Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

Hi All,

Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.

What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
that come up ver so often.

This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.

What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?

Help!

Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
will be super clean.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
>
> What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> that come up ver so often.
>
> This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
>
> What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
>
> Help!
>
> Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
will be super clean.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
>
> What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> that come up ver so often.
>
> This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
>
> What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
>
> Help!
>
> Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
will be super clean.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
>
> What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> that come up ver so often.
>
> This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
>
> What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
>
> Help!
>
> Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

Thanks Mike,

I pulled all the plugs and they all looked clean. I replaced them
around a month ago. One of the plugs had more carbon on the outer rim
then the others but not a noticeable difference on the electrodes.


Mike Romain wrote:
> If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
> will be super clean.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> > past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> > mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> > leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
> >
> > What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> > engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> > When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> > However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> > flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> > that come up ver so often.
> >
> > This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
> >
> > What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> > off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
> >
> > Help!
> >
> > Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

Thanks Mike,

I pulled all the plugs and they all looked clean. I replaced them
around a month ago. One of the plugs had more carbon on the outer rim
then the others but not a noticeable difference on the electrodes.


Mike Romain wrote:
> If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
> will be super clean.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> > past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> > mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> > leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
> >
> > What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> > engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> > When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> > However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> > flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> > that come up ver so often.
> >
> > This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
> >
> > What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> > off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
> >
> > Help!
> >
> > Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

Thanks Mike,

I pulled all the plugs and they all looked clean. I replaced them
around a month ago. One of the plugs had more carbon on the outer rim
then the others but not a noticeable difference on the electrodes.


Mike Romain wrote:
> If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
> will be super clean.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> > past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> > mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> > leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
> >
> > What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> > engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> > When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> > However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> > flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> > that come up ver so often.
> >
> > This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
> >
> > What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> > off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
> >
> > Help!
> >
> > Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

I mean a leak into a cylinder will make the plug look clean like new.

You can have leaks into the exhaust. Usually you can actually see smoke
coming out the rad or smell it when that happens. You also might be
able to feel puffs of compression if you put your hand over the rad
opening when it is first going.

I had a head gasket go like that an the coolant foamed up like a wash
machine with dish soap in it. Here is a photo:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=4290636987

Mike

bbb wrote:
>
> Thanks Mike,
>
> I pulled all the plugs and they all looked clean. I replaced them
> around a month ago. One of the plugs had more carbon on the outer rim
> then the others but not a noticeable difference on the electrodes.
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
> > If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
> > will be super clean.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> > Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> > (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >
> > loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> > > past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> > > mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> > > leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
> > >
> > > What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> > > engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> > > When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> > > However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> > > flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> > > that come up ver so often.
> > >
> > > This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
> > >
> > > What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> > > off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
> > >
> > > Help!
> > >
> > > Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

I mean a leak into a cylinder will make the plug look clean like new.

You can have leaks into the exhaust. Usually you can actually see smoke
coming out the rad or smell it when that happens. You also might be
able to feel puffs of compression if you put your hand over the rad
opening when it is first going.

I had a head gasket go like that an the coolant foamed up like a wash
machine with dish soap in it. Here is a photo:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=4290636987

Mike

bbb wrote:
>
> Thanks Mike,
>
> I pulled all the plugs and they all looked clean. I replaced them
> around a month ago. One of the plugs had more carbon on the outer rim
> then the others but not a noticeable difference on the electrodes.
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
> > If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
> > will be super clean.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> > Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> > (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >
> > loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> > > past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> > > mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> > > leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
> > >
> > > What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> > > engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> > > When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> > > However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> > > flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> > > that come up ver so often.
> > >
> > > This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
> > >
> > > What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> > > off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
> > >
> > > Help!
> > >
> > > Loren

Re: Coolant loss, bubbling coolant
 

I mean a leak into a cylinder will make the plug look clean like new.

You can have leaks into the exhaust. Usually you can actually see smoke
coming out the rad or smell it when that happens. You also might be
able to feel puffs of compression if you put your hand over the rad
opening when it is first going.

I had a head gasket go like that an the coolant foamed up like a wash
machine with dish soap in it. Here is a photo:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=4290636987

Mike

bbb wrote:
>
> Thanks Mike,
>
> I pulled all the plugs and they all looked clean. I replaced them
> around a month ago. One of the plugs had more carbon on the outer rim
> then the others but not a noticeable difference on the electrodes.
>
> Mike Romain wrote:
> > If you pull the plugs and look at them, a plug that has seen coolant
> > will be super clean.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> > Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> > (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >
> > loren.betts@gmail.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Here's a good one. Bought used Jeep 2000 wrangler with 4L. Over the
> > > past few years replaced radiator, thermostat, water pump. Now I have a
> > > mysterious coolant loss. No visible leaks. Did compression test (not
> > > leak down). All cyclinders are 185 +- 10 psi.
> > >
> > > What I noticed is that if I take the rad cap off and start the
> > > engine...as it warms up the coolant starts to rise out of the top.
> > > When I rev up the motor the coolant goes down and does not over flow.
> > > However if I then release the throttle the coolant rises and over
> > > flows. I then watched more closely at it looks like there are bubbles
> > > that come up ver so often.
> > >
> > > This to me is pointing to a bad head gasket or head.
> > >
> > > What are your thoughts? Any other things to try before I pull the head
> > > off and spend the $250 for all the gaskets?
> > >
> > > Help!
> > >
> > > Loren