeep (with the radiator cap off), let is run a minute or two as the coolant flows through the engine, takes a minute or two..if you need more water wait and see if the level drops (at the radiator fill spot, NOT the overflow tank)..if it does not drop in a few minutes, then its full. shut off jeep, put cap on, check your overflow tank level, top that off if its low, and you should be ok......but running without a thermostat,,,,,I personally would not do that......but to each his own.....
if this has confused you more than what you bargained for.... buy the haynes manual for your year and read the section for routine maintenance. and the section for thermostat replacement.

hope it helps!

cpnwrench

project flying xj

Is it when you are driving or stationary? Because my 2000 xj sport did the same thing while driving because of my stock roof rack and when I got a roof basket on it, it stopped, just something to think
About...

Gee oh Dee

Ummmmmmmm, really? Such a big post and you missed that?

cpnwrench

ummmmmm.....when I was responding, (ie. writing like the hunt and peck typist I am...)

no one else had responded and he hadnt provided it for the year.....
thats all.

sorry

cpnwrench

OnlyInMyXJ22

Your reply took over 16 minutes?

This entire thread is full of win minus Gee oh Dee.

cpnwrench

yassir

I T Y P E S L O W......





cpnwrench

Slick761

Cut him a break he's ING :-D

Gee oh Dee