water pump issues, maintenance suggestions

tony'sgfhasajeep

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okay so the water pump is leaking horribly once the truck is turned off, okay lets start over, i have an 05 wrangler sport automatic. okay so it leaks horribly after i turn it off. besides the water pump, belts, hoses and thermostat, what is ideal to replace or "maintain" while that whole area is being dealt with? it has just over 100k miles and we got it last summer. (don't know what has or hasnt been taken care of) fyi it runs great.
 
Check this out:
Jeep Wrangler TJ Cooling System Overhaul FAQ

At 100k miles and counting, I would consider a cooling system overhaul. Replacing the water pump, thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses, and even the radiator. It seems like a lot, but being 12 years old with 100k miles, I can promise it's due for it.

Think about it... what is the most common reason you see people broken down on the side of the road? I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that it's failed cooling systems. A good running cooling system is crucial for the Summer months as well.

So if it was me, I would do everything mentioned in that FAQ above. If you don't feel like doing all that, then I really see no need to replace anything other than the water pump and maybe the serpentine belt while you're in there (if it looks bad).
 
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X2 on the response from Chris. I might add the heater hoses, bypass hose if it has one. Good for another 100k after that. And of course new coolant. Hard to get the used coolant to go neatly into a bucket, at least for me, ends up splashing off ft. end, control arms when you pull the hoses, there is always some left, heater core will drain when you remove the heater hose. Keep any pets away until you get it cleaned up.
Good Luck
B
 
Chris's FAQ on the cooling system is excellent, I'll add a few tidbits. In addition to the Mopar coolant listed, another highly recommended coolant is Zerex G-05 which is also a HOAT. That's a great coolant which I run in my Jeep, BMW, and Lexus. Don't look for Zerex G-05 in low-end parts stores like Autozone, they don't carry anything that good. NAPA and other higher end auto parts stores carry it though.

On the thermostat, make sure to avoid so-called "fail-safe" thermostats. Sure that fail-safe part sounds good and its intent is to never fail in the closed/shut position, just in the open position. The problem is they tend to fail in the open position all the time which means your engine won't warm up quickly enough or to its normal operating temperature when conditions are cold.

A good thermostat brand is Stant, and the Stant 195 degree SuperStat would be an excellent choice. This one... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C7YRNM/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Make sure you follow Chris's advice to ONLY use distilled water to mix with the coolant. Tap water can clog the cooling system with hard water deposits like calcium and lime.

Finally, do avoid the cheap store-brand radiators and water pumps. Those parts are critical and they're not where you want to "cheap out". Personally, I stick with Mopar on critical parts like those. :)
 
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