Open oil fill cap. Turn on engine and watch for bubbles between cylinder 3 and 5. Mine had a crack between them and you can see bubbles of antifreeze coming up. That is a typical issue with 4.0 heads. Mine did it. Cost 1800 to replace head and related parts.
The body and everything looks to be in good shape. I would probably replace the head gasket like others have said. Of course, I realize the head could be cracked or warped. That would be a problem. 225k miles is a lot I realize.
happy new year mr head gasket magnet!! once this older gentleman at the shop says coolant and fluid service ?? ive never heard of that!! ugggh coolant goes acidic and next head gaskets and water pumps
I'm wondering if the reason why you are getting so many blown heads/gaskets is because of the recent brutal cold snap and people not checking the strength of their antifreeze.
Some people just jump in their cars. Start and go full throttle without warming them up. Plus newer engines are built with aluminum. Not always the greatest for extreme temperature changes.
@@briteidea08yes 99% of people get in and go, no warm up, no lube , just right to it lol. And those people only know how to put in gas. Nothing else. And then when they show up to the auto shop they don't wanna spend any money lol
@@Motorcycle_Man It doesn’t have to be at the shop. I worked retail auto parts. People buy the cheapest brake pads. Then get pissed when they wear out quickly. That free check engine light check?? They take that as gospel and run with it. I told everyone that got that service. This may or may not be the actual issue. Have a proper diagnosis. People would still try to just buy the part of what the possibility could be. It’s so sad. People driving around in 4-7000 pound vehicles and not knowing a damn thing.
@@briteidea08 I'm with you man, I am a full time mechanic And manage the shop also and I see these things everyday. It's sickening how much people dont care for their vehicles. I also never listen to customer diagnosis, its funny what people come up with especially when they know nothing about cars. Basis of the story, most people suck lol
Note to self: When performing a block test on your cooling system, the color won't always change entirely from the hue it starts out as to the hue that indicates hydrocarbons in the coolant. Sometimes the tone will only change slightly but looking at the color of the coolant itself will give you a good indicator. In this case, the coolant starts out as orange or green or what have you, but this coolant is brown almost like chocolate milk which is kind of a dead giveaway. Also, if your block test goes wrong and you kind of get some LIQUID coolant into the test tube instead of only testing the AIR in the cooling system, then that pretty much voids the results of the test since the coolant can actually make the solution react or on the other hand, neutralize the testing solution so that it won't react at all, despite if there's actually hydrocarbons in the coolant.
I would think even a person that didnt know alot about cars would at least look at the coolant, just remove the cap and look in and at the oil level and some things useful. But I guess some ppl havent learned to...........but my Jeep has 220,000 miles on it.....and i'm looking for it to get to at least 300,000 or more!!!! Its strong!!!
You're giving people too much credit. I know someone that couldn't figure out how to turn off a water faucet. We had a customer that had no idea he had to get his oil changed. When Kenny told him there was no oil on the dip stick the customer said 'that can be right, it had oil when I bought it over 15,000 miles ago'. Gotta love the public. Thanks for watching-Meg Keep wrenching 🔧
We need honest guys like you here :( Been looking for a vehicle and 2 garages slick rats tried to sell me vehicles that they took the converters off and rusty underneath. They said " oh well we were waiting on crackheads who didn't know what they were buying" One is a garage that is well known to.
3:52 This is always the scariest part of a diagnosis. Looking at the tailpipe. It will usually tell you everything you need to know. Being from NJ, It is always daunting on cold mornings because there is water out of the tailpipe from your normal hot/cold heat cycling and condensation... then, some say even the functionality of the catalytic converter can produce water, which is true.. WHAT I HAVE FOUND (UA-cam Mechanics yes you can use this. Been UA-cam Mechanicing since about 2012 or somewhere around there) - IF IT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET: It will be "flung" or "forced" out the exhaust, in a forceful and unnatural way. If it is fine and normal operation: The water will appear in calm drops, and look similar to pretty much every other car tailpipe around, some won't be smoking maybe due to fully warmed up but of course some will. Look for congruency. Bubbles in coolant that aren't known air pockets = don't even need the block test, and eventually you get gun shy of cracked and/or warped heads and/or blocks.. BTDT.
I'm taking mine to the junkyard tomorrow I have put a lot of money into my 1999 jeep cherokee 4.0 xj I had a transmission put in it recently and freeze plugs but my thermostat was bad and the first cold night i took it out in the morning and it was over i have 340,000 miles on it I replaced the head a couple years go when i needed to replace the freeze plug on the back wall . my window on passenger switch is out, my gauges go out sometimes , my tires are bad. my alternator is weak. i'm over it . i have a motor for it in the yard i will sell it separately and just move on. it was a loyal truck for every bit 5 or six years but i'm going to get something else and take this L with a smile.
my 2005 Jeep GC 4.7 V8 most likely has a blown head gasket. Im not sure if it’s worth paying to get it fixed or just cut my losses and take that money to use for a down payment on a newer vehicle that i really don’t want :( Jeep was going to be paid off this Nov. Im bummed.
Why not just change the head gasket? Would it fix the problem or is a new/rebuilt engine a better option. Does a blown head gasket condemn the engine? Just curious. Thanks
You can buy fresh crate 4.0 for a couple grand last I looked. If the body is solid I love the Xj & 4.0 enough I would do it. The newest 4.0 I had was on my 06 TJ which was the last year of the 4.0 & I loved having a damn near new engine so I could maintain it properly.
i have an 01 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 that i just changed the injectors and starter on yesterday. great channel Kenny.
If that jeep was mine ,Id fix it , beats payments on a new one and I love the inline 6clyinder .
I agree! And now, those payments get you an engine that's half plastic on the top!
I've got one just like this, how much you paying? She's alot nicer than this one visually though.
Wise advice in terms of maintenance and in trusting to have it looked over. Another great video with sound advice. Good video Kenny.
As usual fixing the last guys mistakes, great stuff. Cheers.
The Jeep 4.0 is one of the best engines ever built!
I agree! Thanks for watching 🔧
Open oil fill cap. Turn on engine and watch for bubbles between cylinder 3 and 5. Mine had a crack between them and you can see bubbles of antifreeze coming up. That is a typical issue with 4.0 heads. Mine did it. Cost 1800 to replace head and related parts.
Damn. I hate that kind of cost.
The body and everything looks to be in good shape. I would probably replace the head gasket like others have said. Of course, I realize the head could be cracked or warped. That would be a problem. 225k miles is a lot I realize.
That's what our 4.0 motor has, that many miles.
Even without a blown head gasket, it's difficult to get all the air out of the coolant in these engines.
If you see stop leak or any sealer in the cooling system , beware !
If your coolant looks like chicken soup, it might be time to change it. : P
I would change the head gasket.... would be a great Jeep
happy new year mr head gasket magnet!! once this older gentleman at the shop says coolant and fluid service ?? ive never heard of that!! ugggh coolant goes acidic and next head gaskets and water pumps
I'm wondering if the reason why you are getting so many blown heads/gaskets is because of the recent brutal cold snap and people not checking the strength of their antifreeze.
Some people just jump in their cars. Start and go full throttle without warming them up. Plus newer engines are built with aluminum. Not always the greatest for extreme temperature changes.
@@briteidea08yes 99% of people get in and go, no warm up, no lube , just right to it lol. And those people only know how to put in gas. Nothing else. And then when they show up to the auto shop they don't wanna spend any money lol
@@Motorcycle_Man It doesn’t have to be at the shop. I worked retail auto parts. People buy the cheapest brake pads. Then get pissed when they wear out quickly. That free check engine light check?? They take that as gospel and run with it. I told everyone that got that service. This may or may not be the actual issue. Have a proper diagnosis. People would still try to just buy the part of what the possibility could be.
It’s so sad. People driving around in 4-7000 pound vehicles and not knowing a damn thing.
@@briteidea08 I'm with you man, I am a full time mechanic And manage the shop also and I see these things everyday. It's sickening how much people dont care for their vehicles. I also never listen to customer diagnosis, its funny what people come up with especially when they know nothing about cars.
Basis of the story, most people suck lol
The Jeep 4.0 engine is the best motor Jeep ever had!
Absolutely! Keep wrenching 🔧
Note to self: When performing a block test on your cooling system, the color won't always change entirely from the hue it starts out as to the hue that indicates hydrocarbons in the coolant. Sometimes the tone will only change slightly but looking at the color of the coolant itself will give you a good indicator. In this case, the coolant starts out as orange or green or what have you, but this coolant is brown almost like chocolate milk which is kind of a dead giveaway.
Also, if your block test goes wrong and you kind of get some LIQUID coolant into the test tube instead of only testing the AIR in the cooling system, then that pretty much voids the results of the test since the coolant can actually make the solution react or on the other hand, neutralize the testing solution so that it won't react at all, despite if there's actually hydrocarbons in the coolant.
I would think even a person that didnt know alot about cars would at least look at the coolant, just remove the cap and look in and at the oil level and some things useful. But I guess some ppl havent learned to...........but my Jeep has 220,000 miles on it.....and i'm looking for it to get to at least 300,000 or more!!!! Its strong!!!
You're giving people too much credit. I know someone that couldn't figure out how to turn off a water faucet. We had a customer that had no idea he had to get his oil changed. When Kenny told him there was no oil on the dip stick the customer said 'that can be right, it had oil when I bought it over 15,000 miles ago'. Gotta love the public. Thanks for watching-Meg Keep wrenching 🔧
4:54 Yeah that's not good. Coolant color might be oily might just be dirty. But yeah that's not good. Should be pretty flat with no bubbles......
Id start with a power flush acts like its not circulating just perking maybe.. my guess thats all.
We need honest guys like you here :( Been looking for a vehicle and 2 garages slick rats tried to sell me vehicles that they took the converters off and rusty underneath. They said " oh well we were waiting on crackheads who didn't know what they were buying" One is a garage that is well known to.
3:52 This is always the scariest part of a diagnosis. Looking at the tailpipe. It will usually tell you everything you need to know. Being from NJ, It is always daunting on cold mornings because there is water out of the tailpipe from your normal hot/cold heat cycling and condensation... then, some say even the functionality of the catalytic converter can produce water, which is true.. WHAT I HAVE FOUND (UA-cam Mechanics yes you can use this. Been UA-cam Mechanicing since about 2012 or somewhere around there) - IF IT IS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET: It will be "flung" or "forced" out the exhaust, in a forceful and unnatural way. If it is fine and normal operation: The water will appear in calm drops, and look similar to pretty much every other car tailpipe around, some won't be smoking maybe due to fully warmed up but of course some will. Look for congruency.
Bubbles in coolant that aren't known air pockets = don't even need the block test, and eventually you get gun shy of cracked and/or warped heads and/or blocks.. BTDT.
I'm taking mine to the junkyard tomorrow I have put a lot of money into my 1999 jeep cherokee 4.0 xj I had a transmission put in it recently and freeze plugs but my thermostat was bad and the first cold night i took it out in the morning and it was over i have 340,000 miles on it I replaced the head a couple years go when i needed to replace the freeze plug on the back wall . my window on passenger switch is out, my gauges go out sometimes , my tires are bad. my alternator is weak. i'm over it . i have a motor for it in the yard i will sell it separately and just move on. it was a loyal truck for every bit 5 or six years but i'm going to get something else and take this L with a smile.
my 2005 Jeep GC 4.7 V8 most likely has a blown head gasket. Im not sure if it’s worth paying to get it fixed or just cut my losses and take that money to use for a down payment on a newer vehicle that i really don’t want :( Jeep was going to be paid off this Nov. Im bummed.
Get a used LX470 instead.
IVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THEM ENGINES HAVE WATER PUMP FINS RUSTED OFF AND MISSING
Why not just change the head gasket? Would it fix the problem or is a new/rebuilt engine a better option. Does a blown head gasket condemn the engine? Just curious. Thanks
Expensive to do, considering the value of the vehicle.
Easy repair on that motor
👍👍
Probably hard to find a good used 4 Lt motor any more
You can buy fresh crate 4.0 for a couple grand last I looked. If the body is solid I love the Xj & 4.0 enough I would do it. The newest 4.0 I had was on my 06 TJ which was the last year of the 4.0 & I loved having a damn near new engine so I could maintain it properly.
Those 4.0 heads are heavy.
They are aluminum .
What year is the Cherokee
I think he said 2001.