Alright everyone, I'm in need of some advice! I'm not the best with tech stuff, I know a good bit, but I need to do this right! I've got a '96 XJ Classic, 240,000 miles on it and it's my daily driver. Original motor and transmission (it's an automatic). I know this IL 6 will run forever, what's everyone doing for maintenance to keep it that way? I'm going to do a fluid flush this weekend and run some thicker oil maybe? I also just noticed a small antifreeze leak this morning and being in Illinois with the below zero temps, I'm replacing my radiator hoses for good measure.

Here's what I have thought may be good to replace for some preventive maintenance:

• New lifters
• New rear main seal
• New head gasket
• Replacing all gaskets
• New spark plugs and wiring
• Maybe running premium fuel or a fuel additive?
• New radiator hoses
• And of course just regular fluid changes as always

I really want this old girl to last! I've had it almost two years and it's been the best vehicle I've ever owned and I want to keep it that way! Any advice on what I could do would be very much appreciated! Thanks everyone!

 

Don't forget distributor cap and rotor.

 

premium fuel is no benefit, i wouldn't replace any gaskets unless they are leaking (not seeping,its a jeep) add pcv hoses and such, other than that you should be good to go.

 

Rotella T5 or T6 oil seems well liked.
Drain & Fill the transmission if you haven't been already. Dexron/Merc3 goes in there.
Fluid replacements on all the parts, brakes, power steering, diffs, t-case, trans, etc
O2 sensor replacement if they are old
Serpentine belt
BG 44k through the fuel tank before you replace the spark plugs. I ran a can of it through my gas tank before an oil change, and swapped my spark plugs at the same time. I'd do it before O2 sensors as well.

 

Sounds like you have the right idea. My 2000 had over 186xxx miles on her and I plan to keep her for many years. I recently took mine into a local shop and had them pull the engine and replace the following items. Some of these were preventative maintenance since the engine was out of the vehicle.


1. Rear main seal (leaking)
2. Front main seal (leaking)
3. Oil pan gasket (leaking)
4. Head gasket
5. Oil filter adapter O rings (leaking)
6. Oil pump
7. Water pump (leaking)
8. Thermostat
9. Valve cover gasket (leaking)
10. Spark plugs
11. Timing chain set (very worn/slack)
12. Transmission filter/fluid
13. Radiator hoses and coolant flush

 

Although you might not think of it with the current outside temperatures you guys are having atm, investing in your cooling system is probably one of the best things to do in your XJ. Investing in an engine and then having it overheat down the road, can be somewhat disppointing...
(Like Wonders said, don't forget the cap and rotor. This way you have a complete tune-up and should be good regarding that for the next several thousand miles).
If your XJ has not been abused too much by the PO(s), it might see another 100K or so after all this

Fuel additives, and trying other oils....you will get many many opinions on this if you don't watch out
The 4.0 can be amazingly appreciative in return to good maintenance, if I must believe some of the quoted milages some folks have on their odo's.

 

Thanks everyone! I have already replaced the water pump, thermostat, serpentine belt, alternator, and battery in the last year. I've never had any issue with this thing, but now recently it's been running at a high rev when, especially in park (at about 2,000 rpm). I've been trying to source the problem for that and the mix of that and crossing 240K sparked this whole thing. The rev problem seems to have begun fixing itself, it just kind of stopped doing it as much now. I'm thinking it's mostly something with the vacuum lines. But I have yet to check my IAC valve or my TPS.

But I really want to get this thing in tip top shape, my girlfriend lives in Missouri right now (a four hour drive one way) and I haven't been able to make the drive in a while because I don't want to push it before I can get her running strong again. Should I go ahead and replace my fuel filter with this as well? Can't remember the last time I did.

Also, would anything like this be worth investing in?
http://www.jeepoutpost.com/jeep-4-0-...Fe1aMgodmwgAjg

Even if it doesn't quite need it yet, I just want to get this done right the first time. I want my engine and transmission in the best condition I can get it. I've been looking at 2002 Ram 1500 with only 111K on it but I don't want to be paying that off and I don't want to part with this Cherokee, I love it too damn much. I have more faith in it than taking a chance on that truck. I'm thinking of taking out a loan and doing this Jeep right.

 

Well, since you're on a roll, you might just do the fuel filter as well, like you said

 

262K on mine and I got new plugs about 3 years back, thermostat about 4 years ago. Other than that, just oil changes. Still runs like a top.

High rev sounds like a vacuum leak.

 

I bought it bone stock, it hadn't ever been wheeled before I got it. I only wheel it as a recreation, I don't push it since it's my daily driver. I know this thing will last me a good while longer, I just want to make sure I'm doing it right!

 

If you plan on going through all that trouble anyways, you might as well have your motor completely rebuilt.

 

Make sure your air filter is up to snuff. Not sure what one that is, but some of those hiflow ones will allow way more crud into your intake. Otherwise just run her!

 

That's what I'm thinking. It'll probably save money and hassle in the long run to just rebuild it now and give it a face lift. What do you guys recommend for helping my transmission last as well?

And I have new shocks on it already,but I may look into new coils and leaf springs somewhere down the road. Any suggestions?

 

For the AW4 transmission, I'd do drain & fills of Dexron 3 / Merc. Available at most auto parts stores in gallon jugs for $15-25 depending on brand. Original spec was Dex2 but it's no longer made. Your drain plug will have a little "DexII" marking on it.

Pull the plug at the bottom, drain, bolt the plug back in, fill through the dipstick. Mine drained 2 qts each time. Some people get 3? Mine was pretty gnarly black the first few times I drained it, but now its slightly redder and shifting much nicer!

 

The kicker is, mine's 2WD but it still wheels better than most anything else I've ever taken offroad, it's still a Cherokee! But yeah, I haven't changed my transmission fluid once since I've had it, I REALLY need to lol I drove this thing from Washington state out here to Illinois without a single problem whatsoever. But my tranny fluid is probably hammered by now.