Everyone one always suspects the Jeep 4.0 liter noise to be a rod bearing due to age or miles but it most of the time is a busted/cracked piston. I show through the process of fixing this jeeps engine what to look for.
Buddy… you saved my fkn ass with this video. Long story long, my original engine started knocking last year, so I pulled the pan and found piston pieces. My solution was to just swap in a used engine with lower miles, thinking I’d be good for 100k miles at least. Well, after 12k, it started knocking. So I did this instead of another engine swap, and man that things runs smooth. Thank you Dex. I did the whole job for about $600
For those of us that own, work on, and appreciate Cherokees, I thank you for your content! Especially the technical stuff. The presentation is perfect, you don't try to be a "character", just honest, open and straightforward. With your inventory and facilities, you have unlimited content. My only ask would be for longer videos. Keep up the good work Dex!
I appreciate that! I worry these are AI created comments but I hear so so many. I ain’t going away. I do think I will improve but never going fancy editing I doubt. Thank you!!
I'm in NC, you seem like a busy fella , I am somewhat of a jeep enthusiast I have 3 xj's one for parts and 2 cj's one for parts , I have 2 4..2 motors , I'm thinking I have everything I need for a stroker, it's just a shame because both the 4.2's run like a scalded ape , did tge nutter bypass lighter dizzy curve spring and took 18k volt AMC ignition and put on so.e fomoco parts for inline 300, tbi era so coil is 40k volts , but love you content , think ima make a trip out Tennessee way once I've got my ducks in a row, you living the dream dude , if you live what you do , you never work a day in your life
my wife had the EXACT same issue with her 4.0 wrangler unlimited and ironically the same no.5 piston. i stood over her shoulder and guided her in the teardown and rebuild and she did all the work. the piston skirt broke at 211,000 miles and since she did the rebuild, she now has 270,000 and still running perfect.
Just keep on keepin on Bud. I been wrenching on these turds for close to 50 years now and I still learn something new every day. You got the knack so show off a little, I ain't skeert a learnin.
You gave me about 10 shortcuts. Also changed my mind about replacing the engine. I have a machine shop across the street. He’s actually my neighbor. I have all the tools you have, except for the lift can’t wait to get started PS. YOUR EXPERIENCE IS ON POINT!!
You are the man! For guys like me just enjoying to learn how to do multiple things for myself because I’ve never been shown much, men like you are priceless! Keep on keeping on my man!! And because of you anytime I see a Cherokee i try to buy them all lol! This ole Kentucky boy sure enjoys all your content buddy! Take care you and your brother keep fighting the good fight!!
I did the same thing to my sons Jeep las April. It’s definitely a common problem. A friend of mine called because his is making a similar noise. I sent him this video as it’s better than I can explain it to him. Good vid👍🏼
I regret selling my 2001 jeep I could have made a rebuild motor if I had just seen your video like 6 months ago but I'm thinking about buying another one cause u just gave me the game on how to rebuild a motor thanks
I’d watch a video series of you and your brother “blueprinting” a 4.0. Disassemble, clean, machine, assemble and run. Full of tips and 4.0 specifics. Thanks!
Really appreciate all you do and how you explain what you do. Not everyone is a master jeep mechanic, so it really helps a lot of us newer guys out. I’ve got a knock on my 2001 XJ that I’m having a hell of a time trying to figure out. Doing some binge watching on your channel trying to figure out how to tackle it haha. Thanks again brother.
I have a 2004 WJ Laredo 4.0 with 203,000 miles. It started chattering a while back. It got better at 3,000 mile oil changes, but now it doesn't go away. I switched to T5 Rotella and a quart of Lucas High Mileage. I don't know a lot about engine internals, but I think what's going on with mine is the same as the one in the video. I'd love to learn how to rebuild it myself. This video is great. I'll be looking for more
brother you are doing a fantastic job ...knowledge is always helpful ....and everyone's tricks are different and like you said some people do it differently but for a person that is watching that has never done this stuff like we have your videos may be the one thing they needed help with so my hats off to you sir ...keep up the great work
Yes I’m starting to realize how much people love simple informative videos, and as long as they do, we will put more out there, thank you for the support..!
That's exactly what killed mine lol. I could not find a used engine that wasn't 2k and 200k miles anywhere. I ended up buying an s&j stroker. This one comes with forged pistons...... yay. When you went to blow out the front head bolt hole I was like noooooooo
First time viewer Dex. First , there ain't no such thing as a junky jeep !!!!😁😁😁 Second, I own a 97 Cherokee down here in Australia ! Really wish I could afford to engineer a 225 slant six, long runner intake for a 4barrel carb to fit the high output 4 litre !!!! Alex
Good content! Much better than most. I watch 4.0 stuff mostly but it's hard to find creators teaching correct engine how to videos so I appreciate you not keeping stuff secret👍
Dex I ain’t got common sense and I’m hardly mechanically inclined so I like these videos. If you could do more informational things like this I’d love it.
Honestly these are the easiest videos for me to make “editing” wise, so if there is something you want to see/know just let me know and I’ll make a video about it, thank you for the support..!
I just found your channel, i have a 89 jeep comanche wheeler, love seeing your tips an tricks an videos like this one just incase I'm doing it in the near future! 🤞
Awesome men you have a lot of knowledge I’d like to see more details about engine rebuild and transmissions on these 4.0 I have an 98 xj that I’ve been working on for a while now, I really appreciate these kind of videos
Love seeing this stuff especially from you, the way you describe things and dont try to act like you know everything when you explain. Just the basic what, why and how you do it.
Dex I loved it, great job! Especially enjoy the raw human stuff you leave in. Those opps moments we all do, even the best of us and most YTubers edit it all out. Extra cool w/ brother next door & seeing him doing his thing! Hopefully you never make so much $$ on the channel that it changes 😄Keep being genuine, that’s appealing & what’s missing these days with voice-over crap on TV, over edited crap here on YT…. ANYWAY I just stumbled across your video while searching for stroker info, (which I’ve been watching YT vids on for about a week, so I’ve seen plenty) za maybe you’ve already done a 4.2 crank in a 4.0 making 4.6 stroker, if not - that’s my vote - There’s some really good info out there, be interesting to see your take on doing one Duces ✌🏼
It's piston slap. Pulled mu oil pan on my 268k daily driver, and found the skirt from Piston #4 in the pan. I've got a 97k spare engine in the garage that will be going in. It took me a good 11hrs today for me to get the old engine pulled. Now I start waiting for the gaskets and other parts I need to put if back together. I've got plenty of other work to do inside the engine bay while the engines out, and also some auxiliary electric upgrades to finish, as with the engine out of the way, I'm hoping to find a place on the passengers side firewall to run an 8g cable into the cab to replace the 12g wire that feeds my aux power panel, and moving/replacing lights around, so the Nilights that have been on the roof(with failed finish) move down to the foglight position, and 4. new Nilights go up on the roof, 2 replacing the moved ones, and 2 replacing the DIY 18" bar I made out of a mangled 4' bar that has no voltage regulation and several LED's have burnt out since.) Unfortunately the parts I have on order won't be in for over a week, so I expect I'll be tearing the old engine down while I'm waiting for them to arrive. I know that Thumper had (as a coworker called it) a "Death rattle" for the last 50k, so I expect to see some carnage. I always thought it was just badly worn lifters, to the point that if the transmission didn't die last summer, one of my plans was to pull the head and replace the lifters.As I ran the Jeep ~45 miles after the sound started getting really bad, I expect badly scored cylinder walls. Personally, I disagree with a shop doing this type or repair, as I'd expect cylinder damage; likely major scoring, but even an oval'd bore which is an earlier sign that the piston has been rubbing the cylinder walls for a while. When I pull the old engine apart, I fully expect cylinder 4 to have major scoring from the broken up piston, and prehaps other cylinders have ovaling from piston slap as well.
quality video my friend you make it look easy, its great videos like that that will help people learn and have an idea how to do jobs like that to be a mechanic. its a bit out of my league to do but great to watch thanks for that.
Great video! Been debating doing this or dropping in a new engine. I’ve replaced the head and oil pump before, but I can tell the bearings are worn along with some slap. I think buying a hoist and dropping in a new long block might be less work overall.
I’ve never actually seen too many rod bearings go on the 4.0 without leaving an inspection port, but piston failures are relatively common. I actually think a clogged cat/muffler is what causes most of these. It just keeps too much heat in the engine and fatigues the piston. I think it may even be the catalyst material quality that is to blame, but I have seen this a ton on 4.0s.
This was great! Just watched the rebuild ZJ to XJ 4.0 engine stand vid. Now this vid. Great content. I just picked up a one owner 2000 XJ with 80kmi. Hoping to base line the maintenance stuff, oil leaks etc. Hope I don’t have major engine stuff for a long while. Not sure you have yet… can you talk about the early 2000s cylinder Head 0331 crack issues/overheat. Thanks.
Just found your channel and great content. I have 02 Wrangler Sahara 4.0 and working on issues. I am positive I will see issues I come across on your channel. Thanks and keep on truckin great channel.
Just found your channel and Subbed. I actually worked with Justin at Cat(well in the same building). I Had a broken piston skirt on my Jeep Tj. I did the rebuild on my channel. I have been interested in an XJ for a while. I need to come up sometime(from Corinth). Keep up the great work!
Awesome job thank you. I own a 93 XJ 4.0 251.000 plus on it hit a flood yesterday water went over my roof at about 35 40 mph and kept on going love my jeep xj country
i enjoyed it, struggling with a 98’ xj 4.0 currently. #2 cylinder low on compression but doesn’t seem low enough to cause dead miss at idle at about 106lbs vs all the rest at 120’s. miss goes away above 1100 rpm or so, even confirmed with scanner no miss detected at higher rpm. probably going to pull head unless someone has any other ideas. so yeah I like seeing someone that is an expert and learning! thanks for sharing
I just replaced my head on my 2000 Cherokee, and I was wondering if the Pistons were bad. What would they sound like? This answers those questions; they don't. I loved the basic talk to me like I'm a beginner because I am.
LOL, "Junky Jeep", my 98 Wrangler 4.0L is insulted. But I do agree...is not a race car. Really good down to earth video, learned some new stuff. I'll take a real world mechanic over some talking head anyday. Just my input regarding oil pan bolts, long ones go all the way through block threaded holes while short bolts go in no through holes on ribs or thick part of casting....learned the hard way. Me, trying to find a good video on #6 misfire. Fuel injector is good, no ground fault, got me stumped.
My ZJ had knock I thought might be bearings. I replaced the bearings (in my driveway). I was delighted that the knock went away for half a day, and it was back. Turned out to be the harmonic balancer. When I started your video I was sure that was going to be the cause. Knock on wood my 04 WJ's pistons don't fail. Totally liked the video, especially your parts retrieval vehicle. I'd be comfortable with one like it but I don't think my wife or neighbors would approve.
Hey dex, love the channel man keep it up. I have a wj and an xj, my wj tapps pretty loud but as soon as it warms up to temp it goes away. Would piston slap go away like that? I always assumed it was valve related.
I’m driving a 99 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 I it with 232K on it. I’m thinking of doing a very basic rebuild on it as the body is in good shape anything I can learn about it is great.
