My 89 XJ is my second vehicle and I rarely drive it. Ever since dish soap was put in the cooling system to try and flush it (dont ask) it has had an issue with overheating. If it's just idling it wont overheat, but if I drive down the highway or 4wheel it (medium to high revs) it will go to 235 (or higher) and I have to shut it off only for it to get even hotter while off, so I crank it back up to recirculate the coolant.
I have replaced the thermostat, removed the thermostat completely after it stuck open (I assume due to heat), flushed the system with prestone super cleaner, held a pressure washer hose in all the coolant inlets and bled the cooling system by loosening the coolant temp sensor on the firewall side of the head while the nose of the jeep was pointed down hill (done this many times). Could I be bleeding it wrong?
My next step was to just buy a new radiator. Here are the two from rockauto:
SPECTRA PREMIUM Part # CU78
{#78} 1 Row; Copper/Plastic
$77.79
VISTA-PRO Part # 432268
{#78, 9178, 99178} 1 Row; Plastic Tank, Aluminum Core, 31"x11.125"x1.5"
Ready Rad; Fits w/o AC; w/H.D. Cooling; w/AC; w/MAX Cooling
$93.79
If buying a new radiator is a good next step, would one of those two work fine or should I get one with more rows or even convert to a newer style cooling system with an actual radiator cap? I have very limited funds to work with, which is one reason I've put off getting a radiator for so long. So I'm looking for the cheapest solution possible as the jeep needs tons of other maintenance related things as well. :explosion
I have replaced the thermostat, removed the thermostat completely after it stuck open (I assume due to heat), flushed the system with prestone super cleaner, held a pressure washer hose in all the coolant inlets and bled the cooling system by loosening the coolant temp sensor on the firewall side of the head while the nose of the jeep was pointed down hill (done this many times). Could I be bleeding it wrong?
My next step was to just buy a new radiator. Here are the two from rockauto:
SPECTRA PREMIUM Part # CU78
$77.79
VISTA-PRO Part # 432268
$93.79
If buying a new radiator is a good next step, would one of those two work fine or should I get one with more rows or even convert to a newer style cooling system with an actual radiator cap? I have very limited funds to work with, which is one reason I've put off getting a radiator for so long. So I'm looking for the cheapest solution possible as the jeep needs tons of other maintenance related things as well. :explosion