COOLING SYSTEM ISSUES
NORMAL OPERATING TEMP IS 200 - 215 DEGREES
-If there is rusty brown coolant, sludge or anything other than nice pretty neon green coolant be prepared for extensive amounts of flushing of the coolant system. If the radiator has been neglected long enough and rust has set in it may be more time effective to just replace the radiator. Remember always use distilled water in a radiator.
-Lower radiator hoses are a common issue. The factory hoses had a spring inside the hose to keep it from collapsing once the coolant becomes hot, chances are if that spring is gone, the hose will collapse and cause an overheating issue.
-Having air in the coolant system.
-Wore out clutch fan.
-Milky oil due to a cracked head or bad head gasket
-Faulty coolant temp switch in the water neck.
-Faulty coolant temp sensor in the back of the head that controls the gauge.
-Electric fan not working properly.
-Leaky or wore out water pump
-Blocked radiator or passageways
-Damaged or missing fan shroud
Also, alot of people overlook the fact that when you add things like which bumpers, heavier and bigger wheels and tires, steel skid plates, and other armor, extra lights etc. etc. the weight and aerodynamics of the XJ change, in turn, makes everything work harder than it was originally intended..thus can possibly cause a overheating Issue unless you grade the cooling system.
FLUSHING YOUR COOLANT SYSTEM IN YOUR JEEP XJ
BEFORE YOU START PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW OF A PLACE THAT WILL TAKE YOUR USED COOLANT AND WATER BEFORE YOU START THIS PROJECT.
DO NOT JUST LET IT OUT ON THE GROUND. IT CONTAMINATES GROUND WATER AND ANTI FREEZE TASTES SWEET TO ANIMALS AND TASTES LIKE MAPLE SYRUP. OH YEA IT CAN KILL THEM!
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:
1.On the average 8 gallons of distilled water which you can purchase at your local grocery store. Reason being distilled water will not cause rust and lime deposits inside your cooling system.Lime deposits are why the heaters in Cherokees do not work as well as they should or not work at all because the heater core is clogged with lime...MEANING...you gotta pull your heater core out haha that's a fun job NOT!.
2. Get 2 gallons of quality GREEN antifreeze. Don't get yellow, don't get pink get GREEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!! and a good quality radiator flush.
3. Get several containers to catch all the old coolant and water used to flush the system.
OK LET'S GET TO FLUSHING!
1.Remove the radiator cap then the lower radiator hose at the water pump and let the whole system drain into your containers.
2.Reconnect the hose and put the radiator flush in with enough distilled water to fill the system, and don't forget to fill the overflow bottle.
3.Start the engine. Let it run until it gets to operating temp around 200 - 215 degrees.
4.Drain the system again into containers and drain the overflow tank.It's a good idea to take the overflow tank out of the jeep and clean it if need be.
5.Fill the system again repeat the whole process again.
6.Put 12.5 quarts of a 50/50 mix antifreeze and distilled water in the radiator and overflow bottle.
At this time you probably won't be able to fit all 12.5 quarts in your radiator or overflow. So over the next few days be watching the overflow tank because you’ll have to add to it so that all the air gets out of the system.
HERE'S WHAT USING REGULAR TAP WATER DOES TO THE INSIDE OF YOUR COOLING SYSTEM IF USED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. EVENTUALLY, THERE IS SO MUCH RUST INSIDE THE COOLING SYSTEM YOU CAN NEVER GET IT OUT.
