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[DICK BOOTH]

Hi all, after nearly 2 months faffing around trying to resolve the overheating problem with my 2.5td vm in my xj, we suspect that the cylinder liner has corroded and has a pin hole in it. As the engine gets up to running temperature the cooling system pressurises and spits the coolant out of the expansion tank cap. After replacing almost everything throughout the cooling system and applying steel seal with crossed fingers it's looking like a new engine is on the cards!! It's either that or new liner, piston and rings plus gasket set. This works out to be pretty expensive.

Finding a VM at a reasonable price seems impossible as my jeep is an anniversary model therefore fly-by-wire throttle, any other engine and i'll need the ECU etc. Buying a VM engine seems a lot of cash to invest in a potential liability but my options are running out.

Does anyone know if any other diesel engine drops strait in compatible with the transfer box etc. All the XJ's being broken are due to overheating! Wondering if a CRD would drop in or a Ford lump, maybe something jap. May be able to find something if my options are a little wider

Thanks guys!

[Mike Pavelin]

Break it up and sell the parts then buy something else with the money.

[DICK BOOTH]

I see your logic but i'd have to buy a petrol model then to avoid the potential of buying into more of the same. Cant afford to insure or run a petrol as i'm only 24. The VM runs on cooking oil too, well when they run that is.. Don't really have the space to keep all the bits either.

[Panic mechanic!]

Your going down a long and winding path to empty pockets if you keep with the vm, sorry to say it buddy if you can't afford a 4.0 then get the 2.5 petrol but just don't expect to rush anywhere.

[jay140285]

Your going down a long and winding path to empty pockets if you keep with the vm, sorry to say it buddy if you can't afford a 4.0 then get the 2.5 petrol but just don't expect to rush anywhere.

How come they are so expensive to insure for you? I am only 26 now and had my 4.7V8 when I was 25 and its wasnt that bad to insure.

Had all sorts of cars since I was 17 and insured them ok, just took some searching for the best deals.

[Tank]

Insurance seems to have rocketed for some people,im 47 this year and even my insurance has shot up and im paying more now than i did 10 years ago in some cases,which is ridiculous as i have 4 lots of full NCD

[Panic mechanic!]

I know someone who was quoted £3200 on a wj 

[Dutch]

im 47 this year and even my insurance has shot up and im paying more now than i did 10 years ago

Tank, they're on to you ..... some people never grow up 

[bigjeepzj]

I know someone who was quoted £3200 on a wj 

Got quoted £9K for my ZJ   

called Flux and got a sensible quote

[Dave69]

new engine or at least a second hand one. have you tried the VM specialist in sheffield as they might be able to help you out. They sell all the parts you need and not at stealership prices.

Do you know what liner has failed ?

If you can service and repair engines yourself then changing a liner wont be a problem.

Heads off
sump off
big end caps off
push pistons out
pull out liners
refit new liner seal and spacers
reinstall engine parts
refit new big end bolts (must)

[Tank]

Dave,you make it sound oh so easy...

[Dave69]

it is when you've stripped a jeep vm lump the number of times ive done it.

yes i have a liner puller as well   


Mr Booth before you lift a spanner give is serious thought in getting a petrol. a cherokee and lpg for less than 1k. repairing the diesel will set you back at a guess £500+ then it's the trust in future reliability.

fitting another diesel lump especially one that has electronics will be a world of hate with matching the engine sensors to the jeep ecu. you could fit an older diesel but then it will be bespoke gearbox adaptor and engine mounts to start with

[Bishops Finger]

Burn it...drown it  etc etc..

[Dave69]

this is from a man who loves LPG

[Panic mechanic!]

bu he does know how to polish a spanner dave

[DICK BOOTH]

Thanks for the come backs, on hindsight maybe a petrol would have been the better option but i'm pretty much committed now i've started and don't think i have a chance of getting my money back. I'll be happy if i can sort it. We know it's cylinder 4 so having the head tested again at a higher temp as the problem occurs at running temp and they tested it at 60 degrees c before. I have my doubts though, i think the likelihood is that it's the liner as cylinder 4 sits at the back and would be that last pot to have a water starvation therefore overheat and crack. My dads a HGV mechanic so knows the procedure although he's new to jeep. If the heads fine i'll contact the specialist reg the liner, see if they offer a guarantee if they fit it. Wishful thinking!   

[JamesH]

It's 4 separate heads on the later model engines like yours I think. Almost 100% certain from the number of reported failures on various Jeep clubs and forums that the problem will be porous or cracked head(s). There's a VM diesel specialist who is recommended for supply of all parts and advice.

[The Smiths]

blocks are pretty robust.

there are 4 heads - normally 1 & 2 go porous/crack first - as thats where any trapped air sits and leads to overheating

pull the water jacket that goes between the heads and run it and see where the bubbles (if any) are coming from - if bubbles that the buggered head - if none then problem elsewhere

[Bubba]

  i do not ever remember a reported liner issue please please go not throw cash away un till you are sure it really pains me to see good cash going after bad

[Dave69]

We know it's cylinder 4 so having the head tested again at a higher temp as the problem occurs at running temp and they tested it at 60 degrees c before.

pressure testing the head is not temperature dependant. if it's porus then it will be obvious.

remove the cast water gallery that is on the left hand side of the heads then run the engine. bubbles will appear next to the offending head.

the liners are strong and i havent heard of any failures as you describe. what they do have is a rubber sealing ring which could have perished.

your only committed financially but it all depends on how much you want to sink into it.

i bought my diesel thinking it was as reliable as any other diesel on the market and discovered it wasn't. I had the same determination as you into making it reliable due to the amount of money i had put into it. It was a hard descision to make but i sold it on and bought a petrol. The cost of the modifications to my jeep and the purchase price are still less than the amount i spent to keeping the diesel jeep on the road for the time i owned it.

I'm not saying abandon your plans but give it some serious thought first.

What i had to do during the two years of diesel jeep ownership:
No.3 head went porus
No.4 head went porus
Turbo failed
No.1 injector failed
No.1 head failed and discovered hydraulic lifters needed replacing.
So overhauled the engine (new rings, rehoned bores, relapped valves, new liner seals, new water pump, starter motor etc)
con rod then failed
The majority of these repairs required the head gasket to be replaced (single gasket rather than seperates) each time so you can get an idea of the costs involved

I'm not saying abandon your plans but give it some serious thought first, but there again some people are lucky and have reliable engines

[JamesH]

I have seen facelift XJ diesels with 150k miles on them and more but it's not the norm.

[WillCJ]

Thanks for the come backs, on hindsight maybe a petrol would have been the better option but i'm pretty much committed now i've started and don't think i have a chance of getting my money back. I'll be happy if i can sort it. We know it's cylinder 4 so having the head tested again at a higher temp as the problem occurs at running temp and they tested it at 60 degrees c before. I have my doubts though, i think the likelihood is that it's the liner as cylinder 4 sits at the back and would be that last pot to have a water starvation therefore overheat and crack. My dads a HGV mechanic so knows the procedure although he's new to jeep. If the heads fine i'll contact the specialist reg the liner, see if they offer a guarantee if they fit it. Wishful thinking!   

May not be any help whatsoever, but I have worked on Perkins  6 pot diesels, and it was always the back piston sleeve that cracked, furthest away from the coolant circulation.
PS, had the XJ VM, brilliant motor when OK , but got rid before to many problems (after no 1 injector@ £360,viscous fan £100 plus....) 

[Panic mechanic!]

diesel xj's are the only cars I know that when they get clocked they put the mileage up!

[DICK BOOTH]

Removed the water line to fine it was pot number 4. Unusual i know. I'd already had the heads skimmed and tested however they re-tested them free of charge to a higher pressure to find a crack in head 4! They also supplied me a gasket and so far i've done a few runs out. Fingers crossed it's sorted. The rocker cover developed an oil leak so my old man replaced that however he left the plug out on top of the head, the one that regulates the air. I drove it round the lump to find it lagging, thought the chuffin turbo had gone, i were fuming, nearly drove it into the hedge bottom and abandoned it! Quite funny now i suppose. Fingers crossed i can start enjoying my jeep now!

[Dave69]

when they work the diesel is a good engine but it needs to be looked after to keep reliability. monitor the coolant and keep it at 50/50 mix. might be worth adding another temp guage to give a good coolant measurement. top hose connection into the rad is the perfect place.