coolant leak 94 xj se

crzmn1 · 08-08-2012, 05:22 PM

I have a 94 xj se with the 4.0 it has started leaking coolant after driving for a while but only when you shut it off leaves a nice little puddle. Im thinking the water pump or lower rad hose because it is leaking right where they meet. Also some one used stopleak in it before i got it ive had it for only a week. any help would be appreciated.

michaelleegarre · 08-08-2012, 05:26 PM

mine was doing the same thing it was the radiator if stop leak was used i would change the whole coolant system

crzmn1 · 08-08-2012, 05:35 PM

its a new radiator from what i can see it is all aluminum and still shiny i was thinking that it had a leak at the pump and they used it to plug the weephole

michaelleegarre · 08-08-2012, 05:40 PM

i thank but i may be wrong but that stop leak stuff will kinda turn into a muddy like substance that will also stop up the coolant system and cause problems overheating

crzmn1 · 08-08-2012, 05:46 PM

i have not had any overheat issues yet but i also only have an idiot light no gauge yet (on my list) i am going to flush the system real good and see what that does too

chiefbill1959 · 08-08-2012, 06:49 PM

Get the stop leak out. It will only cause problems. My 96 was leaking in the same spot. It turned out to be the front freeze plug. I went through my whole cooling system except for the heater core. It turned out that every freeze plug in the block was paper thin. You could poke your finger right through them. I don't know how they lasted as long as they did. I installed a high performance pump, fail open thermostat, new radiator and cap, heater control valve and hoses. That was on top of all the freeze plugs in the block which included intake/exhaust manifold gaskets. Best move I ever made. But the stop leak will only cause problems. Flush your system completely after you find what is leaking and repair that.

crzmn1 · 08-08-2012, 07:10 PM

thanx for the insight as soon as i can get to where i can see in there i will check those too but with 177500 on it. think i should replace the pump and everything? looks like a new radiator so thats one less expense. whats weird is that it only leaks after i shut it off not while it is idling or running down the road.

Reptile · 08-08-2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crzmn1

thanx for the insight as soon as i can get to where i can see in there i will check those too but with 177500 on it. think i should replace the pump and everything? looks like a new radiator so thats one less expense. whats weird is that it only leaks after i shut it off not while it is idling or running down the road.

Don't ever use any 'stop leak' type of product; chances are it will clog the thermostat, and cause other damages. It's junk. The radiator is most likely cracked. As you run the engine the radiator/crack expands and contracts, which explains why it does it as engine cools off. Had the same issue chasing a leak nowhere to be found, it only leaked when engine temperature was somewhere between cold and normal, but no leak the rest of the time... One day I started it, let it warm up, stepped out and finally watched it leak...

muaddib420 · 08-09-2012, 08:45 AM

No point in flushing it. If its leaking it'll leak fresh coolant. You need to find the source of the leak and then fix it.

But in all honesty you should just assume you need an entire new cooling system. Thermostat, thermostat gasket, water pump, radiator and hoses. It really isn't that difficult to change out. One afternoon with a buddy and a six pack and about $250-300. If you plan on keeping the car for any length of time, most definitely it's worth it.

I learned this the hard way on my daughters 2000 WJ. Water pump gasket blew. Changed the water pump which then caused the radiator to leak (bc of the sudden increase in pressure from the fixed water pump). Changed that out and two months later the thermostat housing gasket leaks.

Get the funds and time together and do it all at once. You say your radiator looks new. Well the aluminum fins may look shiny but that's typically not where radiators fail. Look at the black plastic brackets on either side. Look for cracks, in the corners or near the entry and exit tubes. This is typically where cracks form.

crzmn1 · 08-09-2012, 09:29 AM

thanx muaddib420 i intend to change all of that out but my radiator doesnt have plastic tanks they are aluminum everything else is covered in dirt and oil but the radiator is clean and shiny should i still change it out.

muaddib420 · 08-09-2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crzmn1

thanx muaddib420 i intend to change all of that out but my radiator doesnt have plastic tanks they are aluminum everything else is covered in dirt and oil but the radiator is clean and shiny should i still change it out.

Try changing the other stuff first then. Worst that could happen is you have to go back in. Good luck!

loztoree · 08-09-2012, 10:04 AM

I've spent 3 weeks chasing a coolant leak in my XJ. Have replaced radiator, water pump, hoses, t-stat & freeze plugs. Turns out its a small crack in the engine block! Going to JB Weld it this weekend.

PO had put stop leak in it. We didn't realize why until after changing bad radiator & flushing the system.

crzmn1 · 08-09-2012, 09:16 PM

took out the tstat and found what looks like sparkling grey mud i assume it is from the stop leak. it looked like it had aluminum in it and about the same as the stop leak in the tube. anyway i did a flush and will be installing a new water pump tomorrow. figure on flushing the system also.

crzmn1 · 08-10-2012, 12:35 PM

got the water pump replaced and blew the upper radiator hose i think it is going to be one of those days

muaddib420 · 08-10-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crzmn1

got the water pump replaced and blew the upper radiator hose i think it is going to be one of those days

Happens a lot. Pressure increases caused by the new functioning part causes the next weakest point to fail.