XJ consuming coolant at a steady rate

[Fore Wheeler]

that thing have a block heater on it?

mac 'nice clear pic' gyvr

The motor I sold Chuck has one too.

 

[87manche]

maybe I am crazy, but that is the valves, I am not sure you would see coolant up there, the head leakage area is the next piece down I believe.

if the head were cracked it ends up under the valve cover. If its a headgasket leak it would not show up there, but there should be indicators on the spark plugs. PUll plugs, look for one that looks way cleaner than the rest.

of course I woudl suspect water pump before the head, especially with what I've put a 4.0 through.

87 "temp gauge off the scale" manche

 

[Rev Den]

I have overheated mine to the point that it stalled out, and would not restart till it cooled down, no cracks.

Like I said, check everything else first.

Rev

 

[xjwisconsin]

used to have a small leak where the "cap' on the side tanks of the radiator are pinched down(does that make sense?) it was super small and would evaporate quickly. took me a couple months to find it.

 

[87manche]

I have overheated mine to the point that it stalled out, and would not restart till it cooled down, no cracks.

Like I said, check everything else first.

Rev

Renix high nickel blocks FTW!

used to have a small leak where the "cap' on the side tanks of the radiator are pinched down(does that make sense?) it was super small and would evaporate quickly. took me a couple months to find it.

also a good place to check, I had a pinhole in my tank that was hard to track down. Look for the green trail where the glycol has crystalized.

 

[willsmysticcobra]

So to my dismay I came out to the truck to find a small puddle of coolant on the ground... with research and the most possible place of the said leak, I think it may be the dreaded welsh caps/ freeze plugs that are leaking. I see the coolant leaking at the back of the engine and the strong sweet smell of coolant is that of it most likely dripping on the downpipe.

Enclosed are a few crappy cell pics but I guess my main question is can I get by the rest of winter or am I doomed to a morning of a gallon of coolant on the ground one fateful morning? I sadly don`t have a garage where I live so replacing the plugs is out of the question.... any ideas of a local shop that could possibly give me a deal on the replacement? I am a little freaked out that this truck is going to become inoperable

 

[old_man]

Replace the radiator cap. The get old and start to leak. It fills the overflow with how coolant and it evaporates a little each hot cold cycle.

You should change your radiator cap every two years.

 

[FlexdXJ]

FWIW Will, my grandpa just had the freezeplugs replaced in his ranger and it cost around 500.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

you can replace an XJ motor for $500!!

 

[willsmysticcobra]

haha true^ I just need a shop to take a peek to even tell if it is the rear freeze plug. Would the pump pressure check tell if its the freeze plugs?

 

[willsmysticcobra]

Taking her in tomorrow for a pressure/ possible dye test. Wish me luck guys i`m a little nervous lol

 

[87manche]

it shouldn't be too bad. If it's anything in the front of the motor it's cake. The freeze plugs will probably be a PITA, but a cheap fix if you DIY.