What the hell FlowKooler?!?!?!

[Mudderoy]

I've been noticing a few drips of coolant in the middle front of the engine bay for some time now. Yesterday I went to the Jeep after work and either someone scared my Jeep pretty bad, or there was a leaky water pump!

I really didn't want to go to the trouble of replacing my $100+ FlowKooler water pump with a O'reily's special. I've already been through 3 or 4 of them! Letting the Jeep sit for a few days while I wanted for the FlowKooler replacement to arrive wasn't an option (or not one I liked) so I stopped and got a stock-ish replacement.

Last night I replaced the water pump. This is what I found when I removed the FlowKooler...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wKIDU1XMoNE/TzPoxef0zZI/AAAAAAAABuU/HzFhRg28dnc/s912/20120208_222438.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pjBICWL82Os/TzPo4wJXspI/AAAAAAAABuc/ckrFliWejes/s912/20120208_222405.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2NuqGRabmEo/TzPpCttG1GI/AAAAAAAABuk/SjqvGLSW1ow/s912/20120208_222414.jpg

Coincidentally, I have a P0301 CEL, which is Cylinder #1 mis-fire. Hmmmm.

[4.3LXJ]

So, it looks like the impeller was rubbing on the cylinder wall? You think it compromised it?

[Mudderoy]

So, it looks like the impeller was rubbing on the cylinder wall? You think it compromised it?

Well I don't think it rubbed through but I was wondering about the additional heat being generated on that side of the cylinder wall. I mean it was under water and I think the cylinders are pretty thick.

[4.3LXJ]

That is what I think. A hot spot down that far should not give you a misfire. And I don't think any real damage was done

[LizardRunner]

I would see if there is a way to space that new impeller a little further out from the cylinder wall though. I don't see it as a real problem except that a rubbing impeller will fail way before its time.

[Mudderoy]

From: Tony Muckleroy <[email protected]>
Subject: Is this normal wear?

Message Body:
I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0L engine. My FlowKooler water pump started leaking pretty bad so I replaced it last night. I was surprised as to what I found and I'd like to know what may have caused the scoring on my #1 cylinder exterior wall. You can see the pictures in this post...

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?p=106944


Their reply...


From: [email protected]
I looks at your post titled, What the hell FlowKooler?!?!?!

We recommend the use of 1/16" gaskets to assure clearance of impeller. It is mentioned a couple of times in the literature.

Interesting, I can't find anything that says use a 1/16" gasket. http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Installation/19156.pdf

[LizardRunner]

I like that part about "turn the pump by hand to assure clearance" And your right, I don't see anything about a 1/16" gasket either. BTW what thickness gasket did you use?

http://www.flowkooler.com/info/common_waterpump_failures.html WOW! check this chart out tony, doesn't mentinon wrong gasket but does mention no gasket.

Ah Ha! found the only mention of the gasket thickness http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Water-Pumps-Jeep-CID:-242/4.0L/c21_34_161/p121/Pump:-1747%3Cbr%3EJeep%3Cbr%3E(1987-2001)/product_info.html

Think if I go with a flowkooler I'll find a 1/8" gasket or make one to install.

[Mudderoy]

I like that part about "turn the pump by hand to assure clearance" And your right, I don't see anything about a 1/16" gasket either. BTW what thickness gasket did you use?

http://www.flowkooler.com/info/common_waterpump_failures.html WOW! check this chart out tony, doesn't mentinon wrong gasket but does mention no gasket.

Ah Ha! found the only mention of the gasket thickness http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/store/Water-Pumps-Jeep-CID:-242/4.0L/c21_34_161/p121/Pump:-1747%3Cbr%3EJeep%3Cbr%3E(1987-2001)/product_info.html

Think if I go with a flowkooler I'll find a 1/8" gasket or make one to install.

Well I installed the water pump back in June of 2009, so I can't say I used anything, hell I don't even remember installing the water pump! But if it came with gasket(s) I used one. I mean you can even see where there was some left over gasket in the pictures. I did clean the rest of that off before installing the pump last night.

[xj4life2]

That is what I think. A hot spot down that far should not give you a misfire. And I don't think any real damage was done

I have to agree with Steve, I don't see anything that would worry me, Had one of my mech. look a the pics and he agrees also. As for the missfire I think it could be caused by the heat that would build up in the cyl. wall but we will soon see.

[Mudderoy]

I have to agree with Steve, I don't see anything that would worry me, Had one of my mech. look a the pics and he agrees also. As for the missfire I think it could be caused by the heat that would build up in the cyl. wall but we will soon see.

I was thinking "hoping" that heat build up was the cause as well. I get a knock when it's acting up. The knock goes away when I hit 1k rpm and something it's not there at all, I mean when the miss goes away. Sometimes it goes away for days. The knock may be pre-ignition, and since it isn't very loud I was thinking (after seeing what you see in the pictures) that perhaps the pre-ignition was only occurring in the #1 cylinder. I'm just hoping there wasn't long term damage.

I'm hopeful, depending on Matt's availability, to have a rebuilt motor to swap in very soon though. Still it would be nice not to have the miss until then.

P.S. Oh and many thanks for showing this to your tech!

[Mudderoy]

So not sure if I updated this thread or not but after contacting Quadratec and them contacting FlowKooler I got the go ahead for a return and free replacement.

I've been dragging my feet, but tonight I got the old over flow tube off of it and I noticed this...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yUWlblsiw9E/T4OeK9drpmI/AAAAAAAAB_A/jMCQoSzqkWE/s800/20120409_211421.jpg

So, yeah, I'd say it was leaking from the weep hole.

[Mudderoy]

Today is about 2.5 weeks since I sent the FlowKooler water pump back. I'm getting pretty close to the 4.1 engine install so I'd like to have the new pump for it.

I called. I spoke with "Lee" (I think that was his name). Very helpful and informative. I got the distinct feeling that he was concerned as to why I was returning this water pump. After a little bit I made my position clear.

I've never taken a water pump back for return. Call me stupid, but even the five water pumps I bought from O'Reily's and put in my 1998 (remember I bought this Jeep new) I've never exchanged them.

I told Lee that I liked the idea of having a high flow water pump for my new engine but I didn't want to pay the $110 (which I think the price has actually gone down now) to buy a new one. I told him someone (one of you guys actually) told me that the FlowKooler had a lifetime warranty. I checked and sure enough it did, so I contacted Quadratec about the return and they said...


Dear Customer,

Thank you Tony - Per Flowkooler, you can return this to them and they will issue the exchange. Please include a copy of your receipt, along with a phone # that they can reach you at and mail to the address below.

FLOWKOOLER
500 LINNE RD UNIT I
PASO ROBLES, CA 93446
ATTN: HOLEN

Thank you -

So anyway I was told that there had been so many returns that were of dubious nature that they lifetime warranty had been changed to double the industry standard of two years.

I told the FlowKooler guy that if they didn't want to send me a replacement, fine, I'll just put my O'reily in there. I even offered to pay them shipping and $50 for a replacement. I'm not trying to get over on anyone I'm just trying to get a replacement if I am due one. They have the old pump then can check and and see it has a problem. I mean I guess they can, can't they?

Anyway he told me know that they would stand behind their product and warranty, exactly what I would expect a good company to do.

I don't want to give you the idea that FlowKooler wasn't friendly or didn't give me good customer service but at the same time I don't want to paint it as an easy to get done thing either.

My feeling is that they've been sitting on this return and it wasn't until I called before it got moving again.

Shipping is $17 which I just paid for. A water pump from O'reilys is about $40. I will say this. The FlowKooler lasted about the longest of all the prior pumps!

Bottom line is I'm glad FlowKooler and I were able to work something out as I really wanted it on the new motor. Unfortunately they are out of water pumps right now, so it may be a week or 10 days before they have more.

Currently Matt and I are shooting for the 12th to do the install, so that will be close.

One thing I know Matt and I are going to do is check the clearance between the back of the pump and the #1 cylinder. With the engine block bored .060 over I don't want the cylinder being made thin from the outside in...

[Mudderoy]

I called Brassworks (FlowKooler) yesterday and they said they would ship out the replacement waterpump that day. So now we wait. :indifferent0020:

[Mudderoy]

The warranty replacement pump has arrived! Thanks FlowKooler!

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ONE! One gasket, but it seems kind of thick. Matt and I will be making triple sure this doesn't touch the number one cylinder wall on the new 4.0. :sniper:

[Carves]

The warranty replacement pump has arrived! Thanks FlowKooler!



awwww ... you forgot a pic of the important bit .. :( .... the impellor .. :poke:


:D
.

[Mudderoy]

awwww ... you forgot a pic of the important bit .. :( .... the impellor .. :poke:


:D
.

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