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  • Woody

    Feb. 28, 2010 5:31 a.m. Woody UltraDork

    I started working on the Jeep that I picked up last week, after playing the CL Challenge game. It only has 80k miles on it, but I was told that it had a cooling issue.

    I think I found the problem.

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    I had so much trouble removing the old gaskets that I caved in and, (very carefully) used a Dremel tool with a flapdisc, with the old thermostat still in place. The whole time, I heard the last words that my mother spoke to me before she died, echoing through my head. She said, "Son, even if you forget everything else that I've taught you, please, always remember: Don't berkeley up the gasket surface".

    Thanks, Mom.

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  • Feedyurhed

    Feb. 28, 2010 5:51 a.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

    Yep, that's the problem. What year and model Jeep is it?

  • Woody

    Feb. 28, 2010 5:53 a.m. Woody UltraDork

    '98 TJ Wrangler Sport.

  • ansonivan

    Feb. 28, 2010 6:48 a.m. ansonivan Reader

    Yikes, looks like someone used saline solution instead of antifreeze.

  • BoxheadTim

    Feb. 28, 2010 6:50 a.m. BoxheadTim HalfDork

    I don't think I've seen one that bad before and I've seen some really badly maintained cooling systems over here (one of the explanations why lots of people break down here once the outside temperature goes above 73F). I4 or I6?

  • Luke

    Feb. 28, 2010 6:54 a.m. Luke SuperDork

    Wise woman, your mother.

  • Woody

    Feb. 28, 2010 7:11 a.m. Woody UltraDork

    BoxheadTim wrote:

    I4 or I6?

    4.0 six cylinder.

  • Jensenman

    Feb. 28, 2010 7:38 a.m. Jensenman MegaDork

    I saw MANY 4.0's (and 2.5 4 bangers) with those stamped steel impellers that had just rusted away. There would be a steel disk left which does not stir coolant very well. Bet the radiator and heater core are both clogged with brown goo too.

    Long time ago, Mazda tried plastic water pump impellers. The damn things would crack and, when the engine got hot enough, spin on the shaft making it overheat. Weird. They caught the problem real quick and went to a cast aluminum piece instead.

  • JeffHarbert

    Feb. 28, 2010 7:39 a.m. JeffHarbert New Reader

    Yeah, I think you might be onto something there.

  • Jensenman

    Feb. 28, 2010 7:43 a.m. Jensenman MegaDork

    PS 4.0's need to be filled with coolant through the heater hoses or you'll trap an air bubble high in the cooling system that's very hard to 'burp'. That hose at the upper right of your pic: cut it at about the halfway point, then use a funnel to fill the engine and heater core with coolant. Then put it back together witha brass hose splicer.

  • Feb. 28, 2010 7:52 a.m. redzcstandardhatch Reader

    pretty ridiculous rot you have there...

    i picked up an accord engine with only 27k on it a while back.. only problem? coolant ate through the thinnest portion of the block. nice.

  • Woody

    Feb. 28, 2010 8:07 a.m. Woody UltraDork

    Jensenman wrote:

    PS 4.0's need to be filled with coolant through the heater hoses or you'll trap an air bubble high in the cooling system that's very hard to 'burp'. That hose at the upper right of your pic: cut it at about the halfway point, then use a funnel to fill the engine and heater core with coolant. Then put it back together witha brass hose splicer.

    Thanks for the tip, but did you mean upper left?

    Also, a new radiator is going in and heater hoses (at least) seem clear.I'll try to flush the core.

  • Jensenman

    Feb. 28, 2010 8:13 a.m. Jensenman MegaDork

    Woops. I always think of stuff in engine compartments as if you are sitting in the drivers' seat, years of service advisoring.

    The heater core should flush pretty easily. The top hose is where coolant leaves to go to the heater core, the hose going to the water pump is the 'return' side. That means most of the goop in the core will be on the side where the hose from the thermostat connects. Stick a garden hose in the hose from the water pump and turn it on full blast, then watch the crud come out of the other side.

    I saw a heater core once where the complaint was insufficient heat. During the backflush, what looked like a dog turd came out; it was Stop Leak.

  • Kramer

    Feb. 28, 2010 8:40 a.m. Kramer HalfDork

    It may not hurt to run a gallon of vinegar thru on the first flush. It will help clear some of the calcification (is that even a word?). Then clear water, then a good flush product (per their instructions), then use a stop-leak when you put it all back together (something like Alumi-seal).

  • bluesideup

    Feb. 28, 2010 9:28 a.m. bluesideup New Reader

    What kind of flush product do you guys like for ill-maintained cooling systems like this one?

  • pinchvalve

    Feb. 28, 2010 9:51 a.m. pinchvalve UberDork

    You call that bad? Wow, I call that normal. I gotta work on better cars.

  • Feb. 28, 2010 10:15 a.m. eebasist New Reader

    Yeah, run some vinegar thru the system....i reccommend a few flushes since the rest of the system will be full of crud.

    As long as the HG didn't blow as a result of cooling issues, this tractor motor will run forever. What's the rest of the Jeep look like? how much did it run ya?

  • Woody

    Feb. 28, 2010 11:22 a.m. Woody UltraDork

    eebasist wrote: What's the rest of the Jeep look like? how much did it run ya?

    Perfect and $1500.

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  • Keith

    Feb. 28, 2010 11:23 a.m. Keith PowerDork

    You just destroyed the collector's value of the Jeep. That was original coolant. They're only original once, you know.

  • DILYSI Dave

    Feb. 28, 2010 12:31 p.m. DILYSI Dave UltimaDork

    Woody wrote:

    eebasist wrote: What's the rest of the Jeep look like? how much did it run ya?

    Perfect and $1500.

    Photobucket

    Wow. You stole that thing.

  • BoxheadTim

    Feb. 28, 2010 12:50 p.m. BoxheadTim HalfDork

    Yeah, that does look very nice indeed.

  • ignorant

    Feb. 28, 2010 1:36 p.m. ignorant UltimaDork

    Jensenman wrote:

    PS 4.0's need to be filled with coolant through the heater hoses or you'll trap an air bubble high in the cooling system that's very hard to 'burp'. That hose at the upper right of your pic: cut it at about the halfway point, then use a funnel to fill the engine and heater core with coolant. Then put it back together witha brass hose splicer.

    I always had to jack the front end of mine way up in the air and then leave the cap off while it sat there running away...

    thanks for the hint.

  • Vigo

    Feb. 28, 2010 1:41 p.m. Vigo Reader

    STOLE is definitely the word. God do i need a 4.0 wrangler!!

  • Feb. 28, 2010 7:33 p.m. dj06482 Reader

    Wow - that was a great deal!

  • Woody

    Feb. 28, 2010 9:02 p.m. Woody UltraDork

    dj06482 wrote:

    Wow - that was a great deal!

    Looks like it came from right in your neighborhood, too.

    New radiator, thermostat, water pump and hoses today. Tune up tomorrow. New top on Wednesday.

    It cleaned up nicely.

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