"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter)
05/23/2019 at 08:45 • Filed to: None
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"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter)
05/23/2019 at 08:45 • Filed to: None | 0
| 8 |
So my brother has an 01 XJ Cherokee with the 4.0 that he wants to sell. He (well his wife really) is the original owner and they have maintained it by the book. No modifications and the body is in great shape. But, it has recently begu n to lose some coolant and I am worried it is a cracked head or bad head gasket. Apparently that is a somewhat common problem. How to confirm it is a bad head or gasket?
I’m considering buying it, fixing it, and maybe turn it into a light build project. I’ve looked at some of the head replacement videos and it looks like a medium complex job. That old inline 4.0 is about as simple as they come though. I’m handy with a wrench but never tackled a head gasket or head replacement before. I just don’t want to do more harm attempting to replace it and end up with a dead lump ! How difficult is it?
Nice XJ for your time...
Ash78, voting early and often
> BadMotorScooter
05/23/2019 at 08:52 |
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Before tearing anything apart, I’d drop 1-2 hours of professional labor on investigating. A cheaper option is an oil anaylsis that can detect water or coolant in the oil.
Is the oil fill cap coated with creamy goodness?
I’ve had lots of small coolant leaks that were almost indetectable, so I wouldn’t jump to the HG conclusion just yet.
adamftw
> BadMotorScooter
05/23/2019 at 09:10 |
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The bad 0331 head is very easy to identify, just shine a flashlight down right where you open the oil cap. Here’s a thread with pics:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-identify-0331-or-tupy-head.8112/
These engines are insanely easy to work on, and if this is going to be your first head gasket replacement its a great engine to do it on. There isn’t anything to mess up, especially since you’re essentially just throwing the old head away . Like the other comments said, get an oil analysis done and that will confirm any cross-contamination you cant see. Coolant loss could be from a small hose crack or something you can’t see at idle.
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BadMotorScooter
> adamftw
05/23/2019 at 09:30 |
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Thank you , that is very helpful! I will look for the TUPY stamp on the head. I’ll use the oil analysis as confirmation. Hopefully not a bad head!
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BadMotorScooter
> Ash78, voting early and often
05/23/2019 at 09:31 |
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Thanks, I’ll check the oil cap to see if can see any sign of coolant. Oil analysis sounds like best way to confirm if it’s a head problem. Hopefully not!
Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
> BadMotorScooter
05/23/2019 at 14:19 |
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It cost me about $80 to get a coolant pressure check and confirm the head gaskets were gone on my Landy. Not sure if you can identify cracked heads that way or not. Sounds like there are some Jeep specific ways of checking, which is good.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> BadMotorScooter
05/23/2019 at 15:05 |
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It could be a head gasket but if you are lucky it is a leak to the outside. If it is leaking, it would be leaking into the oil. So change it yourself and have a sample sent off.
The Snowman
> BadMotorScooter
05/23/2019 at 15:18 |
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Have a leak down test done, it will tell you a lot. Also I have done a head replacement a couple times on these and it is super easy. Worst part is finding a friend to help lift the head off and place the new head down. it is heavy and a stretch to get it in the right spot.
Party-vi
> BadMotorScooter
05/23/2019 at 15:26 |
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Toss that old biddy and put one of these in it.