How hard is a head gasket job on the 2000 Cherokee Sport with the straight 6 cyl.? Are there specialty tools I will need other then a torque wrench? Can a Sunday Mechanic do it or does it have to be done in a shop?

Any secrets?

I have spent over $1600 this year on the Jeep and I still love it. I have no more money to send it out to a shop. I have time to do the work myself I just need to know details.

In the winter last year the jeep over heated to 260. I pulled over immediately. It over heated again. So I towed it the rest of the way home. Ever since then I have had to change the oil every month. Last month I checked the oil after filling up the reserve bottle with water and found that the reserve and radiator are both empty and the oil is milk shake color and very thin. The level of oil raised over the filled spot by about 2 inches.

Is there away to confirm that this is the head gasket and not a cracked block or broke water jacket?

Thanks for any help offered.

Yes it is a job you and a beer drinking buddy can do in a day in your garage. You must take the head off and examine the gasket real good for the burnt place where it is leaking. One good first thing to do is pull the sparkys and see if one or more has rust on it.
Your problem from the first was prolly a small coolant leak from the radiator or a corresponding hose. You should find that leak before you consider the job is done! Without finding the original leak it will happen again.
Don't forget to install a new 195* thermostat when you put it back together.
Do not use any sealant on the head gasket.. Clean all surfaces real good before putting it back together.
If a gasket leak is not found then you might have to take the head to a shop for futher examination.. you MUST find the internal leak before reinstalling. You WILL need a torque wrench and know the torque sequence.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Ok now what is the torque sequence? And the original water leak was accually a bad water pump.

So let me ask a jeep professional> Have you ever seen a water pump with no fins left of the impeller?

I've seen em with most of the fins rusted off but still had 1/2 of em or so. Water quality and time will do the trick.
As a general rule you can start with the middle bolts and from there cris-cros back and forth reaching both ends at the same time... you will need to start at 40 lb and then go up 10 lb each time you do it till you reach the correct torque. I like to go over the bolts about 5 times.
I think it makes the torque more even and as tight as it needs to be all over.
I run a tap in all the holes and a threader over the bolts most times. Just to clean em up. A little dirt in there might screw up the torque. Fooling an 80lb reading with only 60 lbs.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the in-put. If you think of anything else let me know.