Update on Jeep: 3-row radiator, lift, oil leaks

BFA · #1 06-09-2008, 05:29 AM

I installed a 3-row radiator Labor Day weekend in '05 when my 2-row cracked. My Jeep used to run hot all the time when it was hot outside, especially when sitting in traffic, drive-thru, etc. for a long time and the A/C on. So far, it doesn't get hotter than 210, even though it feels like that in NC lately. I drove to the Buffett concert ~3pm 2 days ago, fully loaded, and sitting in traffic getting to the lot and it never got hotter than 210. I also was going to upgrade to a 3-row since I added a towing hitch.

I added a 2" lift last summer. Yeah, I know it's not much but I couldn't afford putting much more. The only real issue was my front shock bushing, in the engine compartment above the shock towers, they kept shredding and then I would get a wobbling going anywhere from 60-70 MPH, plus the metal banging. I bought poly bushings (cheaper price than the rubber ones!) and both of those problems stopped.

Over Memorial Weekend I replaced my oil pan gasket, rear oil seal, and oil filter adapter. I would lose a quart of oil anywhere between 3 weeks and a month, depending on how much highway (fast) driving I would do. The top part of the rear oil seal was a pain to get out, but other than that, the oil pan just felt like it had a ton of bolts. So far, no leaks.

xjy173 · #2 06-10-2008, 09:50 PM

About 6 months after I bought my current 96 XJ SE in 2003, I found a leak in the original radiator about halfway down and in the middle so I replaced it with a new 2 pass one, along with a new fan shroud. In 2006, we bought a large pop up camper and I wanted to make sure I had enough cooling capacity to tow the camper without overheating the engine or the auto transmission. Since I had a new 2-pass radiator, I opted for a transmission cooler installation. So we arrived at the same condition thru different means.

BFA · #3 06-12-2008, 12:16 AM

That's cool. I thought about doing that as well, but 1 project at a time.

BFA · #4 08-18-2008, 08:35 AM

Another update: water pump seal went out recently, replaced it and put a new 195* Thermostat in. Now, the XJ runs even cooler than when I put the 3-row radiator in.

Old thermostat used to open and temp peaked after the 210* mark and then cooled back down, now it opens prior to the 210* mark. Not sure what thermostat was put in before I bought it back in '02.

Now just about every major thing has been replaced since I bought it: starter, alternator, radiator, water pump. Engine is still hauling ass at over 240,000 miles.

The lift is working well now that I put the poly shock tower bushings in - the rubber ones would shred.