Jeep engine help... yes... Jeep...

well guys, you read it right... I, Blacknoma, am asking for help with a Jeep. something i have vowed to never own.
 
Here is the story first.
 
My wife and I live in Beijing, China. We do not have a car here and it kinda ****s. Buses, subways, and taxi's are how we get around. We would love to have a car, but saving up for one, getting my license (Jenn said she will never drive here), insurance, etc... it seems not worth it. Did i mention we speak very little Chinese?
Anyway, my boss has a 1996 or 1997 Jeep Cherokee (pretty sure it is not 4wd) that spends more time on the side of the road than it does in his parking space. He is a scientist from Kansas and doesn't know much about fixing anything. He asked me if i knew about engines and what not and began to explain that his Jeep was broke down again and his wife wants him to get rid of it. He said he will give it to me if i want it but then later said he would like to get a couple of hundred for it. This is what he told me:
it is a 1996 or 1997
6-cyl (4.0 im pretty sure) this is China... who knows what is in it. haha
he has to have the spark plugs replaced every week because they get so fouled that it will not run.
there is coolant in the oil.
 
SO, im thinking head gasket is blown. And probably from overheating and having coolant in the pitons, some of the rings are stuck thus fouling the plugs. I will talk to him more about it to see how bad it has overheated if it has overheated. Im hoping he will give it to me, but $200 isn't bad if it is fixable.
 
I'm asking yall because if anyone knows 4.0's, it is this crowd. With this info, what do yall think?
 
Also, remember i am in China. there is no such thing as an autozone, O'riley, Advanced auto, or even going to the dealership as far as i know. Also, as of now i only have very basic tools... no sockets or even a ratchet. i plan on getting some before, but keep in mind that the ****py stuff the US gets from China is the best stuff China has. if i need some specialty tools, i will have to make it or ship it (takes around 2 weeks). So, anything i need to know about pulling the head before hand will be greatly appreciated.
 
Also, insurance will be $150/year... be jealous. 
 
 

Bump... and i just talked with him. It has not overheated since it was 'overhauled' a year or so ago. Also, he is going to give it to me for free. 

You have to remember that coolant in the oil may jack up the bearings, and there isnt an easy way to check that. Does he know how the oil pressure is doing on it?
 
And how would you be getting the replacement parts? If its going to be alot of trouble, it may be more than its worth.

It was overhauled a year ago and there IS WATER IN THE OIL?
If there is and I understand the situation, lack of parts tools and so on, I would run. Understanding also how bad it ****s not having a cat, I might do it. Keep in mind that rod bearings, main bearings, the whole crank may need replacing. Also youl have to have the head machined down. And all the stuff you take off to get to the head will,need new gasgets. If it was here in states I would jump on it.


Where do you plan on doing all this work at?

I would think it would be cheaper to find a mechanic shop (and a translator) than buy the tools for the job. What about taking it to a local repair shop to get an estimate so you know what's wrong?

i have to disagree , i am a jeeper ! i say fix it ! if it hasnt gotten hot then you probably dont need machining . so something internal is leaking. head gasket . simple fix drain all fluids , remove head ,clean all parts reinstall head and gasket according to manufacturer specs. its not rocket science . if you can read this you can read a manual as well . you could do it with a minimal amount of tools , torque wrench being the only "special" tool . shipping on a head gasket cant be hardly anything . i would drop the oil pan and clean things up in there by hand and call it done . if the head is cracked wich the 4.0 is kinda known for then different story . try and find a used head over there . i would absolutely take that project on . if the head doesnt need to be replaced you will end up with less than 3 or 4 hundred in it and a handful of tools to put in the back of your new to you jeep!
 

I'm glad someone sees it the way i do. I don't need it tomorrow... we have gone a year and a half without a car. it can sit and i can play with it for as long as i need to. Besides, i love working on cars (why do you think i have a GMC?) and i can't do that here. haha. So im having a few withdraws. Also, because there are millions and millions of people in Beijing, they only allow 10,000 cars to get tags each month. 100,000 apply each month. after you apply, they pretty much draw names out of a hat to see who the lucky 10,000 are. i could never get tags for it... ever... or i could get them tomorrow... im ok with that.
im getting a friend of a friend who is coming to visit in a week to bring me 2 head gaskets (just in case), 12 spark plugs (which do yall prefer?), spark plug wires, 2 air filters, oil pan gasket, RTV silicone, torque wrench, and a ratchet/socket set if he has room.
any other seals or gaskets i need? any other stuff i am forgetting for a small tune-up?
 
China is very different from the states. The most professional job you can get is so 'southern engineered' it's out of this world. also, any 'fix' you get, do not expect it to last more than a year or so if your lucky. i guarantee this 'overhaul', which was done by a local mechanic was a terrible job at best.
 
I will be doing all the work in the parking lot of my apartment complex. In the 20 degree weather. =D
 
And if the block is cracked, can't get the parts, or anything goes terribly wrong. The government will come and pick it up and pay me for what it is worth in s**** metal ($200-$300). I really cannot think of a reason not to do it. really.
 
So if anyone knows off the top of their heads about which sockets i need, please let me know so i can try to get some good ones in a week. Metric? deep sockets?
thanks!

China is very different from the states. The most professional job you can get is so 'southern engineered' it's out of this world. also, any 'fix' you get, do not expect it to last more than a year or so if your lucky. i guarantee this 'overhaul', which was done by a local mechanic was a terrible job at best.
saw this in Thailand.  it all depends if you will come back and you had cash.  My ex's parents ran a garage and most people wanted cheap parts and bargain all the time and they got sub-par service but someone with money got the good parts and service when they wanted it,,even  at 2:00am  .   No such thing as a warranty though.  

my xj isnt here so i cant look at it to give you specific info on tools but yes metric id say probably shallow and deep sockets and wrenches . the torque wrench might be 1/2" drive and if ya get 3/8" drive sockets yoy might run into an issue there and need the one socket for tourqing the heads down . if i had to guess id say the head wasnt torqued properly which caused the gasket to give under the pressure of the coolant system , resulting in coolant seeping into the oil system , and both fluids leaking into the cylinder causing the plugs to foul out so quick . but a cracked head will or could do the same thang but im hoping with you that its a gasket issue . i think those heads are made there in beijing . not sure but i think so . you might see what parts are available there . google jeep parts in beijing , i did... good luck and take pics . of course if you cant find info post up and if noone answers pm me . im no mechanic but i have access to a couple good mechanics and their knowledge.
 

I'm glad you know what im talking about Dave... but i don't have to good money. haha they see foreigner and think money falls out of my pockets.
 
Guitarded - i really appreciate your willingness to help. Any info is helpful, even if i know it, it is a good reminder. i havn't been able to wrench or refresh my engine memory in a year and a half. And according to my wife, i have a terrible memory. haha If anyone can tell me the size (or sizes) of the bolt that need to be torqued down, i would appreciate it so im sure to have the correct socket for the torque wrench. 

my brother had an 88 XJ but got rid of it when i was about 17, so i didn't do much wrenching on it. My wife had a 98 Cherokee but sold it before we got married and got a 4wd Blazer so i didn't have to wrench on it. the Cherokee was a lemon. big time. haha So i don't have very little experience with the 4.0

Would it cost a lot for us to ship you tools/ parts?

A bad head gasket can make it overheat prematurely also. Another way that works sometimes, depending on severity, is to check for champagne bubbles on the radiator. Take the cap off and start it up. Let it warm and the thermostat open. then look in the rad for bubbles. If you see bubbles chances are the h gasket is on good. Are the plugs oil fouled or fuel fouled? What colour do they look. I haven't heard of coolant fouling plugs.
 

shipping tools would cost $50 at least for around a 1.5x1.5x1.5' box. shipping only. and it will take 2-weeks to get here. =[ we will see what my friend of a friend brings me in a week or so.
 
Chris, i will check that when i get it. I will get the Jeep tomorrow. i have yet to see it. i will be able to tinker and see how bad it is on my Thursday (yalls wed night/thurs morning).
 
first on my list is to drain the oil and refill, pull the plugs and examine/clean, and then run and check symptoms/coolant leakage.

blacknoma

help with a Jeep. something i have vowed to never own.

 Come to the dark side

hahaha, im 85% sure it is not 4wd... but that will probably help my wallet. haha
 
we will see what happens when we come back to the states and what condition the noma is in.

will i need a valve cover gasket? or could i just use RTV?

also, when removing the head, do i have to take the lifters/rockers/ valves and everything apart and get the sealant/gasket kit to put it back together, or can i just leave it all together and pull the head off in one piece?

I think you can pull head in one peice. Other gaskits would be an intake, and exghast. Check the plugs before waisting the money on changing the oil. I would think you could rtv the valve cover.

preston,
 
make sure he brings you a set of 12 pt sockets and not 6 point. most of the bolts are metric 6 point but all of the head bolts are 12 points. as far as the parts go, have him get the head sets from chrysler and a valve cover gasket from oreilly. the head sets are cheaper at chrysler. make sure he brings you new head bolts too. there shouldnt be much need for the rtv but for resealing the thermostat housing to the block.
 
as far as the actual head goes, it sounds like it has a crack in it. we just had a grand cherokee with a 4.0 that never overheated but was having to add coolant every few days. it had a cracked head on there and the coolant was making its way into the oil.
 
when im at work tomorrow i will print off and scan the mitchell repair instructions for replacing the head, torque sequence, torque specs, and anything else you may need for it. if there is anything specific you need after that shoot me a pm and i will get it for ya.

thanks for the help guys!
 
Jason, from what i have seen and read, the head bolts are 13mm 6-point head. (deep socket needed) if you can verify this i would much appreciate it. also, the head set from Chrysler; can he get it at auto-zone? i haven't even met the guy and i don't him to go running around his state looking for parts for me (he lives in North Carolina). Can he get new head bolts at auto-zone? Im not sure if i can find a new or even refurbished head here... where is the most common place for the head to crack? I asked him what the plugs look like when he pulls them after they are fouled and he said "black" lol. sound like the rings are bad as well? i cannot pressure test the cylinders, so that ****s. unless i get a compression gauge. The repair instructions i will greatly appreciate. sending you a PM!
 
will i need to replace the exhaust and intake gaskets?