eignub

So, as another step for getting ready for my camping trip next week, i was checking all my fluids and founds that my coolant is very dirty. Or at least i think it is. Maybe the PO used the orange coolant and it just looked brown since i was checking it in the dark, but id rather flush it out and make sure its ready. After searching on here and google for a bit, the following link seems to be about the simplest and quickest way to get it done.
http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5936

Would that way suffice? Or do you all have another preferred way of doing it? Lots of links talked about removing the bottom radiator hose to drain it, but this one didnt. Should i drain it that way first, then follow the instructions? Thanks for all the help so far.

Also, not on the same topic, but how many people keep on the rear sway bar? I can find lots of debate about the front, but not much about the rear. Mostly just concerned if it will affect highway driving?

JackJare9455

I see that you have a 2001...

How did your oil look?

Can you post a picture of the inside of your overflow bottle and possible under the radiator cap?

The reason I ask is because that year model has a tendency to crack heads... So I want to make sure it is just dirty coolant.. and not a bigger problem.

There are "do it yourself" flush kits available at local auto parts stores with directions.. although I have never used one...

Search the forum or google... this can come up with some how-to's...

Youtube...

You can have a lube center perform a coolant flush for you.. normally 65-75 dollars... its not too bad considering that price includes the new coolant...

I'm hoping someone else can chime in with a easier solution for a good flush on these jeeps... I haven't had to perform one because I completely overhauled the entire cooling system. When I had the thermostat housing and water pump off... i flushed the head and block thoroughly.. New radiator.. new hoses.. new bottle.. new pump.. new thermostat and housing.. I just wanted it to be new LOL

Every 30,000 miles and I plan on draining and filling the radiator with fresh 50/50 to keep things clean.

I run Peak universal 50/50 coolant in mine (96), I believe I have read that some owners with 2001's run the chrysler HOAT stuff.

Anyway... I hope to see some pics..

eignub

I can, but it will have to wait until tomorrow after work then, its dark and i dont have a garage lol

Radi

Don't do the prestone flush kit. It's make out of the cheapest plastic China can dig out of their trashcans. It'll crack at the worst possible time. Pull a radiator hose and flush that way.

JackJare9455

there ya go.. glad I never tried it

eignub

since you'll were actually responding this late at night, i did the best i could. obviously, i fail at taking a picture of the overflow contents. the fluid maybe has a hint of green to it, but not sure. its still really thin and watery. no overheating problems, always hangs right around 210. my biggest concern is all the loose particles.

djb383

That's really nasty looking and did not happen overnight.......condition/color of coolant should be check frequently. Again, it doesn't start looking like that overnight.

I would not want to flush crud from one place to another, ie, large chunks from the block/head being moved to the small passages in the radiator and likely plugging some of the small passages/tubes in the rad.

Remove the top rad hose and the top heater hose from the t-stat cover. Remove the bottom rad hose from the water pump (very easy if the plastic air filter box is removed 1st). Stick a garden hose in the heater hose and flush. Stick the garden hose on the heater hose nipple on the stat cover and flush. Stick the garden hose in the top rad hose and flush. All areas r now flushed without crud moving from one place and lodging in another.

eignub

Any kind of chemicals i should put in it first to help break stuff loose? Or maybe vinegar for the calcium and lime?

JackJare9455

it looks pretty broken loose right now... but you can run some prestone flush in there for a little bit before you run a hose through it

djb383

I would suggest u try flushing 1st with water only........chemicals can be really caustic and there's always the possibility of not getting the chemical(s) completely out of the cooling system. If it runs cool after a water only flush and fresh coolant mix re-fill, u should be good to go.

Again, don't let coolant get to looking like that.....check it frequently and at the first sign of a color change, drain it and re-fill with a fresh coolant mixture.

A quick drain (via removing the bottom rad hose from the water pump) and re-fill with a fresh coolant mix only takes about 20 minutes. Did a drain/re-fill on our XJ just last week.

eignub

well, got it all changed out. it was terrible looking, very dark, a lot of sediment. it wouldve been pretty easy had they not used the hose clamps where you have to squeeze the ends together to come loose. the top two were easy, but the lower radiator hose was a huge PITA. Once I got it off though, I changed it out for a regular screw tightened hose clamp.

BlueRidgeMark

Now that you've got the worst of it out, and it's summertime, here's a weird tip I learned from an old mechanic.

Add a quarter cup of Amway laundry detergent. They call it "SA-8". It's the best cooling system flush I know. Will NOT hurt anything in your engine, and it will clean it out VERY well.

You can toss it in an run it for a month or two with ZERO harm, and it will get it really clean. Then drain and flush with clear water, refill with the proper coolant mix.

Good stuff, Maynard. You can find it online. The Amway site will let you look up a dealer near you.

djb383

FWIW, those factory "squeeze" clamps can be a hassle but they r far superior in sealing performance than gear clamps.