First time wheeling now I have questions

[Midtenn]

I took the Jeep off-roading for the first time. First time I’ve ever went off-roading. While I stayed on the green trail, it was still very challenging and I learned a few things but ill start with some questions.

1. Oil pressure dropped to zero several times on inclines. As I was to climb over something, oil pressure would drop leading to
2. How do you not stall. I stayed slow but too slow and it seems like I was close to stalling the whole time. I felt like an auto would have been so much more helpful here.
3. Jeep overheated and spewed antifreeze everywhere. Usually close to 210* but overheated.

Jeep seems to have a problem overheated on hills. Fine on flat land, but even after adding distilled water and getting that under control, it got hot on the way home but I’d pull off the interstate, let it cool for 15 minutes and then it would be fine. Once I got away from hills (6% grade) it did fine.

any thoughts on the oil pressure thing? I have a slight leak but that’s never been an issue before.

jeep isn’t damaged, but it certainly didn’t like the trip. Where should I begin?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

1) What kind of oil are you using, was it full, and how long since it was changed?
2) Were you in 4lo?
3) Was it full of AF, how long since it's been changed, and is this overheating on hills something new?

 

[Midtenn]

1. 10W-30 Dino oil changed within 2,000 miles. OEM oil filter.
2. 4H...should I have been in 4L?
3. I’ve only driven it around town or on flat lands so I can’t tell if this is a new issue. I have no idea how old the coolant was but it will get changed because all that’s in there now is distilled water. The hoses are original so I may swap those at the same time.

 

[Sj's TJ]

The stalling is probably because you were in 4H since you were on a green trail.

 

[CharlesHS]

IF the engine is overheating on hills and while in 4HI then as others have posted... you probably should have used 4LO.
As for the overheating problem; you should do a thorough inspection of the cooling system. Ensure the radiator fins are not obstructed. Is the thermostatic clutch for the fan working properly; there should be resistance when spun if when the engine is off. How old is the radiator cap ?
Is there bubbling in the reservoir when the engine is off?
Has the cooling system been flushed in the past few years; what color is the coolant? IF its brownish; you need to flush the system.
Stalling with a manual transmission in 4WD is quite common until you learn to use a stick at slow speeds on the trail.

 

[CodaMan]

2. How do you not stall. I stayed slow but too slow and it seems like I was close to stalling the whole time. I felt like an auto would have been so much more helpful here. Put it in 4Lo

3. Jeep overheated and spewed antifreeze everywhere. Usually close to 210* but overheated. It's a closed system. Where was the water coming from?

 

[Midtenn]

2. How do you not stall. I stayed slow but too slow and it seems like I was close to stalling the whole time. I felt like an auto would have been so much more helpful here. Put it in 4Lo

3. Jeep overheated and spewed antifreeze everywhere. Usually close to 210* but overheated. It's a closed system. Where was the water coming from?

water exited out of the cap. The cap is practically new. My suspicion is the cap jarred lose or wasn’t tightened correctly. Does not explain later overheating when going up a hill though.

 

[CodaMan]

water exited out of the cap. The cap is practically new. My suspicion is the cap jarred lose or wasn’t tightened correctly. Does not explain later overheating when going up a hill though.

It could actually. You may have had air in the system

 

[CharlesHS]

What size tires do you have on the Jeep ?
Has the Jeep differentials been regeared ?
There are a lot or posts on this forum for the proper gearing to tire size.
Jeeps with manual transmissions usually have 3.07 gears and are not good for crawling at slow speeds with larger than stock tires.

 

[Midtenn]

It could actually. You may have had air in the system

perhaps. Could have had air all along and it just never been an issue before.

 

[Midtenn]

What size tires do you have on the Jeep ?
Has the Jeep differentials been regeared ?
There are a lot or posts on this forum for the proper gearing to tire size.
Jeeps with manual transmissions usually have 3.07 gears and are not good for crawling at slow speeds with larger than stock tires.

Yes, it’s been re-geared for the tire size. I also added TT.

 

[CodaMan]

... usually have 3.07 gears and are not good for crawling at slow speeds with larger than stock tires.

Unless you're in 4Lo

 

[CodaMan]

perhaps. Could have had air all along and it just never been an issue before.

Plus, when the coolant blew out you replaced it with water. Coolant raises the boiling point, so there goes that safety net.

 

[ranger101]

Overheating was a combo of being in 4Hi and having air in the system.

Stalling is because of being in 4Hi. I only use 4Hi on snowy roads, and I’ll run up to 50mph+ like that. Ive run 4th or 5th gear in 4Low up to 30mph+

 

[CharlesHS]

4LO makes wheeling better at slow speeds, but you can still stall on technical obstacles.

 

[qslim]

How do you not stall. I stayed slow but too slow and it seems like I was close to stalling the whole time. I felt like an auto would have been so much more helpful here.

I ran into the same problem the first time I went. Couldn't figure out for the life of me how to make it up a steep grade without lugging the engine or carrying a stupid amount of speed. Then I put it in 4 low & crawled right up there without a problem.

 

[Midtenn]

Any thoughts on the oil pressure drop?

 

[CharlesHS]

Yes, it’s been re-geared for the tire size. I also added TT.

OK.... Great...... Then you shouldn't have a problem once you place the transfer case in 4LO.

 

[Midtenn]

Plus, when the coolant blew out you replaced it with water. Coolant raises the boiling point, so there goes that safety net.

Seems like refreshing that should resolve most of the cooling problem. I’ll use ramps to keep air out the system.

 

[CodaMan]

Seems like refreshing that should resolve most of the cooling problem. I’ll use ramps to keep air out the system.

It will. Most of us drill a 1/8" hole in the top of the thermostat to make it bleed air quickly. There's a thread on it somewhere on here.