[Pat_S]

Long story short, I went home and did my everyday chores. After that, I just thought I'd dust off my Jeep til I saw a leak below coming from the right side. I then popped the hood and noticed the coolant spewing (a little hole, size of an ant) out of the bottle everywhere - mostly on the right side of the engine bay. Soon as I saw that, I quickly grabbed vinyl tape and towels in order to stop it from leaking any more, and well, it stopped. It didn't burn the tape at all to my amazement - guess it wasn't that hot.

My question is, will I have a problem due to the coolant spill onto the engine components? Will it ruin anything (i.e. paint, motor mounts, wires, or any of that sort)? I wiped down most of the parts I can reach, but nothing below it. I obviously did this when everything cooled down a bit.

Guess I have to add this: http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/parts/Detailed/444.html to my list of parts I need to get. Gee, talk about the love I have for my Jeep and it's problems.

Thanks in advance!

[kadetklapp]

My question is, will I have a problem due to the coolant spill onto the engine components? Will it ruin anything (i.e. paint, motor mounts, wires, or any of that sort)? I wiped down most of the parts I can reach, but nothing below it. I obviously did this when everything cooled down a bit.

Nah, it makes a mess but so long as you sop up the large amounts and dispose of it properly, as well as make sure you're not low on coolant, you'll be fine. The spill won't do any specific damage.

[Pat_S]

I know I'm not the only one and know others who encounter this problem as well, but wanted to know if they had any problems in the long run. Thanks for the quick reply!

[Zamboni One XJ]

If you let it go long enough, the entire engine and compartment should be clean. Then fix the leak. Oh yeah, there is that environment thing too(sarc). Maybe just fix it.

[TheNerd]

You should replace the bottle. The factory cooling system in an '88 is "closed". The hole you are leaking out of kind of make it an "open" system. As you Jeep heats up, you will continue to leak from the hole (you will leak faster has the hole gets bigger... both from the size of the hole and due to the lower pressures in the cooling system) until you are low on coolant, at which point you will find yourself either running hot, or just plain overheating. Cracks in the pressure bottle are relatively common... but it is not something you should just let keep going.

[Pat_S]

Originally Posted by TheNerd

You should replace the bottle. Cracks in the pressure bottle are relatively common... but it is not something you should just let keep going.

Originally Posted by Pat_S

Guess I have to add this: http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/parts/Detailed/444.html to my list of parts I need to get.

Already in the process of that before I drive it again. Is it really common? How does it happen anyway? What causes it to crack? Too old? It's a small, tiny hole (size of an ant) in the center of the bottle.

I never knew or would have to think about ever replacing one - I guess I do.

Originally Posted by TheNerd

The factory cooling system in an '88 is "closed". The hole you are leaking out of kind of make it an "open" system.

Huh? Please explain.

[kadetklapp]

Huh? Please explain.

Just means that the system is now not pressurizing the way it should, and may overheat as a result.

My father-in-law rebuilt an 89 XJ with a 4.0 HO out of a 94 and didn't switch the cooling system over and it overheats if you drive it in the summer. Despite my repeated explaining of the problem, he still hasn't corrected it.

Basically your system requires complete pressurization. Not a big deal if you are just going to limp it home and make sure it doesn't overheat.

[CherokeeErik]

omg, call the E.P.A!!!!! j/k Just dont let your neighborhood animals come over and lick it up