dp96zj's Maintenance Thread

[dp96zj]

Are the fins in the rad or condenser packed up with mud?

I don't think so. Usually whenever I wash it I make sure to pressure wash the radiator and condenser, because I have had the front end buried in mud before. But the water's been coming out clear the past few times. I make sure to get the whole thing too, corners and all.

Check for air in your system (remove radiator cap and squeeze upper radiator hose slowly, if bubbles escape, there is air in the system and you will see that the coolant level was now lower).

Also, how does your upper radiator hose mount? I had a similar issue with mine and it was due to the stock clamp not gripping tight enough. I replaced it with a hose clamp and it's much better.

I burped the system when I put in the e-fan, and did the whole upper rad hose squeeze thing for about 5 minutes or so. Should I be doing it longer? And as for hose clamps, I'm using the normal kind:



My overflow tank has an overflow hose on the backside of it (near the firewall), and it always seems to drain coolant when the engine gets to optimal temp. It has a hose that leads from the bottle down through the passenger side fenderwell.

^That kind of sounds like air is in the system, or else the coolant itself is expanding a shit ton, which I doubt.... I'll have to burp it again.

[it usually runs fine]

Does your coolant overflow still function. for some reason mine quit working, it will not fill my radiator up if it gets low and visa versa.

[dp96zj]

Does your coolant overflow still function. for some reason mine quit working, it will not fill my radiator up if it gets low and visa versa.

I think so the coolant level fluctuates between when the engine's on and off, so yeah I think it's working properly.

[dp96zj]

Well, still got the cooling issues on the highway. I borrowed a burping kit from my mechanic, essentially a giant funnel w/ a gasket that attaches to the radiator cap opening. I burped it for ~20 min with the heater on, before that I threw in a new 180* t-stat for good measure.

Fast forward to today, I do the same highway drive (1 hour @ 70mph), with the heater on blowing hot air out the windows, the e-fan on, it stayed on the high side of the mark above 210*.

My guess is that the e-fan is actually my problem. It looks like, since the e-fan shrouds usually hug tighter than mechanical fans, that there isn't as much forced air flow through the radiator. Guess I'll just have to get used to it, unless there's some way I can beef up another part of my cooling system to compensate for the e-fan. I'll probably start by taking off the e-fan and cutting some slits in the shroud to get some more movement.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=590437

You guys with the v8's and e-fans, you're staying below 210* on the highway right?

[it usually runs fine]

Is the fan putting out some major air? Mine puts out tons of air even on low, but my first one that I bought used was pushing air just not enough, turned out it was on its way out. Bought a new one...problem solved. My new one blows dust and leaves out from under my jeep if i turn it on high.

[DJJordache]

I don't use a taurus fan on mine but others use one without issues so if you cut slits in that taurus shroud I'm coming up to CS to kick your ass! that is as dumb as people not using a shroud on mech fans.

highway overheating is a airflow though the radiator problem or crap in the rad problem. My CJ5 can stay cool enough on the highway without a rad fan/water pump (through a belt, but kept cooling fine so I limped it to Napa)

make sure everything is clean in and out and yes MAKE SURE it is clean BETWEEN the condenser and the radiator also.

make sure the taurus shroud is right up against the radiator so there are no air leaks.
what is your af/water mix?
how old is the rad?
how old is the water pump?
how does the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump look?
are you using GOOD radiator clamps? shitty ones pull themselves apart from the underside of the worm gear housing (AKA never buy them at HF!)

[dp96zj]

Is the fan putting out some major air? Mine puts out tons of air even on low, but my first one that I bought used was pushing air just not enough, turned out it was on its way out. Bought a new one...problem solved. My new one blows dust and leaves out from under my jeep if i turn it on high.

Since I'm running it through a controller for the "low" setting, at startup it doesn't blow super hard. But on "high", yeah that thing is moving some air. A hell of a lot more noticeable than my mech. fan.

I don't use a taurus fan on mine but others use one without issues so if you cut slits in that taurus shroud I'm coming up to CS to kick your ass! that is as dumb as people not using a shroud on mech fans.

highway overheating is a airflow though the radiator problem or crap in the rad problem. My CJ5 can stay cool enough on the highway without a rad fan/water pump (through a belt, but kept cooling fine so I limped it to Napa)

make sure everything is clean in and out and yes MAKE SURE it is clean BETWEEN the condenser and the radiator also.

make sure the taurus shroud is right up against the radiator so there are no air leaks.
what is your af/water mix?
how old is the rad?
how old is the water pump?
how does the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump look?
are you using GOOD radiator clamps? shitty ones pull themselves apart from the underside of the worm gear housing (AKA never buy them at HF!)

The fan shroud itself it pressing on the radiator, that thing is damn close. As for coolant, it's probably 95% undiluted antifreeze and 5% water. I'll be adding more water (distilled) next time I top it off. I installed the radiator in July 2009, and the water pump probably in the summer of 2008. The weep hole looks fine. As for clamps, I'm using good ones from lowe's, I don't have any leaks from the t-stat housing, radiator, or engine-side clamp. The radiator is a 3 core CSF all metal radiator, and the water pump was a basic OEM stock replacement.

Tomorrow I'll head over to Jon's and take off the upper radiator support, get some separation between the rad and condenser and give it some pressurized water.

[Sudz]

As for coolant, it's probably 95% undiluted antifreeze and 5% water

whoaaa, way to rich on glycol 50/50 MAX

lean that out to 30% antifreeze / 70% distilled water - report back

antifreeze has poor heat transfer properties

[dp96zj]

whoaaa, way to rich on glycol 50/50 MAX

lean that out to 30% antifreeze / 70% distilled water - report back

antifreeze has poor heat transfer properties

gotcha, I'll do that tomorrow. I didn't know antifreeze sucked that much at heat transfer.... hopefully that lowers the temps a bit!

[PilotAustin]

well I have never ran the taurus on high. I can feel the air flow on my feet when I step out the heep. Did you mount yours up top or down lower..... I have mine at the low side of the RAD.

[Jeeptech01]

whoaaa, way to rich on glycol 50/50 MAX

lean that out to 30% antifreeze / 70% distilled water - report back

antifreeze has poor heat transfer properties

What I was going to say /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\

[DJJordache]

well I have never ran the taurus on high. I can feel the air flow on my feet when I step out the heep. Did you mount yours up top or down lower..... I have mine at the low side of the RAD.

perfect example right here David, 96 5.2 in our area of TX and keeps his on low you have clogging issues somewhere

[dp96zj]

perfect example right here David, 96 5.2 in our area of TX and keeps his on low you have clogging issues somewhere

I wouldn't go as far as saying I have "clogging issues", since I flushed my cooling system less than a month ago, the two major cooling components are less than two years old, and the coolant is OBVIOUSLY flowing through the system. What's your opinion on where the problem lies?

[it usually runs fine]

My money is on a burnt up fan for the win.

[dp96zj]

My money is on a burnt up fan for the win.

I don't think you'll win this one like you did the slip splines

The fan's still kicking and definitely pushing a shit ton of air.

[it usually runs fine]

Aw. Man I'm surprised we haven't figured this out yet, theres not that much to the cooling system.

[it usually runs fine]

I heard from the grapevine......well jon said you bought 33's?

[dp96zj]

I heard from the grapevine......well jon said you bought 33's?

maybe i did....... maybe i didn't

you should ask jon if his ZJ is up and running yet

[it usually runs fine]

Jon is getting fat and his jeep is getting nowhere. lol

[it usually runs fine]

Thanks for the PPPPEEEENNNIIIIIZZZZZZ rep whoever. lol

[jfowlzj95]

Jon is getting fat and his jeep is getting nowhere. lol

Oh but it is up and running.

[PilotAustin]

i was up in C stat this weekend to see a friend.... was looking allover for yall! but i did make a mistake....

Walking around Faggie land in a Burnt orange Magellen fishin shirt!!!



oh and i think you might have a bad radiator so you should buy this all aluminum one i have.... brand new in box same as mine

[Jeeptech01]

DP you could have a rad issue even if you flushed it. Have you checked it for cold spots when it is at oper temp? Also the fan really shouldnt come into play when you are on the interstate either. Just sayin.

[dp96zj]

Time for a BFH and the handy MC fender trim kit

[jfowlzj95]

Bring it over next weekend, I wanna do some more trimming to mine too.

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