Radiator Flushing After TJ Overheated

[jeepygirly98]

I have a 2002 Jeep Wrangler with 73,000 miles. Two days ago I was sitting in my car for about an hour with the air blasting in 110+ degree weather…my car overheated. I turned my car off and then turned it back on and would stall immediately. So i left my car in the parking lot for about 3 hours until it got cooler. When I came back to my car I opened the radiator overflow and it was all mucky and gross at the bottom looked like mud. Anyways I added some coolant to it and was able to drive it back home without it overheating. I drove it again during the day and it was perfectly fine. Why did this happen & Do yall think i should do a radiator flush since the overflow looked gross?? Thanks

 

[Link]

Can't hurt. What the radiator look like inside?

 

[LONGJP2]

You let your Jeep idle for an hour?

 

[Steel City 06]

Is the coolant brown and opaque like a milkshake? If so, a head gasket may be on your to-do list...
Check the engine oil color as well. If it's milky then you definitely have a problem. Gold or dark (but not cloudy) is likely ok.

 

[jeepygirly98]

You let your Jeep idle for an hour?

yeahhh oops learned my lesson

 

[jeepygirly98]

Can't hurt. What the radiator look like inside?

radiator looked completely fine !

 

[TJ4Jim]

I have a 2002 Jeep Wrangler with 73,000 miles. Two days ago I was sitting in my car for about an hour with the air blasting in 110+ degree weather…my car overheated. I turned my car off and then turned it back on and would stall immediately. So i left my car in the parking lot for about 3 hours until it got cooler. When I came back to my car I opened the radiator overflow and it was all mucky and gross at the bottom looked like mud. Anyways I added some coolant to it and was able to drive it back home without it overheating. I drove it again during the day and it was perfectly fine. Why did this happen & Do yall think i should do a radiator flush since the overflow looked gross?? Thanks

Would not hurt to dump the coolant and refill with distilled water and run that way for a few days, with maybe a rinse and repeat.

 

[KennethS]

You let your Jeep idle for an hour?

With the AC on.
In 110 degree temperatures.
That’ll make it overheat.


If the radiator looks good then just pull the overflow tank and clean it out. Wait til winter and it’s not 110+ degrees to do a flush.

 

[macleanflood]

I'd check the oil and do a combustion gas test.

How many miles? Nm 73k. You ever change the radiator, hoses, water pump or thermostat?

-Mac

 

[ChasUGC]

I would definitely do a flush. Better to spend a little money, than ruin your engine and have to spend a lot of money. Some people dump all kinds of different coolants in the cooling system. Check your recovery bottle and see if you see sediment in it. Heavy sediment can also clog your radiator fins and ruin your radiator.

 

[jeepygirly98]

I'd check the oil and do a combustion gas test.

How many miles? Nm 73k. You ever change the radiator, hoses, water pump or thermostat?

-Mac

Thank you! No I have not in my 2-3 years of owning the jeep.

 

[jeepygirly98]

I would definitely do a flush. Better to spend a little money, than ruin your engine and have to spend a lot of money. Some people dump all kinds of different coolants in the cooling system. Check your recovery bottle and see if you see sediment in it. Heavy sediment can also clog your radiator fins and ruin your radiator.

thank you for this advice

 

[jeepygirly98]

With the AC on.
In 110 degree temperatures.
That’ll make it overheat.


If the radiator looks good then just pull the overflow tank and clean it out. Wait til winter and it’s not 110+ degrees to do a flush.

I think I will start with cleaning out the overflow tank, thank you!

 

[ChasUGC]

I think I will start with cleaning out the overflow tank, thank you!

Take a picture of it and post it here. If you see casting sand in the bottom of it, your heater core, radiator, thermostat and maybe even your engine are at risk.