Sinking Creek 4WD Association

The 4wheel drive is now working, thank you very much Randy. The ring was sticking and just had to be knocked over. While playing in 4wheel drive the radiator hose blew. We replaced it and put in a new thermostat. The old one was just an O ring, there was no center to it. Now the Jeep overheats. Is it possible the middle part of the thermostat is plugging up something? Should I go to a garage and have it flushed our? I would love some pointers here because I want to go back up the mountain, it was awesome.

Skyleur wrote:The 4wheel drive is now working, thank you very much Randy. The ring was sticking and just had to be knocked over. While playing in 4wheel drive the radiator hose blew. We replaced it and put in a new thermostat. The old one was just an O ring, there was no center to it. Now the Jeep overheats. Is it possible the middle part of the thermostat is plugging up something? Should I go to a garage and have it flushed our? I would love some pointers here because I want to go back up the mountain, it was awesome.

just talked to james, he said the heater core might be gummed up and not allowing coolant to pass

oh and action shot for ya skyleur (sorry its blurry, I was zoomed in):

shmoken875 wrote:oh and action shot for ya skyleur (sorry its blurry, I was zoomed in):

did the overheating start before or after this pic?

Sweet Pic, how does one un gum up a heater core? You must remember I am a Salesman and a rookie mechanic. If anyone has the knowledge please let me know.

It started before

do you have AC? if so, start by letting a hose run between the radiator and AC condensor for 10 minutes or so. Lots of random mud and such get stuck in there and restricts the flow of air to the radiator. If that doesn't work, try it again with the engine running as the fan will help unclog the goo as it becomes saturated.
-Mike

Thanks for the suggestion, no AC though. Would a garage flushing it out help? Don't they use some kind of vacuum when they do that? Can anyone suggest a Garage to go to thats in Blacksburg?

I have had good luck doing my own flushes. If you have access to a hose, you can buy the Prestone kit for $5-10, at advance or walmart or anywhere, which comes with the fittings and instructions on how to flush it yourself.
-Mike

Are you mostly overheating while going slow/ idle or is it on the road?

It was over heating pretty much everywhere, slow, stopped, idle, etc. If anyone has a hose and something to catch the flush waste I'd be happy to buy you dinner or a 12 pack or something. You'll probably have to show me what the hell I'm doing, remember ROOKIE mechanic.

hey man becarefull with that thing overheating. Its easy to warp a head and or blow ur headgasket if that thing gets too hot. If you have to drive it keep an eye on your temp guage, and turn the heat on to suck some of it from the engine. Good luck

Just for shits and giggles
1)check your oil make sure there is no coolant in it.
2)Check your coolant for oil
3)Make sure its not smoking out of the ehaust

I know for my engine for 2.8l, I have to make sure the intake manifold is full of coolant or it will over heat because air is traped at the top of the coolant system. I do this by 1) filling the system with coolant, then 2) disconnecting the upper rad hose at the rad, and 3) pour coolant into the hose , back fills the intake, I then 4) reconnect the hose. I am not sure if this is also the protocol for jeep engines.


---dave

If its true that the thermostat corroded out, The water pump probably also corroded and needs replacing

The water pump is brand new, just put in the week I bought it. I just tried the filling the lines idea and it's still overheating. I guess a good flush is the next move.