My 1989 jeep cherokee engine heating up?

Question

i know it has a rear main oil leak and I have been adding a quart of oil in it every week--done this for several months. Now all of a sudden it started to lose coolant a few weeks ago so I have been adding coolant to it but noticed that the oil level has not gone down at all for a couple weeks. This can only mean that the coolant is going into the engine oil. Now, after 25 minutes of driving the heat guage will go all the way up and sit just a hair below the red zone.

Can i damage the engine by continuing to drive it like this?

Why do I have this problem?

Oh, it has the 4.0 litre V6 and it has 135,000 original miles on it. It has a new radiator one year ago and i know the engine cooling fans are working.

Answer 1

If your oil has a milky consistancy then you are getting coolant in the oil. Open the oil cap and see if there is any buildup. most likely your leaking out the waterpump weep hole wich is very common on the 4.0. Also cylinder head cracking and head gaskets are also common too. Check your trans fluid because the coolant could be bypassing the radiator into the transcooler side of the radiator and into the trans.