This Week In Jeep

Another Teaser (#5) From Jeep About EJS Concepts

In Episode 583 we went over the four teaser photos Jeep has released regarding what sort of concept vehicles they might be bringing to this year’s Easter Jeep Safari happening in MOAB Utah April April 9-17. Historically Jeep has brought some incredible works of automotive engineering combined with next-level imaginative bodywork and offroading technology. Real works of art in some cases. But they are after all just concepts. Examples of what could be, and what may be, with the sole intention of impressing those who are lucky enough to see them. The four teaser pics released so far don’t give us much, but we’ve got a pretty good idea of what they might represent. The fifth pic, released just this week, is again, cryptic at best. In the background, we see what looks like the same kind of virtually mountainous rock formations found in Moab, with an orangish Jeep Wrangler in the foreground. The Jeep is pointing away from us. The perspective is from about 8 feet off the drivers’ side rear corner. The entire back end of the Jeep is hidden with the fade to black of the image, highlighted with the JPP gear logo in the lower right corner. This tells us this Jeep will be showcasing new or soon to come to market Jeep Performance Parts. We’re not sure what kind of wrangler this is, as we can’t make out just how many doors this one might have. What we do see is a very prominent roof rack, and other amenities like a possible B-pillar storage pod, and A-pillar grab handles. The Jeep is topless, for the most part, it may have a top but no sides, or at least paint matched factory half doors, another new product for Jeep. The sides are completely open as are the possibilities of what this picture is supposed to mean. If I were to read between the lines, I’d say that this will likely be a rock crawling-focused Wrangler for the masses. Specifically engineered for the kind of terrain and wheeling experiences you see when off-roading in Moab Utah. OR perhaps an Overlanding themed build with expedition-inspired accessories and upgrades from JPP. Time will tell as by the time we record this, the Easter Jeep Safari is just a couple of weeks away.

The H.O. Hurricane I-6 Will Be Avail As An Option For The New Waggy

Back in episode 548, I had a story of what was then just a rumor of the return of the in-line six-cylinder engine to Jeep. And in Episode 578 the rumor was confirmed to be true. What we know is that this new variant of the venerable 4.0L I-6 will be a 3-liter in-line six with as many as two turbos giving this new powerplant the potential of over 500 HP. It will be called Hurricane, but you can call it a hurricane… sorry, it couldn’t be helped. Well, there is some interesting news surrounding this new engine, and they say this new high output version of the Hurricane will debut as a $2000 option in the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. A screengrab from the online configurator supports this and confirms earlier rumors of the full-size Jeeps getting a new drivetrain option. The Hurricane engine’s claimed 500 some-odd hp and 475 pound-feet of torque beat out the big V-8’s 471 hp and 455 pound-feet of torque. The less expensive Wagoneer will use the lower-output version of the new inline-six, which claims 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The Wagoneer currently offers a 392-hp 5.7-liter V-8 engine with an eTorque hybrid system. Online specs show that the 3.0L Hurricane equipped Wagoneer will offer a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds when equipped with rear-wheel drive and a towing package. This matches the current 5.7L V8 Wagoneer’s max rating. This won’t be the only platform we are likely to see with the new in-line six. Stellantis has repeatedly said that the Hurricane will likely make its way into many of its products. So this is probably just the start of this new powertrain’s prevalence across the automaker’s lineup. I think it is probable that we will eventually see this replace the Hemi V-8s currently found in Ram trucks, and Jeep SUVs. Consider this the start of a new generation of inline-six engine dominance in Jeep.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Identifying Your Jeep’s Fluids

We as people have some pretty unique fluids flowing through our bodies, and despite our best efforts, sometimes they leak out. If it’s red its blood, clear, it probably spits tears or sweat, and if it’s yellow or brown, well you get the idea. The same goes for your Jeep. There are all kinds of fluids in all parts of that rig, and they may sometimes leak out. So if you have a mystery spot in the driveway or garage, and aren’t quite sure what it is or where it may be coming from, I’m here to help you out. From top to bottom, and front to back, we’ll go through all the different kinds of fluids found in all parts of your Jeep. I’ll tell you what they’re supposed to look like, where they might be coming from and some possibilities as to why you’re seeing these fluids too. And I’ll also be talking about how to tell if something may be wrong with your Jeep by the color, smell, or texture of these fluids. Ok first off let’s talk about water. Not coolant, and yes there is a huge difference. Occasionally you may see a small puddle of water under your Jeep. Plain old crystal clear water. Dipping a finger into the puddle, it will feel and even smell like water, albeit with a touch of pavement I’m guessing… but where did it come from? If your Jeep has AC then this is likely condensation from the evaporator. It is entirely normal, nothing to be worried about, and will be more common the more the AC is used, especially in hotter temps. There could be other reasons too, like trapped water in the cowell or frame even, so it never hurts to do a quick visual inspection anytime you see any fluid under the Jeep and see if you can’t pinpoint the source. More on that later. If that water-like substance has a color to it, like purple, orange, or yellowish-green, then this is likely coolant, and it should feel slightly oily or slimy, but not thick. Coolant is always very water-like when it is in good condition. The more color it has to it, the better condition it is generally in. The smell may be a bit fishy to some but will generally have a sweet-ish undertone to it. The reason you may see this under your Jeep is that it simply got hot and some escaped out through the overflow hose. This kind of condition is more common than other reasons like a broken radiator, cracked radiator hose, or a failing water pump. Again, a visual inspection will likely show the source if it is indeed the coolant you’re seeing. 

Now if that coolant is milky, and looks more like a smoothie or a milkshake, then you have more serious problems, and this is a sign of a head gasket failure, allowing oil and coolant to mix with air to create the milky nastiness you’re seeing. Another near water-like substance that could be found under a Jeep may look orange or sometimes blue as well, and (depending on how fresh it is,) may even be accompanied by bubbles. What we’re seeing here is windshield washer fluid, the smell should give it away instantly. It will smell soapy, maybe even a bit of a chemical bleachy smell depending on the brand. Why you would see this is rare, but it could be something as simple as a hose getting disconnected from one of the spray tips, or perhaps there’s a crack in the washer fluid reservoir. Now if the fluid you’re seeing under your Jeep is reddish or pinkish in color this is almost always going to be transmission fluid. Transmission fluid is also used in the transfer case as well as the transmission, so it could be coming from either or both. Transmission fluid when brand new is a rich kool-aid see-through red color. It will be slightly thick, similar to motor oil. As this fluid ages, it loses some of its red colors and will turn light red to pink in color. 

Although too pink and that’s a sign of water in the transmission fluid. When this fluid has been exposed to excessive heat or overuse, it turns brownish in color and will take on a burnt type of smell to it. If you ever check your transmission fluid and it’s black, well, let’s just say you never want to see black transmission fluid.

Another fluid that has the ability to be burnt is oil, and this is oftentimes the most common fluid found under Jeeps. Oil on the ground is almost always black or brownish-black. If you’re seeing oil on the ground it’s because there is a seal that has failed somewhere. Different Jeep engines all have their own typical or common oil leak sources, and a quick search will help you narrow down your inspection. I suppose it should go without saying, but obviously, your Jeep shouldn’t leak oil, of any amount, or any color, at any time. Any oil leak should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid further damage…. And that nasty oil stain in the driveway. If the oil you’re seeing is a much lighter color, if it’s goldish brown in color, this too could be oil, but not motor oil. You’re likely looking at gear oil. It’s going to be very thick, and it’s going to stink really bad. Luckily for you, the sources of this fluid are your differentials. Easy to see, easy to get to, and easy to tell if they’re leaking. This too is an oil that can froth up and become milky as well. Overheated gear oil or oil in a leaky differential can aerate and become frothy like a milkshake. Although it might look kinda cool, it’s really bad on your gears, and this is a sign that it could be time for a differential overhaul depending on what is causing the leak. Another fluid that is just as stinky as gear oil but not as thick is the power steering fluid. This too is typically goldish in color, maybe slightly brown, and also stinks. It will have about the same consistency as motor oil, but it has a very pungent petroleum-like smell to it. On most Jeeps, the power steering, its pump, hoses, and gearbox are all on the same side of the motor, and within a short distance of each other, so tracking down where this leak may be coming from shouldn’t be too hard. Just a note though, sometimes power steering fluid leaks only present themselves when the system is under load, so having someone inside the Jeep to work the wheel while you look may be critical to finding where the leak is coming from. And to throw more confusion at you here’s another goldish-colored fluid that can leak out of your Jeep. Brake fluid. Brake fluid is basically hydraulic oil. It too will have a slightly strong smell to it. It will be slippery between the fingers and have the same consistency as fresh motor oil. Luckily for you, if you see this fluid on the ground it is more than likely coming from one corner of your Jeep and a sign of a worn, failing, or broken brake component. Likely a caliper or a soft line. This too is likely going to be a leak that can only be seen when there is pressure on the system unless there is a tell-tale sign of a leak by the inside of your tire being wet. So make sure the reservoir is full, and have someone pump the brakes while you see where the problem may be coming from. Regardless of what the leak is, and what fluid you may be seeing there is nothing more important than using your senses.

Feel the fluid, smell it. Look at it, look for signs of metal debris by feeling for grit, or metal shavings. See if it has microscopic amounts of metal in it by looking for any amount of a glitter-like appearance. Smell it for signs of burning or overheating.  Familiarize yourself with what the fluid is, and you’ll be better off for it. And so will your Jeep. Here’s a pro tip I want to leave you with. Sometimes it is hard to tell the color of a vehicle’s fluid judging by just what is on your finger, the ground or a dipstick. So smearing some on a small piece of white paper gives you some contrast to see what the color really is. Notebook paper, newspaper even, paper towels, napkins, the back of an envelope, or business card. Really any kind of white paper that isn’t waxy like butcher paper or magazine paper will work just fine for this. So here’s some homework for you, go out to your Jeep, and take a small sample of each of the fluids of your Jeep, smear a little dab of each one on a piece of white paper, and label the smears. Keep this for reference, and as you go, be sure to feel and smell each one. And the next time your Jeep marks its territory, you’ll know what it is it did it with. 

 

 

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