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[Brynjaminjones]

Just a quick tech question - I just noticed that the coolant in the XJ had gone from the "Full" mark to the "Add" mark on the expansion bottle. I've never noticed it loose coolant before, but I've not really checked it (oops) for a month or so.
Nothing suspicious under the oil or radiator caps, and dipstick looks clean too. Exhaust has no signs of coolant in it either.

It did get very hot (about 105C) a while back after some unusual and stressful driving, so could it have spat some out then (it was night time so I wouldn't have seen steam!)??

I just want to make sure that if something is wrong I catch it early, so what else should I check/keep my eye on??

[bigjeepzj]

top it up and check it in a day or week
see if it happens again.
u will lose some coolant over time that's normal
if it is over a week or so you could have a small  leek in the rad that only opens when engine gets hot

[bgbazz]

 ...just keep a close eye on it for a while.

[daggie]

check the core plugs 

[Dave69]

just keep topping it up and check the oil filler cap for mayo. if not then dont worry too much. Always kept topping up on the xj i had. No engine issues either

[Jonny Jeep]

If there's no obvious leak it could be from the overflow bottle due to a weak rad cap. Worth replacing it for the cost.

[big g]

If the spring clips are original have a good scout when she's hot.

Without wanting to sound like a cunt what did you touch when you swapped the manifold?

[Bubba]

tranny fluid ok ?

[gazjeep]

Top it up, check regularly, take a look at the bottom of the waterpump from underneath, had them slowly loose fluid from there 

[Brynjaminjones]

Cheers chaps, I'll inspect further next time I use it, and keep my eye on it.

Big G, as far as I'm aware I didn't touch anything that I shouldn't have when doing the manifold, but I'll check everything in that area too.

Bubba, I haven't checked the tranny fluid in a while, but it does need replacing. Why do you ask?

[Bubba]

you got ya self a tranny cooler in the bottom of the rad it can happen that this can pin hole and the rad pressurises coolant in to the tranny 
its not a common thing but can happen fluid would be obviously overfull and milky gear changes get a bit funny too but it can kill a tranny if not spotted soon enough

[Brynjaminjones]

Hmmm, the transmission has been starting to slip lately - seems more likely that the fluid is just old, but the time frame would be right.
Cheers for that, I'll check tomorrow!

[bigjeepzj]

you got ya self a tranny cooler in the bottom of the rad it can happen that this can pin hole and the rad pressurises coolant in to the tranny 
its not a common thing but can happen fluid would be obviously overfull and milky gear changes get a bit funny too but it can kill a tranny if not spotted soon enough

top tip 

[Hillbilly]

Hi Bryn. I have had the same problem with an XJ, ZJ and a WJ. All 4.0 ltr. After discovering the problem with the XJ it was easy to trace the problem with the others. I had parked up on quite a cold morning doing some paperwork in the Jeep and thought I noticed a wisp of steam coming from under the hood. It was only momentary and I forgot about it. Happened again so I looked closer and saw a very small leak in the top left corner of the rad as you look at it from the front. It was only slight and had it not been a cold day I may not have seen it. Exactly the same leak occurred on the other two in the same place on the rad. Tried Rad Weld but it only helped for a while so each Jeep ended up with a new rad.

[Hillbilly]

Hi Bryn. I have had the same problem with an XJ, ZJ and a WJ. All 4.0 ltr. After discovering the problem with the XJ it was easy to trace the problem with the others. I had parked up on quite a cold morning doing some paperwork in the Jeep and thought I noticed a wisp of steam coming from under the hood. It was only momentary and I forgot about it. Happened again so I looked closer and saw a very small leak in the top left corner of the rad as you look at it from the front. It was only slight and had it not been a cold day I may not have seen it. Exactly the same leak occurred on the other two in the same place on the rad. Tried Rad Weld but it only helped for a while so each Jeep ended up with a new rad.

Had the same problem as Gaz as well with the waterpump although that was more obvious with coolant on the road.