Weird Cooling Fault

UNCLEBJ

MEMBER
1998 JEEP CHEROKEE
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
186,000 MILES

I love my Jeep, however the bottom radiator hose "exploded" on me about a week ago, tearing the hose about 10in laterally along it's length. I replaced the hose only to find a build up of coolant on the hose housing above the water pump and still this is after I placed in fresh coolant + water. I thought the engine was a 3lt however everything under the bonnet states 4lt, my luck. Still I have a coolant leak and can know that the thermostat has been replaced however the mob who did it used casket paste instead of a proper gasket and thus looks like it has "chewed" the outside casing. Am I right or what? There is no oil mix. So the heads ok, however the workshop manual is WOFTHAM at showing components correctly or even giving correct information.
Thanks in advance.
BJ

1 Reply

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

Hose replacement is routine maintenance that should be performed before they deteriorate to the point of bursting. It sounds like you only replaced the one that blew and not the rest of the hoses are just as much at risk. You may have additional leaks that you haven't repaired or you may have gotten it too hot and now have a blown head gasket. You need to pressure test the cooling system to find any further leaks. You may have to do a chemical test to determine if there are any head gasket issues.