87MJJeep

Thanks!

Since it's had Castrol High Mileage the last several years, I thought a High Mileage treatment might be OK to compliment the Rotella.

I've run High Mileage Castrol Synthetic Blend 5W-30 and 10W-30 over the years I've had my Comanche (since Sept-2007). After reading this thread and being aware of the ZDDP drama the last few years, I switched to Rotella T4 15W-40 last weekend. I was surprised when I read here 15W-40 and 2W-50 were recommended for hotter conditions. Gee, read the manual. Duh. I bought the 3 gallon box of Rotella at Walmart. That's a nice even two changes. Beats all the other oils that come in 5 gallon containers! What are the thoughts on STP High Mileage Oil Treatment + Stop Leak? https://www.stp.com/product/high-mileage-oil-treatment-stop-leak/ I'm more interested in its High Mileage and Stop Leak selling points since the Rotella has enough ZDDP.

I'll throw this experience out there. I had air in my closed system after replacing my water pump. I saw the temp gauge fluctuations and new it had to be due to coolant vs vapor hitting the temp sensor. I tried to let some air out at that sensor, but it was messy. And I had a leaking radiator. I replaced it with an open system radiator. I still had the temp fluctuations. I noticed after each drive, the coolant level at the radiator cap was lower, so I started topping it off after the cool down of each drive. I'd squeeze the upper radiator hose several times slowly, and it would push some bubbles out, too. I did that a few times then I started pulling up on a ramp, so the radiator cap location would be a lot higher. I kept topping it off, but left the cap off. I'd squeeze the radiator hose more as well. I did the ramp thing a 2nd time. By then, I think pretty much all or enough air is out. There are no more temp fluctuations at the gauge, so the sensor is staying wet, and the cooling fan operation is now normal.

I'll watch for progress of your Bird. I hate what happened to your 97. I love them all. '72 Grand Prix '88 Trans Am GTA '01 Trans Am and some Jeeps... sleeping in Memphis

Love the color on it! 70-73 Birds are my dream car!

I look forward to your progress!

How is it going? I am a Pontiac junkie.

Nice photos. Gotta love your first Canon photo. It shows my favorite Jeeps: XJ's, MJ's, and WJ's. Sorry Wranglers!!!

Mac had a sweet face, and lived the good life till the end. :) I lost one fur baby 12/29/19, and my other on 10/18/20. Both should have had 2-3 more years with me. It was a sudden cancer diagnosis and 4 days of doggie ER for my girl where she never came home. Then my boy dropped over with a heart attack after beating Lymphoma twice. Likely a weakened heart due to the chemo. I am not in a place where I will get another any time soon. They were the center of my world, and I think of them all the time. My neighborhood is now crawling with German Shepherds. I see 5-6 regularly. One moved in next door, and another moved in across the street. I darn near get "emo" every time I see them.

Well doggone, I saw a white one tonight. I tried to keep up, but he was doing 75 in a 55 and then nearly 55 in a 40.

Thanks!

I hate to hijack this thread, but... I just converted to an open system with a late model radiator, and I have a 16 lb cap on the new radiator. I ran a hose from the radiator neck's expansion port to the original closed system's reservoir. So far coolant is not "expanding" to the reservoir. I guess there is still enough air in the radiator to prevent coolant from traveling up the hose to the reservoir. I've got the reservoir half filled and I have coolant in its hose. Until I saw your post, I wondered if the 16 lb cap was too high and I needed to swap to 13.

Pre pandemic when I drove to/from work at the normal 8am/5-6pm, I would see about one Comanche every 1-3 months. Thankfully, I see plenty of XJs. Memphis, TN

Thanks. I checked fuel pressure with just Key On (didn't want to start engine). It went to 40 psi. After about 20 minutes, the gauge was back to zero. I didn't watch it over that period of time, so I don't know exactly how quickly it got back to zero. When I removed the gauge, not a drop of fuel came out of the valve. Is the drop to 0 pressure in that approximate amount of time normal?

Hi Crusier, I have not performed any of your tips yet. :head held in shame: I am headed to the store to get some CRC Contact Cleaner, OX-100B and carb cleaner ( for vacuum leak check). I have been following this thread: I'll check those bolts asap. Bruce's comments on reaching some of the bolts already has me tensed up! Thank you! I watched your C101 Elimination video last night. I'll just do the cleaning for now.

For quite some time, my 87 4.0 will fire up almost instantly when the engine is "overnight cold." Nearly all hot or warm restarts require a long period of cranking (~8-12 seconds), and once it fires it runs really rough for several seconds. It usually smells gassy. Gently revving to 2K rpm and holding it there usually helps clear it up quickly. I have been driving it to work lately, and I was a bit surprised when after sitting since 8am, it would have the hard start at 2-4 pm. Last night, I didn't park it inside. I fired it up around 2pm with it "overnight cold," but it had sat in the sun all day. This was the first time I had a hard start after it sat overnight. Is there any common issue that would cause long cranks to start when the engine is hot/warm or engine is technically cold, but it's been heated from sitting in the sun on a hot day? The gassy smell makes me think the issue is spark related since it's getting fuel. Or are 84K mile original injectors flooding it when not cold? Any pointers are appreciated.

Noted! I can't decide whether to put JEEP on my tailgate or leave it bare. And if I add it, go with black or silver.... "Comanche Chief" will bring on more indecision!

It looks so good, when I saw that photo the thought crossed my mind to put those on mine, but I wouldn't want to be a poser with my SporTruck. Though the 10 hole wheels already have me posin' as an Eliminator.

That's what I thought they came from. As long as you go with anything that's not whitewalls, the Eliminator will look fine!

I hope you have some positive news soon. Your username is clever and wise!

Those XJs with the Trailhawk-ish hood decals look pretty cool! That is very nice of you hosting a party for attendees! I have been part of Pontiac group for years where a guy hosts ~20 online friends the weekend of the Trans Am Nationals. We camp out at his place from Thursday night to Sunday. He's done that every year since 1999! I'm in the farthest corner of Tennessee. No way I am driving to Pennsylvania in my Comanche! Let's just say pretty much all of Cruiser's Tips are yet to be performed on my MJ! Even with those done, I doubt I'd drive it that far! Seeing a bunch of Comanches together would be awesome though!

I'm pretty sure all vehicles I've owned with factory open systems had COLD FULL and HOT FULL marks on the reservoirs. With the system properly filled, the reservoir level should rise when warm. My Comanche was my first encounter with a factory closed system. Fortunately, I didn't learn the hard way while opening that cap assuming it was not under pressure. I recently swapped to an open system when I had to replace my radiator. I also ditched the heater control valve. I see from your heater hoses, yours had been ridded of that thing, too.

I just put a set of Firestone Destination LE3's on my Comanche. 20 or 30 bucks cheaper than Destination AT2's and better wet traction. Yeah, no plans to ever do any real off-roading in my Comanche. I'll go sit in a corner for "time out" now. I did stick with 235/75-15s though! I got my taste of offroading three times at the Hot Springs, AR off-road park when I had my 2017 Cherokee Trailhawk. Got the Badges of Honor, too. And worst of all, a crapload of wheel rock rash. Grrrrr. Pizzaman, your wheels look natural on there!

Looking good!