Complete Cooling System Refresh - Need opinions

I know this has probably been asked a million times but most of the threads were 2+ years old so I wasn't sure if something may have changed or new companies started making new products, etc.

So my 2001 XJ just hit 134k and has developed a small leak, with he 0331 head I want to take extra pre-caution with this and want to get a good reliable cooling system.

So my question is, what are the best brands for:

Radiator
Water Pump (Hesco worth the $$?)
Thermostat

And what else should I replace while I'm doing this besides the hoses/clamps. :thumbup:

CSF 3 Core Rad
OEM Water Pump
OEM T-Stat
OEM Radiator cap

Replace the hoses and clamps as well as the hoses for the heater core. Flush the heater core out as well to ensure you get the gunk out of it

I am about to do the same type of upgrades to my jeep. I was looking at the CSF 3 Row radiator. I was wondering about the Flowkooler water pump. Anyone had any luck with these? Or are the OEM the best units for the XJ?

98 XJ 4.5" 33" tires 4.56 gears and rock sliders and rock-hard bumper/tire carrier, in case anyone was gonna ask.

JD'S-XJ said:

...I was wondering about the Flowkooler water pump. Anyone had any luck with these?

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My Flowkooler has been rockin' my xj for 4 years now.... Not one single hiccup.

Install and forget...

Just what I wanted to know. Heard mixed reviews, but it just seems too good to pass up.

don't go with a 3 row.

single is better, dual if you have to.

CSF are junk. go with OEM.

See this is what is so confusing haha, lots of people say run 3-row and some say absolutely don't do it. I just want the most reliable set up that fits like OEM.

OP - I'm in the market for a complete cooling system overhaul as well and I've searched on this topic for almost a year and this is the year (summer) I'm finally going to do it. I've read good and bad on almost all the radiator upgrades out there - CSF, Champion, AE, 1-, 2-, 3-row and I've decided to go with the CSF 2 row (it's aluminum). I've read that for a my 2000 AW4 it would be more the sufficient for my DD and weekend trails - I'm not a rock crawler - 3" on 31's. I'm putting in new hoses, clamps, pump (NEW, not reman from NAPA), thermostat (Stant - 195*) and housing, viscous fan clutch, belt and a B&M cooler mounted in front of the radiator. Should be great!

Good luck! :thumbup:

inv3ctiv3 said:

See this is what is so confusing haha, lots of people say run 3-row and some say absolutely don't do it. I just want the most reliable set up that fits like OEM.

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Rock climber has been saying that a lot lately but there are enough of us who have been running the csf's for a long time without issue.

Ok so the question now is 2 or 3 row and where are you guys ordering them from? I'm finding them kind of hard to find....Also what manufacturer for the pump (bosche, Mopar, etc) I know Mopar is OEM but other brands make "oem pumps"

Well if you're going to go with a CSF 3 row - I hear DPG Offroad is the place to do it - great company with great employees: http://dpgoffroad.com/products/csf-hd-radiator-jeep-wrangler-97-06-2/

American Eagle (p/n: AE1193-AA): http://www.americaneagleradiator.com/aer_11-26-10_007.htm

Champion: http://www.championradiators.com/jeep-cherokee-radiator-1991-2001

As to which pump - I read that a new Napa pump is a great replacement for your OEM one: http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=TFW42004_0303846976

You could go with a FlowKooler pump but you'll drop some coin on that: http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Water-Pumps-Jeep-CID:-242/4.0L/c21_34_161/index.html

As far as going 2 or 3 row, for me, that's tough to say. Some say 3 row cools better and some say 2 row cools better. A Google search will bring up a plethora of sites. I'm going two row on mine because it's cheaper than the three and since I'm replacing all the components of my system plus adding the supercooler, that should be more than adequate for my needs.

amorth said:

Well if you're going to go with a CSF 3 row - I hear DPG Offroad is the place to do it - great company with great employees: http://dpgoffroad.com/products/csf-hd-radiator-jeep-wrangler-97-06-2/

American Eagle (p/n: AE1193-AA): http://www.americaneagleradiator.com/aer_11-26-10_007.htm

Champion: http://www.championradiators.com/jeep-cherokee-radiator-1991-2001

As to which pump - I read that a new Napa pump is a great replacement for your OEM one: http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=TFW42004_0303846976

You could go with a FlowKooler pump but you'll drop some coin on that: http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Water-Pumps-Jeep-CID:-242/4.0L/c21_34_161/index.html

As far as going 2 or 3 row, for me, that's tough to say. Some say 3 row cools better and some say 2 row cools better. A Google search will bring up a plethora of sites. I'm going two row on mine because it's cheaper than the three and since I'm replacing all the components of my system plus adding the supercooler, that should be more than adequate for my needs.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I also want to run a tranny cooler but am not sure which model people recommend for the cherokee. I had a B&M for my land cruiser but it was a lot bigger than one for a cherokee I'd imagine.

Here's the B&M I'm putting in: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bmm-70268

You may find these useful:
http://jeepin.com/features/gdi
http://www.myjeepxj.com/cherokee-repair/transmission-cooler
http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/cooling-system-upgrade-69207/
http://jeephorizons.com/tech/xj_cooling.html
http://www.4x4trailhunters.com/tech/read/21

Napa pump
stant 195 deg tstat, drill the holes
i run a three core, but I see the merit in the two thick rows.argument.
Quality.brand name hoses ( gates, goodyear, etc) rockauto can help get all the rubber cheaply
If.you are doing the fan clutch, look into the zj one,

I just did the "entire" cooling system in my 98 with 125k with mostly Crown Auto parts. Luckily they have an outlet store here in MA, not sure who you can get their parts thru in CA. I'm really happy with the outcome and the price was great....
The NAC guys and Jeff @ Crown Auto guided me-
I did the following-
Radiator (OEM Style with the plastic reservoirs)
Radiator rubber isolators (2)
Radiator Cap
Water Pump w/gasket
Water Pump coolant tube
Thermostat
Thermostat Housing w/gasket
Coolant Temp Sensor
Upper & Lower Radiator Hoses
Upper & Lower Radiator Hose clamps
Heater core inlet & outlet hoses - they're different sizes
Heater core hose clamps
Electric Fan assembly - mine was almost seized
1 or 2 tubes of RTV water pump gasket maker (coolant-proof)
New serpentine belt (napa)
Luckily it looks like my regular fan clutch was newish

Back in the day drilling a hole in the thermostat was normal
My new one had a little ball bearing relief valve in it to let air escape
Some have a little gap molded into them, but if you can't find any way for gas to escape then go ahead and pop a hole in it. Thermostat goes spring-side into the motor.
My water pump coolant tube came with pipe thread sealer on it and I could barely get it threaded into the water pump. I wire-wheeled the paint and sealer off of the threads, put a bead of RTV coolant gasket maker on it and threaded it into the water pump far enough I felt comfortable with it (no leaks yet).
The radiator came with a couple extra tabs I had to remove to seat the fan shroud correctly, otherwise everything went together fine.
:farmer:

MassMopar said:

I just did the "entire" cooling system in my 98 with 125k with mostly Crown Auto parts. .
:farmer:

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Did your Crown Radiator hoses have the factory spring inside? Did the Thermostat have the factory drilled hole?

I Forget, Why Drill The Hole In The Thermostat Again?

This ^ and where do you drill it?

inv3ctiv3 said:

See this is what is so confusing haha, lots of people say run 3-row and some say absolutely don't do it. I just want the most reliable set up that fits like OEM.

Click to expand...

OEM is the most reliable, and fits like oem

IslanderOffRoad said:

Rock climber has been saying that a lot lately but there are enough of us who have been running the csf's for a long time without issue.

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how old is your CSF? I've pulled a few that are within the last couple years out of jeeps to correct overheating issues (some wranglers, some XJs) and they are horribly built. the older ones may be better, they used to have a great name recently though their quality has taken a dive.