2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

[ricmorin]

Hello ForumFolk,

We have this vehicle in from another shop. It overheated from a loss of coolant. The other shop thought it was a bad intake gasket so they pulled the intake. Once apart, they found the real cause. There is a hole about 8-10 mm in size in the RH head. It appears to be close to the sealing end and towards the rear. It's obviously a coolant port and I can see the headgasket with a restrictor port through the hole. I've checked TSB's, recalls and pattern failures to no avail. At first blush it appears to be a casting issue. Has anyone seen anything like this before?

[Tim Martin]

Do you have any way of posting a picture of it? Initially I am of the opinion it may be a casting issue as I have seen a few casting problems through the years.

[brianp87]

Never seen this issue but inclined to agree with you from past experience.

[ricmorin]

Hole in the Head

DSC_0062.JPG (1.89 MiB) Viewed 21643 times

Sorry it's a big picture. Took it with my Nikon D3200. Use the scroll bars and you'll get a REAL good view.

[Tim Martin]

After seeing the picture I am all the more of the opinion that it is a casting defect.

[ricmorin]

That was my first thought, but I don't want to overlook something that may cause a repeat failure.

Now the next question. Anyone have a good source for reman heads? Dealer has none in this area and I am skeptical on used in this application. Rather get a good reman.

[brianp87]

Ive had good luck with napa

[ricmorin]

Ive had good luck with napa

I'll give them a call. Thanks.

[brianp87]

I like to stick with my main vendors if for nothing more the (hopefully not needed) option of parts and labor being covered under warranty.

[ricmorin]

True that!

I've posted more pics at my Motorcar facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 393&type=1

[ricmorin]

Update: We have the head off. Looks like corrosion was the cause. Several other ports had the beginnings of erosion. We also noted the wrong coolant installed (green, takes long life). We had done a coolant flush for poor ph 2 1/2 years ago. Now it has green coolant in it. Not from us. oops. You can also see weird calcification around the affected ports. Looks like this one was preventable.

We had done a few oil changes on this since, but this customer lives out of town so we only see her for major work. The coolant bottle is heavily discolored so it was not easy to tell the wrong coolant was in there, nor do we know for how long.

I'll load the new pics to our facebook site.

[brianp87]

wow crazy. Was the ph way off on this coolant? How are you checking ph on non green coolants. (I want to know how.)

[ricmorin]

Yes, ph was off. We use the strips that are designed for both regular and long life coolant. The strips have 3 pads on them.

[brianp87]

Ive got them but they say not for red or orange coolant. Was looking for a way to check those types.

[ricmorin]

Interesting. Mine make no mention of any exclusions. It simply says Long Life Coolants.

[brianp87]

hmm I now see you said three pads mine only have 2? What brand are your test strips?

[ricmorin]

Acustrip.

[brianp87]

hmm thanks ill have to get wiht my supplier bg gives me these ill ask for those.

[asample]

I get all of my reman heads from Clearwater Cylinder Heads in Clearwater, Florida. Had excellent luck with them. Takes about 3-5 days depending where you are. They charge shipping one way and supply call tag for core return. Less money than any I can get locally.

5100 ULMERTON RD SUITE 2
Clearwater, FL 33760
800-572-1963