2.4 Blown Head Gasket

[Abazo12]

Hey all, I've got a 2006, SE, 6-speed manual with 70,000 miles. I had a small radiator leak that I finally got around to fixing back in August. It took me a while to make the repair because I was searching for an OEM radiator. I eventually gave in and bought one from NAPA. Long story short, the petcock valve failed and my wife drove home from work with no coolant and the jeep stalled at the end of our driveway. When I got there, there was oil everywhere (it is covering every inch of the under-carriage). Upon closer inspection, I found the failed petcock, practically zero coolant, and the engine took 3 quarts to get back up on the dipstick. After making sure the engine was not seized, I topped off the oil, and after cranking for about 30 seconds, it fired right up and sounds fine. After some convincing, I got NAPA to honor their warranty and get me a replacement radiator (somehow I didn't lose my S**T, but I live in a small town so I was cordial). *If this engine pulls through I will get a better radiator* After topping off the coolant I did a combustion gas test on the radiator and confirmed the presence of combustion gasses. We live in a small mountain town 2 hours away from anything, so this Jeep does not go far from home. It's my wife's daily driver, but her commute is about 8 miles roundtrip. Otherwise we pop into the mountains with it or take it around town. The jeep is in great shape otherwise and I would like to keep it going, so I am considering my options. In either case, I would do all of the work myself. Option 1-Replace the head gasket and inspect the head and have it replaced or resurfaced as necessary, I would also doing the timing belt at the same time. Option 2-find a decent used TDI engine and necessary components and do a diesel swap.
I would be perfectly happy just doing the head gasket if I thought that would get me back on the road, but I'm concerned that their could be other issues. Where did all of the oil come out of (hard to tell as everything got soaked). What kind of shape are the piston rings and bearings in now? Could the rear main seal be blown? It has held 5.5 quarts just fine over the last week and has ran about 30 mins and got up to operating temp multiple times.
As for the diesel conversion, it would be the more expensive option and I never really had a problem with the 4cyl power, it's got 30" 10ply tires and gets around just fine. I wouldn't mind lifting it in the future and bumping up the tire size a bit, but its got a Dana 35 in the rear and I wouldn't want to push it. Having said that, I would actually feel good about the scenario if I made it to the other side of all of this with a diesel swapped TJ (assuming it was reliable)
Any recommendations or thoughts on my predicament (other than parking it through the plate glass window at NAPA)
Thank you

 

[Chris]

Hey all, I've got a 2006, SE, 6-speed manual with 70,000 miles. I had a small radiator leak that I finally got around to fixing back in August. It took me a while to make the repair because I was searching for an OEM radiator. I eventually gave in and bought one from NAPA. Long story short, the petcock valve failed and my wife drove home from work with no coolant and the jeep stalled at the end of our driveway. When I got there, there was oil everywhere (it is covering every inch of the under-carriage). Upon closer inspection, I found the failed petcock, practically zero coolant, and the engine took 3 quarts to get back up on the dipstick. After making sure the engine was not seized, I topped off the oil, and after cranking for about 30 seconds, it fired right up and sounds fine. After some convincing, I got NAPA to honor their warranty and get me a replacement radiator (somehow I didn't lose my S**T, but I live in a small town so I was cordial). *If this engine pulls through I will get a better radiator* After topping off the coolant I did a combustion gas test on the radiator and confirmed the presence of combustion gasses. We live in a small mountain town 2 hours away from anything, so this Jeep does not go far from home. It's my wife's daily driver, but her commute is about 8 miles roundtrip. Otherwise we pop into the mountains with it or take it around town. The jeep is in great shape otherwise and I would like to keep it going, so I am considering my options. In either case, I would do all of the work myself. Option 1-Replace the head gasket and inspect the head and have it replaced or resurfaced as necessary, I would also doing the timing belt at the same time. Option 2-find a decent used TDI engine and necessary components and do a diesel swap.
I would be perfectly happy just doing the head gasket if I thought that would get me back on the road, but I'm concerned that their could be other issues. Where did all of the oil come out of (hard to tell as everything got soaked). What kind of shape are the piston rings and bearings in now? Could the rear main seal be blown? It has held 5.5 quarts just fine over the last week and has ran about 30 mins and got up to operating temp multiple times.
As for the diesel conversion, it would be the more expensive option and I never really had a problem with the 4cyl power, it's got 30" 10ply tires and gets around just fine. I wouldn't mind lifting it in the future and bumping up the tire size a bit, but its got a Dana 35 in the rear and I wouldn't want to push it. Having said that, I would actually feel good about the scenario if I made it to the other side of all of this with a diesel swapped TJ (assuming it was reliable)
Any recommendations or thoughts on my predicament (other than parking it through the plate glass window at NAPA)
Thank you

You’ve got a couple of solid options on the table, and it really comes down to what you’re comfortable with.

Option 1: Replace the Head Gasket
This is definitely a feasible option, especially since you’ve already confirmed combustion gases in the coolant. Given that you’re planning to inspect the head and do the timing belt at the same time, you’ll have a good opportunity to assess the overall condition of the engine. Just be sure to check for warp or cracks in the head and consider having it machined to ensure a proper seal. It’s also worth spending some time inspecting the oil pan and crankcase for any visible issues; the oil leak could be stemming from the valve cover gasket or oil pan gasket rather than catastrophic engine damage, especially if the oil level has stabilized after you topped it off.

Option 2: Diesel Swap
While this is an exciting proposition, it does come with its own set of challenges, particularly with sourcing the engine and all the necessary parts for a successful swap. If you’re confident in your mechanical skills and are prepared for the additional time and cost, this could lead to a unique and reliable setup. However, since you mentioned you’re happy with the current 4-cylinder performance, you might want to think about whether the potential benefits of a diesel engine outweigh the costs and effort involved.

In terms of your concerns, it sounds like you still have a running engine with decent oil pressure given that it’s holding oil after all that. That’s a good sign! If you go the head gasket route, just keep an eye out for any signs of additional leaks (especially around the rear main seal or oil pan). It might even be worth doing a compression test or a leak-down test on the cylinders to get a better idea of the condition of the piston rings and cylinder walls.

Ultimately, if you have the tools, the time, and the mechanical skills, I’d lean towards the head gasket repair first. If down the line you feel like the engine isn’t performing well anymore or you just want something different, you can always reconsider the diesel conversion then.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Abazo12]

You’ve got a couple of solid options on the table, and it really comes down to what you’re comfortable with.

Option 1: Replace the Head Gasket
This is definitely a feasible option, especially since you’ve already confirmed combustion gases in the coolant. Given that you’re planning to inspect the head and do the timing belt at the same time, you’ll have a good opportunity to assess the overall condition of the engine. Just be sure to check for warp or cracks in the head and consider having it machined to ensure a proper seal. It’s also worth spending some time inspecting the oil pan and crankcase for any visible issues; the oil leak could be stemming from the valve cover gasket or oil pan gasket rather than catastrophic engine damage, especially if the oil level has stabilized after you topped it off.

Option 2: Diesel Swap
While this is an exciting proposition, it does come with its own set of challenges, particularly with sourcing the engine and all the necessary parts for a successful swap. If you’re confident in your mechanical skills and are prepared for the additional time and cost, this could lead to a unique and reliable setup. However, since you mentioned you’re happy with the current 4-cylinder performance, you might want to think about whether the potential benefits of a diesel engine outweigh the costs and effort involved.

In terms of your concerns, it sounds like you still have a running engine with decent oil pressure given that it’s holding oil after all that. That’s a good sign! If you go the head gasket route, just keep an eye out for any signs of additional leaks (especially around the rear main seal or oil pan). It might even be worth doing a compression test or a leak-down test on the cylinders to get a better idea of the condition of the piston rings and cylinder walls.

Ultimately, if you have the tools, the time, and the mechanical skills, I’d lean towards the head gasket repair first. If down the line you feel like the engine isn’t performing well anymore or you just want something different, you can always reconsider the diesel conversion then.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

Thanks Chris, I am leaning towards doing the head gasket at this point. I've looked at every "affordable" TDI within 500 miles and I am not feeling too inspired. I think I'll get the head gasket parts on order and keep an eye out for a TDI for future plans. Thanks again!

 

[Tonyjustin]

Thanks Chris, I am leaning towards doing the head gasket at this point. I've looked at every "affordable" TDI within 500 miles and I am not feeling too inspired. I think I'll get the head gasket parts on order and keep an eye out for a TDI for future plans. Thanks again!

Hey all, I've got a 2006, SE, 6-speed manual with 70,000 miles. I had a small radiator leak that I finally got around to fixing back in August. It took me a while to make the repair because I was searching for an OEM radiator. I eventually gave in and bought one from NAPA. Long story short, the petcock valve failed and my wife drove home from work with no coolant and the jeep stalled at the end of our driveway. When I got there, there was oil everywhere (it is covering every inch of the under-carriage). Upon closer inspection, I found the failed petcock, practically zero coolant, and the engine took 3 quarts to get back up on the dipstick. After making sure the engine was not seized, I topped off the oil, and after cranking for about 30 seconds, it fired right up and sounds fine. After some convincing, I got NAPA to honor their warranty and get me a replacement radiator (somehow I didn't lose my S**T, but I live in a small town so I was cordial). *If this engine pulls through I will get a better radiator* After topping off the coolant I did a combustion gas test on the radiator and confirmed the presence of combustion gasses. We live in a small mountain town 2 hours away from anything, so this Jeep does not go far from home. It's my wife's daily driver, but her commute is about 8 miles roundtrip. Otherwise we pop into the mountains with it or take it around town. The jeep is in great shape otherwise and I would like to keep it going, so I am considering my options. In either case, I would do all of the work myself. Option 1-Replace the head gasket and inspect the head and have it replaced or resurfaced as necessary, I would also doing the timing belt at the same time. Option 2-find a decent used TDI engine and necessary components and do a diesel swap.
I would be perfectly happy just doing the head gasket if I thought that would get me back on the road, but I'm concerned that their could be other issues. Where did all of the oil come out of (hard to tell as everything got soaked). What kind of shape are the piston rings and bearings in now? Could the rear main seal be blown? It has held 5.5 quarts just fine over the last week and has ran about 30 mins and got up to operating temp multiple times.
As for the diesel conversion, it would be the more expensive option and I never really had a problem with the 4cyl power, it's got 30" 10ply tires and gets around just fine. I wouldn't mind lifting it in the future and bumping up the tire size a bit, but its got a Dana 35 in the rear and I wouldn't want to push it. Having said that, I would actually feel good about the scenario if I made it to the other side of all of this with a diesel swapped TJ (assuming it was reliable)
Any recommendations or thoughts on my predicament (other than parking it through the plate glass window at NAPA)
Thank you

Hello. I am half way through a head gasket replacement on a 2005 2.4 engine and will say it is not an easy task. The 2005-2006 2.4 was not one of Jeep’s better ideas and there are not a lot of options if you decide to do an engine swap. As you probably have already discovered, it was a two year only engine and a replacement has to come from only those years and only out of a Wrangler. I’m in Kansas City and have been unable to find a replacement engine for this TJ anywhere remotely close. The OEM engine in this Jeep has over 220,000 miles and it won’t last forever. I’m seriously considering an engine swap if this one decides to hang a rod out the side of the block. In my opinion, if you can do a head gasket replacement on your engine, you have the skill to do a swap, regardless of whether it is a LS, diesel, or another powerplant. Good luck whatever you decide.