New user today! My '06 KJ Liberty diesel has been losing coolant since I bought it in November of last year. I've found a lot of information about EGR on lostjeeps.com and am grateful for the help.

The thermostat WAS bad and has just been replaced. Engine temperatures now in the normal range. Previously, would not climb above the 25% mark on the instrument cluster gauge. I'm from Wisconsin, and I could now defrost the windshield if I were driving it.

Here's what happens:
-Top off coolant tank when cold
-Start. Small to moderate amount of soot in exhaust and probably some unburned fuel. Within 10 seconds, billowing white clouds are pouring out of the exhaust. Cloud persists until driven about 1 mile, even after warming up on idle for a few minutes and heat is coming through the HVAC.
-Clouds return after short periods of idling, such as at a stop light. Clear exhaust again once I get moving.
-"LoCool" alert within a few miles.
-Feels like it has plenty of power, still gets to 60 in around 10 seconds as it should according to performance data that I've found.
-Slightly rough idle, but hasn't gone in to "limp" mode as I've read in some other threads.

The coolant is a normal color. No oil in it to the naked eye. The oil is also clear with no coolant checked from the drain plug and dipstick.

Coolant reservoir (prior to thermostat replacement) seemed to have a lot of pressure in it when it was cold after sitting overnight. When the cap is removed cold, a surge of pressure forces coolant back in to the tank.

CEL came up for #4 glowplug, nothing about EGR or cooling system.

From what I gather online, the EGR system is to blame because there is no coolant in the oil, or vice-versa. Only in the exhaust. Is it possible that the EGR heat exchanger itself is leaking, and not the valve? What are the chances that the coolant damages valves/pistons/turbo?

I post this question after weeks of trying to find something that matches on a Jeep forum. The problem seems to be more inline with Ford Powerstroke 6.0 EGR discussions. Thank you for your help and I apologize if I've posted in the wrong place.

Morgan in Green Lake, WI

-

You need to check for exhaust gas in the coolant. This is likely a leaking or blown head gasket.

You can have a blown head gasket and not have coolant in the oil.

John

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

_________________
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD, SAMCO CAC Hoses, GDE Eco Tune

Sounds like a head gasket.

_________________
2005 CRD "Ol' Blue"
Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time.
My build page- RL Komodo Rear and TJM Front Bumper, armored, lifted, JBA Steel D30, 4.10s and ARB air lockers.

Thanks guys. Does it make sense that the thermostat failed, stuck open, causing it to never heat up and get the correct expansion between the block and head? This was one of my original theories....

That might explain how it happened, but the white smoke and pressurized coolant reservoir make it likely it is a head gasket leak. Check for exhaust in the coolant. You can a block test kit from the parts store. http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Leak-Detector-Kit-Engine-Block-Test-Tools-Inc-/_/R-BK_7001006_0006398563

There are quite a few threads on replacing the head gasket. Theres a recent one from 65corvair and check out the thread on using ARP studs instead of the factory head bolts. I replaced my head gasket last fall. I'm not a mechanic, but found that with a few exceptions, the work was straight forward. I took a lot of pictures and read the manual carefully and somehow still got it to go back together and didn't have any parts left over.

_________________
2005 CRD "Ol' Blue"
Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time.
My build page- RL Komodo Rear and TJM Front Bumper, armored, lifted, JBA Steel D30, 4.10s and ARB air lockers.