Tampa, FL
Gets pretty hot out during the summer obviously, mid 90's

 

It's funny to see all these threads (no offense to the posters, I totally appreciate their position) with folks that can't come to terms with their problem being more than a simple radiator cap. Of course, when there are symptoms of a radiator cap it's like "what do mean the radiator cap might possibly ever "break""... but start showing signs of a bad head or head gasket and all of a sudden it's like "buuuuut it's the radiator cap, right!!!!??!!!".... Like I say, I totally appreciate that... given the choice between a 5second fix with a $10-ish part or a many hour fix with several hundreds of dollars in parts, you'd have to be a masochist to not want the cheap and easy...lol. One can hope that the several folks with likely head issues will see the light and realize they need to do some really simple testing and if it is the worst, that they take on the challenge and do the fix.
(I'm obviously NOT talking about you waffles.... just to be 100% clear...)

I do remember the day I discovered the existence of the coolant pressure test tool.... I had been chasing a frustrating leak many years ago and stumbled on the test tool... No exaggeration, I put that test tool on, pumped it up and boom - found the incorrectly sealed t-stat housing (I had done both the WP and t-stat) right away as the coolant started spraying out the side. Definitely one of the specialty tools I'll be adding to my collection in the near future.

 

True about pressure testing the system and I have been meaning to buy me one of those big kits. Since he said its a 2001 Cherokee XJ, 4.0 overheated many times,see faint white frothy residue under the oil filler cap and coolant reeked of exhaust gas I don't think his problem is the cap this time. BUT he said he rebuilt the coolant system I would think a cap would be replaced also especially if a new radiator was installed. Guess having a 2000/2001 jeep that has been overheated is like the Bon Jovi song...Livin on a prayer!

 

Like I said, I wasn't talking about waffles, lol, he knows what he's doing, looking at an XJ that isn't his.

There are 2-3 other threads (2 01's and a 99) with head symptoms and a little too much clinging to false hope rather than testing and knowing. I'm not knocking them too much (good natured ribbing.. lol) just amused me to see.

 

I had my 00 Tj, overheated for sure, something like 50k later and as far as I know still running strong on the original 0331 head.... so it's not 100 percent... just too common to dismiss..

 

I overheated my 2000 when I first got it. Got sooo hot the oil that has been sitting on top the valve covers lip started smoking but the gauge was yet not pegged out! However someone has already been in it most likely due to head issue and I could of sworn when I removed the valve covers to replace the gasket it was a 06 or a 07 number as there is no 0331 number showing .....I do suffer from low pressure at hot idle but seen worse and not too noisy.

 

Yea I agree

 

The problem with the 0331 head is it could crack AT ANY TIME! not just after a certain mileage. For me, it's like living with a ticking time bomb, watching the temp gauge constantly. It takes the fun out of bashing it around offroad so I don't.