Classy Comanche Posted February 15, 2023 Author Share Posted February 15, 2023 Update: went to Nappa and did a even exchange for the radiator for a different one that doesn't have holes in it. Instead it only has like indentations where the machine pressed off the metal? I'll post pics in about 9-10 hours when I get home. Plan on dropping my truck off immediately when I pick my car up hopefully this week, so I'll just switch them out essentially. Both sides of the tanks on the one I got from nappa are plastic. I'm nervous they'll crack and bust but I'm getting desperate trying all I can. From what I can tell in terms of how it looks it appears to be the "UAC" Eliminator radiator one off rockauto in terms of how it looks. They look identical. Update on that, does anyone have bad problems with the plastic hold tanks on the rads? Because my experience with the all aluminum was absolutely awful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZJeff Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Plastic tank radiators are the standard method of construction in modern cars (anything built after about 1995). For the most part, they are equivalent in durability to the older all-metal types. Like all other radiators, they are likely to fail due to corrosion because of lack of maintenance to the cooling system. if you flush your cooling system and replace the coolant periodically, you should see a reasonable service life from a rad with plastic/aluminum construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Comanche Posted February 15, 2023 Author Share Posted February 15, 2023 Yeah I'm just now realizing my old radiator had plastic tanks. I'm gaining hope that this is what I have been needing. The welds on the radiator I have now and previously had may have gone bad. They may have been shallow welds at that. The new one I have now does feel considerably heavier than the aluminum ones I have now. I'm hoping that makes a night and day difference. Fingers crossed. My coolant is very clean and have added to it since I've lost some. No black/brown sludge circulating. I had it flushed I think 3 or 4 times when I had my reservoir tank replaced 2 or 3 times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manche757 Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 Problems solved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Comanche Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share Posted February 19, 2023 No problem is not solved I'm waiting on my car do be done so I can drop my truck off. I'm hoping since this one isn't all aluminum it'll be the fix I need and won't have to get another for a very long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZJeff Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 Cooling system maintenance is ESSENTIAL to a long-lived cooling system. And, given that the 4.0 MJ/XJ vehicles have a very marginal cooling system, it is doubly essential that the cooling system be flushed and refilled on a regular basis. Lots of people will be religious about changing oil, and then totally ignore the cooling system on the same vehicle. To do so on an MJ/XJ in particular is just asking for trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Comanche Posted February 19, 2023 Author Share Posted February 19, 2023 My plan when if and when I get this straightened out is to have my system flushed every 2 oil changes. So about 5500-5800 miles. As of now I'm driving it with a small leak. I know that a big no no but I'm carrying coolant with me at all times. It cools really good. It's not overheating and it can pull from my plastic catch tank if it needs. But I agree when I bought the truck it still had the original radiator in it from '87. And it was all cruddy and dirty. At that time it didn't cool good but it didn't leak. Now it leaks and cools good. But I'll do a flush every 2 oil changes my car also had the original radiator from '03. And it gummed up on me on Christmas day and overheated. So now I'm waiting for it to be done with every cooling component being replaced since the previous owner put in that radiator seal or some garbage? I had no knowledge of it. But now I'm paying for it. Heavily. But I'll keep this thread updated as I go. My commute to work is about 20-25 minutes depending on stoplights. Also I drive very easy with it and let it coast down hills. I have no option to get to work other than my truck at the moment. This week I believe I'll be able to finally be able to put it in the shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Factory recommended interval is every 22,500 miles and worked fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Comanche Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 Oh so that's right at 7 oil changes. Very nice to know! I'll start doing that when I hopefully get over this problem. When I get this radiator in I'm not going to drive it as much and will make it more of my little weekend runner. Once this radiator issue is solved thats the biggest mountain i got to get past as of now. Fingers crossed this works. Also here is the radiator from napa I got Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 It's actually 3 oil changes. Factory recommended interval for normal duty was 7500 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classy Comanche Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 Oh I have the oil changed in my truck every 3k really 2800 so I don't run over the milage. Thats also nice to know! I probably won't push it to 7500 since it's a high milage engine at 179k and does leak oil and needs a top off every almost 4-5 months. The exhaust and head gasket is on my list next after the radiator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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