Blown head gasket and more

[Palmy]

Hi everyone.
Last Friday I went off-roading (nothing serious, just riverbeds and some mud), and came back home to find my radiator leaking anti-freeze all over my driveway.

I check the temperature gauge pretty regularly and it never goes over 100C~ 210F~, never saw any smoke either/no check engine lights.

I didn't drive it at all until yesterday where I drove it the 2km/1.2miles to the mechanic. The Jeep died once and required a restart when going over a roundabout, which has a very slight incline. It also struggled for throttle when stropping/starting intersections. But it drove nicely when up to speed (40kmph).

My mechanic has sent the engine off to a machinist, the mechanic said there was no water in the radiator. The head-gasket has been blown, but apparently the bottom of the engine doesn't look too bad?

Will I need a new engine?

 

[Winks42]

well the machinist should tell you if you need a new engine or not, as long as the engine did not over heat to an extent that the head warped your mechanic should be able to slap a new head gasket on and you'll be on your way. but ultimately your machinist will tell you if you need an engine or not.

 

[bromel]

What year is your TJ? If it's 2000 or 2001, I would not put the original head back on. They are prone to cracking.

 

[Palmy]

What year is your TJ? If it's 2000 or 2001, I would not put the original head back on. They are prone to cracking.

98. 110km~

 

[CharlesHS]

IF you are going to replace the head gasket; you should at the very least verify the head mating surface is flat so that the blown head gasket does not reoccur once the engine has been warmed up a couple times.

 

[Palmy]

well the machinist should tell you if you need a new engine or not, as long as the engine did not over heat to an extent that the head warped your mechanic should be able to slap a new head gasket on and you'll be on your way. but ultimately your machinist will tell you if you need an engine or not.

It was only driven for a few minutes, I wouldn't think that would do enough damage to warp the head?

 

[Palmy]

IF you are going to replace the head gasket; you should at the very least verify the head mating surface is flat so that the blown head gasket does not reoccur once the engine has been warmed up a couple times.

I'll let the mechanic know about that, thanks!

 

[macleanflood]

Meh for the price and wait of a mechanic and a machnist I'd be tempted to toss in a head gasket and roll the dice. You can check warp with a good straight edge. The 4.0s are pretty indestructible.

Head casting code depending I suppose.

Once you go down this rabbit hole...

-Mac