excessive coolant loss on '97 jeep grand cherokee limited

Is this the 4.0 engine or one of the bigger ones? The 4.0 is pretty bulletproof inline 6-cylinder engine, but is not immune to head gasket or other leaks. First thing to do is check the oil and see if there is any milky residue in it. Also, have your cooling system pressure-tested by a mechanic. This will check for internal leaks. Those two starting points should find your problem. You may want to visually inspect for obvious leaks near the radiator and hoses/water pump area.

its the 5.2 liter v-8. i spoke to a mechanic friend about it, possibly the thermostat or a bad hose/clamp judging where it was leaking from but couldnt pinpoint the location. ever encounter thermostat problems w/ this vehicle? its happened to me before on a totally different car

if thermostat is locked closed it will blow out of bypass hose,dose it have heat or blow out cold air.if has good heat not thermo could be a bad water pump.