Odd Heating Issue with my 99 JGCL

[Wulfenite29]

About 3 weeks ago my Jeep was telling me that I had low coolant - I checked the resevoir and it was well below the fill unit. I then got some coolant and filled the resevoir. A few days later - it said low coolant again - I checked and sure enough I was low again. Someone suggested that I might have a slow leak and for me to go get some aluminum filings goop stuff. I read the directions and followed them (for the most part) I put some in the --I don't know what you call it, the place where it says to not open if hot! LOL and then I put some in the resevoir. Shortly afterward I noticed I was able to maintain by engine coolant level - BUT.......now I only get a good strong heat when I am accelerating or putting on the gas. If I am at idle or at a red light it will go luke warm to almost cool. People have said check your thermostat - but is it coincidental the I put this goop in, then the trouble started? What do you suggest - full coolant flush or try to replace the T-stat?????????? Thanks to anyone who can help!

[Myrtle Beach]

I would do a completye cooling sytme flush and then change the thermostat and then refill with new coolant (use the green stuff-----stay away from dex-cool-red stuff) You then need to locate the leak, if you even have one, and fix it the proper way. Don't use anymore of that fix a leak stuff. You said you added coolant to the resivoir and then it needed more. If the cooling sytem was low it would suck it out of your resivoir. You also might have dilutetd coolant which doesn't provde you with good heat

[dksob81]

Your Heater core is clogged - Do ou notice a rushing water sound when you rev the engine?

BarsLeak, Alumiseal, etc. Claim they don't clog the cooling system but this is all bunch of crap, if you have a partially clogged system this stuff does nothing but build it up faster. Flush the entire cooling system, I posted about a month or so ago about my heater core and there are some good tips I came up with when flushing it yourself.

here is what I did.......

first drained the entire cooling system Radiator, Heater Core, Engine block. then ran water through the radiator and let it drain out of the drain until it ran clear, then put the plug back in and ran water again to clean out the engine block (until it ran clear).Then took a Washing Machine hose (the hose you hook up the water connection with, Hot/Cold) cut about 8" off one end, screw it onto your garden hose, then place it into the inlet hose of the heater core, take the other half of the hose and place into the return hose of the heater core - lay it over the side of the jeep and run the water to flush out all the gunk (until it runs clear), then reverse the connections garnden hose half goes into the return hose, and the other half goes into the inlet hose of the heater core - the run the water, this is known as a reverse flush, until it runs clear. then hook the hoses up how they are suppose to be hook up to the engine. and get some PRESTONE SUPER RADIATOR FLUSH and dump it into the radiator and then fill the radiator/reservoir with water, let run for 15 - 20 minutes at high idle. NOTE: Watch temp, if temp starts to climb very fast/very high then check water level in the radiator. Then after 15-20 run at high idle. drain the Rad, Engine Block, Reservoir, Heater Core, adn flush like described above (You may want to allow each component to flush a lil longer after water run clear to be sure all the chemical flush is out of the system.....

[Wulfenite29]

Well- It ended up having to be an issue with my waterpump and clogged thermostat. The aluminum chips clogged my thermostat and it wouldn't open and close properly. The weep hole on my Waterpump was crying anti-freeze. I replaced the waterpump and the thermostat. Voila! Nice haet and no leaks!! THanks to all!!