How to refill cooling system in JT Gladiator

A

adamjedgar

New member
Hi guys,
Dealer put new engine in my Gladiator.

Dealer stated they had significant trouble bleeding air out of system immediately after the new long block engine install...so they then also replaced thermostat and water pump.

I drove car home however whenever I drive it, I can smell hot coolant...but have not found any leaks

Less than 1,000km...temp suddenly went through roof yesterday a few hundred meters from leaving my house.

Returned home, shut down, next day can't find any evidence of leaks anywhere underneath engine.

However,

Plastic overflow reservoir is empty.

I'm deeply suspicious as to where the water has gone.

First thought is, although I've done over 500km

Perhaps it had air in the system? Why it wouldn't overheat sooner if there isn't enough coolant in the system, or there's an airpocket, mystifies me?


My plan is to drain the existing MOPAR "yellow/orange" coolant (record volume of fluid drained) and then fully refill cooling system with Penrite OEM purple coolant (OAT)

Do JTs require any special method of purging air out of system? Can I "burp it" with funnel in overflow reservoir?

Does anyone have a video purging cooling system specifically on JTs given the filler cap is not mounted directly on radiator?
 
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Because after your car has had the following in 50,000km

2 new transmissions
3 oil.coolers
2 water pumps
Pcv valve replaced
Front right hand side axle seal (which in Australia is $600 AUD just for the seal and $330 per.litre for diff oil)
Both heads off the engine due to caebon build up from oiling due to whst eventually turned out to be the PCV...THIS ALONE WAS 8 MONTHS OF STUFFING ME AROUND EVEN BLAMING ME FOR THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF BAD FUEL...WHICH I QUICKLY PROVED WRONG because i have all the fuel receipts for every tank of fuel that has ever been used in the car
dealer changing transmission the forgetting to connect breather hose and water got in ruining a brand new transmission

Almost 6 momths off the road in 3 different jeep wodkshops
Has been on til trays 3 times...this current issue would be the 4th time if i end up not being able to sort the sudden overheatng issue

Ive owned this car from new since Oct 22...6 months off the road...serivce department at the only dealership nearby have told me that cant look a the car for a week if roadside assist get a tilt tray and upwards of a month if i take it too them on a car trailer... im bloody sick of this

Jeep mechanics who have done shoddy work causing almost every single one of the above issues

Is that enough reason for you???

If you were me...wouldnt you have gotten a lawyer by now?

See my journey on the following forum...once you read it you will understand im sure.

This is my merry ...its christmas ongoing disaster


So with the above out of the way...any JT specific hints on bleeding the system please would be sincerely appreciated.

I am not looking for ammunition, i just want to get my car back on the road ...its hbristmas few mechanics are working. If i can purge the system and it doesnt do this again...ill be a very happy camper and a relieved Jeep owner who can just drive his car during the xmas holiday weekend. Ive been without this car for a big portion of 2024. It has litterally been off the road for the last 3 months of this year (2 months with engine swap and 1 month with front axle seal...which required pulling the diff center out amd also manufacturijg a diff spreader.....i did axle seal myself on weekends whilst also working 900km away from home during the week with my job... because it was 2 days after engine swap! and i had had enough
 
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Smelling coolant after work has been done to the cooling system is totally normal. The stuff goes everywhere and it's just burning off. That said and being that you're not seeing any leaks, just keep adding coolant to the reservoir bottle till you reach the max fill line and go. Needing to do this more than once is totally normal.
 
Welcome, I guess. Understand you’re frustrated with the shops you took it to, and likely the POS website you linked here, but don’t take it out on people wanting to help and are asking legitimate questions.
 
adamjedgar said:
Because after your car has had the following in 50,000km

2 new transmissions
3 oil.coolers
2 water pumps
Pcv valve replaced
Front right hand side axle seal (which in Australia is $600 AUD just for the seal and $330 per.litre for diff oil)
Both heads off the engine due to caebon build up from oiling due to whst eventually turned out to be the PCV...THIS ALONE WAS 8 MONTHS OF STUFFING ME AROUND EVEN BLAMING ME FOR THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF BAD FUEL...WHICH I QUICKLY PROVED WRONG because i have all the fuel receipts for every tank of fuel that has ever been used in the car
dealer changing transmission the forgetting to connect breather hose and water got in ruining a brand new transmission

Almost 6 momths off the road in 3 different jeep wodkshops
Has been on til trays 3 times...this current issue would be the 4th time if i end up not being able to sort the sudden overheatng issue

Ive owned this car from new since Oct 22...6 months off the road...serivce department at the only dealership nearby have told me that cant look a the car for a week if roadside assist get a tilt tray and upwards of a month if i take it too them on a car trailer... im bloody sick of this

Jeep mechanics who have done shoddy work causing almost every single one of the above issues

Is that enough reason for you???

If you were me...wouldnt you have gotten a lawyer by now?

See my journey on the following forum...once you read it you will understand im sure.

This is my merry ...its christmas ongoing disaster


So with the above out of the way...any JT specific hints on bleeding the system please would be sincerely appreciated.

I am not looking for ammunition, i just want to get my car back on the road ...its hbristmas few mechanics are working. If i can purge the system and it doesnt do this again...ill be a very happy camper and a relieved Jeep owner who can just drive his car during the xmas holiday weekend. Ive been without this car for a big portion of 2024. It has litterally been off the road for the last 3 months of this year (2 months with engine swap and 1 month with front axle seal...which required pulling the diff center out amd also manufacturijg a diff spreader.....i did axle seal myself on weekends whilst also working 900km away from home during the week with my job... because it was 2 days after engine swap! and i had had enough
Click to expand...
That forum is gayer than aids, not gonna read. The dealership was good enough to swap your motor and do all that other work but they aren’t good enough for you to bring it back to them when there is an issue with a new part they installed?
 
OverlanderJK said:
That forum is gayer than aids, not gonna read. The dealership was good enough to swap your motor and do all that other work but they aren’t good enough for you to bring it back to them when there is an issue with a new part they installed?
Click to expand...
The dealership who did the engine swap went broke and closed down 3 weeks after my engine swap (i knew they were closing down, the sevice manager told me that upfront)

Also, an updatr...
I purchased a proper funnel specificslly for filling and purging the system, topped up the fluid with 2.5 litres of demineralised water...
Everything seemed fine whilst idling with funnel.

Turned off, reinstalled cap, left to cool down for 2 hours...

Started up...didnt get out 50 meters from the driveway and it started overheated again.

Called a tow truck at this point.

Stupid thing is, its now 2 days later and i visited the workshop this morning. We started up the car, it idled perfectly maintaining temp and did not overheat...however, the heater inside cab is only blowing cold air.

So somethings not right.

youtube video of the purging after topup
1000016337.jpg
 

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