Tempature help

[mannyg813]

I have a 97 country that I just got with 74k miles. I found that the cooling system was very dirty and only had water no coolent. I flushed the system three times no more brown build up then replaced radiator,water pump,thermostat,eletric fan, fan relay,fan clutch,upper and lower hoses 50/50 coolent. While normal driving conditions the temp runs about 200 degrees while stopped and idle it jumps to about 220 or untill fan comes on to bring it back down. This is at night or in the middle of day while 85/90 degrees outside without a/c running. Is this normal ? This is my first cherokee seems a little hot to me.

[4.3LXJ]

They run warm. Do you have your shrouds intact?

[Brasscatz]

Welcome! I have a 97 Country too. I'd love to get 200* during normal driving conditions! But yes, that's pretty common. 4.3LXJ has a TON of knowledge in that area. Shrouds need to be intact, and your mech fan clutch could also be going out a bit.

[mannyg813]

Yes I just replaced them.

[mannyg813]

Thanks. The mec fan is new also.

[Brasscatz]

Thanks. The mec fan is new also.

Sorry I missed that in your original post. What degree thermostat did you put in?

[mannyg813]

180

[mannyg813]

seems like if it the eletric was not to kick on it would over heat.

[Brasscatz]

Some of these other guys have better knowledge than I, but I've heard of some heat issues coming out of putting in a 180* tstat in place of the stock 195* tstat. Might try putting the 195* back in (premium one if ya got it) and see what that does for ya. Hopefully it will help the issue somewhat. I'd still kill for your temps :D

[4.3LXJ]

189° is OK. But I wouldn't go lower

[bigjim350]

BTW more water than coolant runs cooler. In fact I run almost 100% water, but just one bottle of royal purple "purple ice" to avoid rust. Your temps seem fine though. Sure it would overheat if the e-fan didnt come on, but so would every other xj, thats why they have the e-fan

[Carves]

BTW more water than coolant runs cooler. In fact I run almost 100% water, but just one bottle of royal purple "purple ice" to avoid rust. Your temps seem fine though. Sure it would overheat if the e-fan didnt come on, but so would every other xj, thats why they have the e-fan


X 2.

Water with corrosion additives is IMHO ... a much better "coolant" ... if your weather allows it. ;)

The Eth-Gly ... is there to prevent the cooling system icing up when the ambient temps drop overnight ... Its anti-boil properties are negligible - when mixed at the max ratios "suitable" for automobile use .... If eth-gly was any good as a "coolant" ... it wouldnt need the water mixed with it .. ;);)

Tis why I use a, off the shelf pre-mix, available down here ... which is about 10% eth-gly & 90% water ... which also the anti-corrosion additives.

Running temp is not a whole lot less ... but it is a lot more stable ...

[89Laredo]

BTW more water than coolant runs cooler. In fact I run almost 100% water, but just one bottle of royal purple "purple ice" to avoid rust. Your temps seem fine though. Sure it would overheat if the e-fan didnt come on, but so would every other xj thats why they have the e-fan

Disagree

Mine won't even touch 210 in 90+ amb. don't even have the temp switch for the fan hooked up.

[Mudderoy]

I have a 97 country that I just got with 74k miles. I found that the cooling system was very dirty and only had water no coolent. I flushed the system three times no more brown build up then replaced radiator,water pump,thermostat,eletric fan, fan relay,fan clutch,upper and lower hoses 50/50 coolent. While normal driving conditions the temp runs about 200 degrees while stopped and idle it jumps to about 220 or untill fan comes on to bring it back down. This is at night or in the middle of day while 85/90 degrees outside without a/c running. Is this normal ? This is my first cherokee seems a little hot to me.

220 is fine and the engineers set the computer to turn the electric fan on about this temp (221 I think) so that should tell you something. ;o)

If after the electric fan comes on it drops pretty quickly back to the 210/215 range then it's working normally. At least this has been my experience with the 97+ Cherokees.

A high flow water pump and large openings in the hood will help the idle, low speed temps, but keeping the cooling system full and clean will be fine.

[mannyg813]

Sounds like everything is normal then thanks for all the help everyone.

[Jeepster19]

I run a new stock water pump from mopar,under $100,a high flow thermostat& housing from Hesco and a metal two core radiator with a new Hayden fan clutch from oreilly's.It doesn't go above the 210 mark,even in the summer time.Almost forgot to mention,a 195 degree thermostat also.