Coolant filter

[ljobbins]

why not flush the heater core backwards or forwards with the exit stream dumping into a bucket? no chance of debries being sent into the radiator. simply remove the heater hoses from engine, and force water thru, and let it dump out?

easy peasy.

seems to me if you have so much crap in the system that heater clogs, an inline filter will also clog fast.

how about a prestone flush and fill kit installation? you can also use a descaling acid.

eventually, you may find the repair will be a new heater core

also be sure that the source of the crap in there is not from old coolant causing extensive corrosion as the corrosion inhibiting chemicals do become depleted with use

I’ve done this before. Easy and quick with no chance of anything that breaks loose going anywhere except the bucket.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fenns7]

Hi Uncle - don't know if this assists but I've been considering a coolant filter on my UK RHD Cherokee for a while. Didn't think I was sufficently capable to plumb in the usual inline filters (plus the online 'show and tells' were all LHD) so had a look at the Champion inline coolant filters.


Dropped the coin ($90) and once I found a suitable upper radiator hose (Dayco 71320) I fitted it last weekend - it's bizzarely satisfying seeing your coolant whizz through the glass section when the thermostat opens wide:yelclap:



As you'll know on RHD XJs the alternator sits where the A/C compressor would sit on a LHD model. The OE upper radiator hose sits on top of the alternator so could not safely fit the filter using that so I had to find one with a longer 'reach' so it looped behind the alternator. Got lucky on ebay and found the Dayco model - probably a bit too long but it served the purpose:

This is how it looks in situ:





I'd already spent weeks cleaning the cooling system on this XJ so the coolant is pretty clean but interested to see a few small flecks collected already.


Hope KC isnt too cold - one of my favourite US cities :wave1::wave1:

 

[maxbraketorque]

fenns7, did the inline filter package or manual state the filter mesh value? Would be interesting to compare to the size of the cooling channels in a radiator.

 

[Unclewolverine]

Fenns7, that is very nice set up, what year is yours though? My alternator bracket looks nothing like my 95. My alternator is just above where they are on lhd but then it still has the big 4 bolt pedestal that looks like the ac compressor would mount there but that's where my spring tensioner sits. As far as I'm aware it's the factory set up.

 

[XJI6191]

f-w-i-w, my '96,'98 & '99 are all like that.

“Defiantly maintained & driven in London” love it - how you coping with ULEZ?

 

[Unclewolverine]

Must be the 96 and up set up. Wonder why they changed, the spring tensioner in mine works perfectly without the risk of overtorqueing the belt.

 

[fenns7]

fenns7, did the inline filter package or manual state the filter mesh value? Would be interesting to compare to the size of the cooling channels in a radiator.

Nope - just basic fitting instructions.


Altho' a paper filter medium would of course pick up much smaller particles than the metal filter used in this Champion model it does allow 'real time' inspection and should catch the bigger rust chunks that cause the main problems for water pumps and heater cores.
As I'd given my coolant system a serious clean a couple of years ago it'll be interesting to see what this filter collects over next few weeks. I'll be doing another flush with a specialist anti rust flush this spring and will watch that in action thru' the glass. Will post some pics if I remember.


Just noticed I posted thumb sized pics so here's a larger version:

 

[fenns7]

Fenns7, that is very nice set up, what year is yours though? My alternator bracket looks nothing like my 95. My alternator is just above where they are on lhd but then it still has the big 4 bolt pedestal that looks like the ac compressor would mount there but that's where my spring tensioner sits. As far as I'm aware it's the factory set up.

Actually that makes sense Uncle - I'd fogotten we European RHD XJs had a different configuration for your (presume) RHD postal Jeeps.


Mine is the 'special' 1996 model - unique electrics and fuel module :spin1:

 

[fenns7]

f-w-i-w, my '96,'98 & '99 are all like that.

“Defiantly maintained & driven in London” love it - how you coping with ULEZ?

Wait long enough and EV Nazis :lecture: will eventually capture South Devon too. Watch out!
Can't say much online but I have discovered that I seem to have a stealth XJ so only seem to get nabbed 1 in 10 trips - rather mysterious but certainly not grumbling - saves a fortune irate1:



Didnt realise you had x3 XJs - rather jealous but guess they're all in clotted cream country?

 

[fenns7]

Must be the 96 and up set up. Wonder why they changed, the spring tensioner in mine works perfectly without the risk of overtorqueing the belt.

From what I've seen of belt tightening on YouTubey vids the US version is more fiddly - even I can adjust the belt tension easily on my '96. Since I got one of those Kricket (?) tension measuring tools I've discovered I was about 20lbs light - these belts do need to be really tiiiight :laugh:

 

[fenns7]

Sorry you had to explain it all again, it all seemed perfectly clear to me, perhaps it's the lateral thinking that confused folk, but I didn't even know there was such a thing as a coolant filter, which is why I kept out of it - 'til curiosity got the better of me.

If the problem is scale, then vinegar should do the trick, so suggest when the weather improves disconnect & by-pass heater. Fill it with vinegar (or, at least, a very strong solution) cap it off, leave it for a week, drain it & see what comes out; then you'll know if it's working & whether you need to do the same for longer &/or something stronger (like ally wheels cleaner or rust treatment, i.e. phosphoric acid).

Only when the liquid comes out milky or with bits in it, do you drain & flush a couple of times before re-connecting it.

This is the stuff I used after bit of research (and tapping up my local mechanic for his tips):





I don't know if you chaps in US can get this but it certainly helped properly flush my system after the poor old '96 had suffered years of neglect.
Interestingly, whilst I ran it during a 300 mile trip the coolant temperature ran approx. 10% less than without.

 

[Ralph77]

This is the stuff I used after bit of research (and tapping up my local mechanic for his tips):





I don't know if you chaps in US can get this but it certainly helped properly flush my system after the poor old '96 had suffered years of neglect.
Interestingly, whilst I ran it during a 300 mile trip the coolant temperature ran approx. 10% less than without.

We can.
If that stuff works as good as the EvapoRust does on rust then it should be really good.

 

[Unclewolverine]

My rhd is actually a re import from japan. Had a couple add ons like a seat belt sensor and cat temp sensor that I assume we're necessary for japanese registration.

Brings to mind though, every rhd I've seen has all the options; were all the over seas units fully loaded?

 

[maxbraketorque]

Nope - just basic fitting instructions.


Altho' a paper filter medium would of course pick up much smaller particles than the metal filter used in this Champion model it does allow 'real time' inspection and should catch the bigger rust chunks that cause the main problems for water pumps and heater cores.

As I'd given my coolant system a serious clean a couple of years ago it'll be interesting to see what this filter collects over next few weeks. I'll be doing another flush with a specialist anti rust flush this spring and will watch that in action thru' the glass. Will post some pics if I remember.

The mesh looks to be an appropriate size.

 

[uglyrenixxj]

I realize its a bit late, but ive been running a "tefba" coolant filter for about 15 years w zero issues

Ebay has them for about 60 bux U.S..

 

[XJI6191]

Wait long enough and EV Nazis :lecture: will eventually capture South Devon too. Watch out!
Can't say much online but I have discovered that I seem to have a stealth XJ so only seem to get nabbed 1 in 10 trips - rather mysterious but certainly not grumbling - saves a fortune irate1:

Do you know, I can't recall seeing a single public EV charging point (that'll make the "green grockles" happy come the holiday season ) zoh, I reckon I'm safe for while.

After some research I bought a KJ which was compliant in December & a month later, on its 1st visit to London the PO got a ticket. So our ever wonderful TfL have moved the goalposts. Count yourself lucky, long may your luck hold out.


Didnt realise you had x3 XJs - rather jealous but guess they're all in clotted cream country?

Yes they're all down there but only the '98's a runner, the '99 Orvis has been awaiting a trans. rebuild/swap for 4(?) years & the '96 is reduced to spares status - so, if you're ever stuck for those peculiarly '96 bits . . .
Looking for a 2001 now because last I checked the website they were ULEZ compliant - no of course it doesn't make any sense!

 

[XJI6191]

My rhd is actually a re import from japan. Had a couple add ons like a seat belt sensor and cat temp sensor that I assume we're necessary for japanese registration.

Brings to mind though, every rhd I've seen has all the options; were all the over seas units fully loaded?

Yup, exhaust temp. seems to be a peculiarly Jap. obsession but what do the seat belt sensors do, apart from trigger the dash warning light?

There were no base Euro. models, (afaIk) lowest spec. was Sport but never had one so, apart from foglights, don't know what they don't have. Certainly all Limiteds seem to have alloy wheels, A/C, trans. & PAS cooler, power seats, OHC, door pockets, headrests (3 in the back), premium sound system, including amp & tweeters - &, of course (from '97) the oh, so rare 4-switch panel (sorry, bezel).
All of this is partly because of mandatory minimum equipment, e.g, all models have halogen headlights, ABS & rear seatbelts & partly because of the target market, e.g. can't ever recall seeing one without a tow hitch (but not the US market package) & all 4.0's are auto. + NP242. That list's not definitive/exhaustive but only as good as my memory/powers of observation - any specific queries, try me.