98 jeep cherokee 4wd/4.0 leaking coolant and overheating?

You haven't provided a lot of detail. Some additional questions to help troubleshoot the problem are: have you seen puddles of water under the vehicle?, have you had to add water to the reservoir before?, how often?, did you just add water to the reservoir or did you add to the radiator & reservoir?

It could be one of several problems:

1. leaking heater core -- you would have an anti-freeze smell in your vehicle

2. leaking or burst radiator or heater hose -- could vary from a small, slow leak to a catastrophic failure of a hose. For anything more than a small, pinhole leak, you would see evidence of the leak under your car.

3. leaking head gasket -- if leaking outside the engine, then you would smell anti-freeze when the car is warm and running. If leaking inside the engine, then your engine oil would be gray or brown in color and would be somewhat foamy after the engine had been run.

If it is leaking slowly and you can add coolant frequently enough, then you might be able to put off getting it fixed but you would need to be prepared to be stranded when the leak decided to become a major leak. A leaking hose is very cheap to get replaced (i.e. < $70 counting shop labor). A heater core is more expensive (i.e. ~$200). And a blown head gasket would be the most expensive.

If you have to add any coolant/water, you have a leak.

That part is definite because the cooling system is a closed system and never needs adding coolant/water.

The leak can be external, hoses, clamps, water pump, radiator, etc.

Or it could be internal, leaking at the head gasket or intake gasket.

Either way, you need to get it fixed before the engine gets completely ruined.

Have the broker of the automobile or a relied on inner maximum mechanic do an low fee *cooling equipment rigidity try which will surely locate any exterior or inner coolant leaks. Do it ASAP. i will place of venture that the "weep-hollow" is leaking coolant on the backside of the water-pump casting. in the recommend time shop the radiator filled to the stunning and coolant restoration reservoir 3/4 filled. * once you re-set up the radiator rigidity cap twist it clockwise one click incredibly of two which will cut back the cooling equipment rigidity so ot will leak slower. extra useful yet, bypass to any Carquest and purchase a 4 pound radiator cap to reduse cooling equipment rigidity till finally the leak has been repaired.

Can't tell sight unseen, you have major problems if the engine has a leak that isn't obvious to the naked eye. Check the dipstick, if the oil resembles chocolate milk it may be a bad head gasket.

Take it to the shop and call a lifeline for a loan, You need help.

I don't understand quite well. Was the temperature gauge indicating that temperature had been too high or you just got the indication signal (flashing red light for example)? Can you spot some wet area on the ground under the front side of the car?

About changing oil, they may always do something improper...

Please, be more specific about the problem.

Engine coolant can be Toxic. Being pregnant you should not be handling it. Get the vehicle to a Jeep dealer they know there product and can help you. independant shops want to replace everything, thats how they make there living. It may just be a loose hose clamp or a hose. GOOD LUCK

Sounds like you might have a blown head gasket. Go to duraseal-usa.com as the have a product that would work for under $100.