Overheating Issues

[rook23]

Hi I have an 02 Jeep Liberty that has been starting to run hot when in idle. I replaced the radiator about 6 months ago, but now when idling it starts to creep up towards hot. When I run the heater, it goes back down to the middle and I can drive it safely home/to my final destination. I thought my oil was possibly low and could be the cause for the overheating, and I was due for an oil change so I got that done and they said everything looked good on my car (belts, fluids, etc.) but while driving home it started overheating again while I was in idle and running the A/C. I noticed my car started to smoke, yet it hadn't completely overheated and it smelled like coolant. Once I finally stopped, my coolant was down to halfway empty and it looked like it was smoking from the coolant cap. I'm not sure if when they did the oil change if they didn't screw it on all the way or not, as I don't remember what it looks like when its all the way on.

I'm going to double check the cap once it cools off, but what else could be going on with it? It was only smoking from the coolant container, no leaks anywhere else. Thanks!

 

[HoosierJeeper]

When was the last time the coolant was flushed? What type of coolant was used?

 

[rook23]

I have no idea... I've only had the car for a year and a half and the previous owner didn't relay that information to me and I haven't flushed it since I've had it. It has Peak 50/50 long life in it currently.

 

[uss2defiant]

wrong coolant as well.
Need HOAT.

Pressure test the system to see whether there's a leak.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Yeah, that's the wrong coolant so that's not helping and possibly making a mess inside.

Any noises from the water pump?

 

[rook23]

wrong coolant as well.
Need HOAT.

Pressure test the system to see whether there's a leak.

There isn't a leak, as I mentioned above. I didn't realize there were different types of coolant. I've always used Peak for my cars... what's the difference?

 

[rook23]

Yeah, that's the wrong coolant so that's not helping and possibly making a mess inside.

Any noises from the water pump?

Not that I can tell. When I opened the hood, I just heard hissing from the coolant container. What coolant should I be using?

 

[uss2defiant]

There isn't a leak, as I mentioned above. I didn't realize there were different types of coolant. I've always used Peak for my cars... what's the difference?

won't know for certain unless you pressure test it.

 

[uss2defiant]

Not that I can tell. When I opened the hood, I just heard hissing from the coolant container. What coolant should I be using?

hybrid organic additive technology coolant or HOAT.

zerex g05 is an example.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/i-have-ask-why-hoat-not-reg-antifreeze-50273/

 

[tommudd]

Too late now but its always a good idea to do all fluids when you buy something used.
The last KJ I bought had all service records from day one but still went through and did everything
AND the coolant you used does tend to eat up propellers on the water pump and gunk things up, so I'd bet there lies part of the problem

 

[rook23]

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/i-have-ask-why-hoat-not-reg-antifreeze-50273/

I honestly didn't even know there was another type of antifreeze. So now I'm confused... what should I be putting in my car?

But... that wouldn't be causing the issue, as it just recently started overheating within the last week.

 

[rook23]

Too late now but its always a good idea to do all fluids when you buy something used.
The last KJ I bought had all service records from day one but still went through and did everything
AND the coolant you used does tend to eat up propellers on the water pump and gunk things up, so I'd bet there lies part of the problem

Interesting... so how should I go about "fixing" this? Would taking it to a shop be too expensive? Is it a quick/easy fix? I'm not car savvy at all, obviously.

 

[Jbergun]

Yea i mean i did my cooling system last summer cost like $350 with a water pump hoses radiator thermostat. To take it to a shop they will charge quite a bit. Its not the easiest job but it wasnt hard.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

I honestly didn't even know there was another type of antifreeze. So now I'm confused... what should I be putting in my car?

But... that wouldn't be causing the issue, as it just recently started overheating within the last week.

HOAT...Zerex G05 works. The effects from the wrong coolant (an OAT type) could just be starting to manifest themselves.

 

[rook23]

Yea i mean i did my cooling system last summer cost like $350 with a water pump hoses radiator thermostat. To take it to a shop they will charge quite a bit. Its not the easiest job but it wasnt hard.

So I just got all that done around 6 months ago. I had to get a new radiator; the previous owner patched up a crack and it reopened.

Do you recommend I flush my coolant and add the new one?

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Yeah. I would start there.

 

[rook23]

Yeah. I would start there.

Thanks. I'll be going out of town this week, so it will have to wait until I get back.

If that isn't the case, what else should I be looking at?

 

[uss2defiant]

thermostat and waterpump.
radiator fan and/or clutch fan