Okay. So, I own an 87 xj pioneer, I drive it approx 100 miles a day commuting for work, and have recently changed my thermostat and heater control valve. Since then, everything was okay, until about a week ago, I was driving and when I came to a stop, I could here a hissing. I looked at my temp, and it was just over 210. So I parked, popped the hood and low and behold, there is coolant spraying out of the pressure tank. But it was coming out from where the return hose comes into the tank, and I am not sure what to make of it.
So, I changed out my water pump, started the engine, turned the heater to heat, cranked it up to high, and filled the pressure tank as it filled the system, keeping the level in the tank above the the spout on the bottom of the tank so it didn't start pulling air in. Well, I waited and eventually the return hose started flowing consistently with coolant,so I took that to be my que the air was out of the system, so I, filled it to about half full, put the cap back on the tank. I let the motor idle for a few minutes, and as it starts to build pressure in the tank, it leaks from the same place, between the return hose and the tank. It also seems to be running hotter than the gauge is reading, and it appears to be boiling away coolant and the gauge is showing under 190.
I have a feeling it could be the radiator, I haven't checked it for cold spots to see if it is clogged, but I'm pretty sure it is the stock radiator, with 200k plus miles, and yes, I know it is past it's time.
I want to get this fixed at a decent price, and I was considering switching over to an open system, which I can do for about 200 total, new radiator and all, except I was thinking if I change to an open system, I would keep my current thermostat housing, and cut out the heater control valve entirely, cutting and capping off the vacuum line, then running the hoses directly to the heater core. I'm not sure about the overflow tank and considering just running a hose to drain to the ground for the time being till I can get a tank and get it fit in there somewhere....
So I guess what I'm asking is if anyone has an idea what could be wrong and how I can fix it?
Would converting to an open system be a better way to fix the issues?
Thoughts? Opinion? Suggestions?
So, I changed out my water pump, started the engine, turned the heater to heat, cranked it up to high, and filled the pressure tank as it filled the system, keeping the level in the tank above the the spout on the bottom of the tank so it didn't start pulling air in. Well, I waited and eventually the return hose started flowing consistently with coolant,so I took that to be my que the air was out of the system, so I, filled it to about half full, put the cap back on the tank. I let the motor idle for a few minutes, and as it starts to build pressure in the tank, it leaks from the same place, between the return hose and the tank. It also seems to be running hotter than the gauge is reading, and it appears to be boiling away coolant and the gauge is showing under 190.
I have a feeling it could be the radiator, I haven't checked it for cold spots to see if it is clogged, but I'm pretty sure it is the stock radiator, with 200k plus miles, and yes, I know it is past it's time.
I want to get this fixed at a decent price, and I was considering switching over to an open system, which I can do for about 200 total, new radiator and all, except I was thinking if I change to an open system, I would keep my current thermostat housing, and cut out the heater control valve entirely, cutting and capping off the vacuum line, then running the hoses directly to the heater core. I'm not sure about the overflow tank and considering just running a hose to drain to the ground for the time being till I can get a tank and get it fit in there somewhere....
So I guess what I'm asking is if anyone has an idea what could be wrong and how I can fix it?
Would converting to an open system be a better way to fix the issues?
Thoughts? Opinion? Suggestions?