Im a computer guy and used all my brain cells for the digital world. Im trying to catch up and understand the mechanical world better! Everyone says XJs will last forever if properly maintained...

What exactly is properly maintained? is it just an oil change and some sea foam? What do you all do to keep your jeeps from aging!

Thanks!

 

Changing all fluids as needed is probably the easiest and most frequent form of maintenance. Only getting an oil change when you feel like it isnt smart.

Tune ups are 100% necessary. Alot of people wont get new spark plugs until the car has a misfire. And if it's a new car where you know which one is misfiring some people will only buy that one plug. Also not smart.

One of the biggest points in my opinion is fixing things as needed. I work with several people who will put off a repair for months because "it gets inspected soon and I'll just have the mechanic look at it then". PA has annual inspections so that doesnt apply to everybody. By the time they get it tona garage sometimes the vehicle is falling apart or the problem has been made worse by ignoring it.

I could talk all day about this.

 

Do you have an owner's manual? It contains all the recommended and required maintenance and the intervals to perform them. Having that manual would be a real asset for you.
You have a "new" Cherokee. Bare minimum, check all fluids and conditions.

 

Google is your friend lol

https://jeep-manual.ru/index.php?page=143

 

Google is friend to no one! but point taken, I do have the manual and will read it!

 

I do have the original manual. And will read it.

what do you mean by check conditions?

Thanks!

 

Replace the "little-tree" every month or so.. It's all good to go.

 

so no ones mentioned any fuel additives... is that not a thing for jeeps? for my old triumph bonneville everyone recommended fuel additives as being important?

 

like these?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Tr...count/16879781

 

Ever since it cured a bit of a rough idle issue I had years back I've done a MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) fuel system treatment twice a year in my vehicles. Other than that only had to add dry gas a few times over the years when I bought fuel that had water in it.

 

huh, dry gas, never heard of that one... lookin it up now, thx!

 

Yup. I run Vanillaroma in my Caddi tho. Jeep is Black or "New Car"..

 

No additives in oil or gas please. MAYBE Seafoam it every few years or so. But, it may lead to fouled O2 sensors.

 

Rust will kill an XJ faster than anything short of an accident. Everything else can be fixed or replaced, but once rust gets to certain areas of your XJ, its just too much of a PITA to fix. My suggestion would be to remove lower trim pieces, and ideally the seats, pull up the carpet and see what the floor boards look like. Under the driver's and passenger's feet and under the rear passengers' butts, on both sides of the crossmember, is where it usually starts. That and just inside the rear hatch on both sides and under the striker pin for the Latch.

Do they salt the roads in the winter where you live? Speaking of which, adding your location, more specific the better in your case, may stir an opportunity. I could tell you more about your XJ in 10 minutes in person than I could in a week of back and forth...

Every subsystem on your XJ, front axle, rear driveshaft, window seals, body, paint, every "subsystem" has maintenance requirements. First question is, are you going to be doing the work yourself or are you going to be paying someone?

 

great response, I really appreciate it.

I live in a 425sq/ft apartment in manhattan, so doing my own work isnt very reasonable. Though there are community garages I can rent a bay in, but I cant walk away at the end of the day or improvise like I could if I had my own shop. So thats a price I have to pay.

For instance, I just got taken to the cleaners for reupholstering the headliner... (face palm. I was too excited about getting the jeep I guess and didnt haggle)

Anyhow, is ripping up the carpet easy? its all pristine as it is and Id hate to disrupt it. It has carpet mats on top of the carpet and even those are pretty spotless.

Im pretty sure this vehicle went back and forth to an office job for most of its life. Its from cali so no salt. Im pretty impressed how little rust I can find. But I dont really know what im looking for if im being honest. ill look at the places you recommended, thanks!