Leaky Radiator

Aug 01, 2003 2 Replies

I noticed today that the radiator on my '95 XJ was leaking... A pretty stead dribble coming out of there... It was replaced a couple of years ago at the dealership... What should be the life expectancy of a radiator on an XJ? Are they a pain in the butt to replace? Are there aftermarket ones available that would cool better?


I currently have the original radiator in my 94 YJ with 189600 miles. I am also currently looking to replace my radiator with the biggest that will fit. However I don't know which brand rad to get myself. I will also be changing the thermostat and housing, water pump, hoses if needed. Temp sensors and anything related to make it bullet proof.

The fins are starting to fall out but it's still holding coolant pretty well. This is a secondary vehicle for me so I am in the researching mode.

I live in Houston and although it might not be quite as hot as Phoenix, it is hot enough... I've seen my temperatures rise way to high while pulling a boat up to Austin on a hot summer day... I decided to go with one of the 3 row radiators made by GDI from

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The leak appeared to be originating from the lower left corner of the radiator, perhaps an inch up from the bottom... Somewhere hidden by the fins... I needed the vehicle today, so I contacted

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and they had a 3-row radiator delivered to a shop that was just a mile or so from my house... I put my bicycle in the back of my Jeep, dropped the Jeep off at the shop, biked home, and they called me later and I biked back and picked up my Jeep... Considering the fact that the previous radiator had only lasted me two years, the fact that this radiator had a lifetime warranty on parts and labor was enough to make me want to get it installed by them instead of trying to do it myself... I've never installed a radiator and I needed to pick someone up at the airport this evening, so it *had* to be completed today...

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