This is good to know, I was getting nervous at 220+.
No need to get nervous at 220. But I am under the impression that anything above 235 is too hot. The 0331 casting cylinder head doesn't like heat.
This is good to know, I was getting nervous at 220+.
Hood vents won't lower the engine temperature. If that was the case the factory would come up with vents that wouldn't leak in downpours and they could run a smaller less costly radiator.Pic of your hood? It's possible for hood vents to hurt cooling at speed. Maybe someone here has experience and can comment better. One way to test is to pull your hood and go for a drive and see if temps change.
Your wheeling temps are fine. That's with a/c on I presume?
Highway temps are higher than expected, unless you're towing or blasting up a hill. Shouldn't damage anything and yes you can feel a power difference.
Pic of your hood? It's possible for hood vents to hurt cooling at speed. Maybe someone here has experience and can comment better. One way to test is to pull your hood and go for a drive and see if temps change.
Hood vents won't lower the engine temperature. If that was the case the factory would come up with vents that wouldn't leak in downpours and they could run a smaller less costly radiator.
Ok you know all the answers, I'll just back out of here.
Power loss from heat should be expected regardless of how well your cooling system is doing, especially in the Phoenix area. High temperature at Sky Harbor is "only" 103 right now but density altitude is already nearly 4200'.I recently moved to AZ and wheeled this weekend. On the way @ 70 mph, my coolant temps hit 244. Definitely had power loss.
Power loss from heat should be expected regardless of how well your cooling system is doing, especially in the Phoenix area. High temperature at Sky Harbor is "only" 103 right now but density altitude is already nearly 4200'.
Not the best angle but doesn't look to me like the vents should be a problem.
Does it work hard to cruise at 70 or do you have to give it a lot of gas? What RPM? instant MPG?
I've always run hotter crawling than on the highway.
I think I've fixed it. First I did a radiator flush. Found a bunch of what looks like sand in the radiator. Maybe vandalism. I don't have a hood lock and this doesn't look like it's from the water jacket.
View attachment 343413
I did opt to reinstall the thermostat that the last mechanic put in, and it appears to be a 180. Wish I knew that. Couldn't tell that before because it never stopped climbing. Now the temp dropped as far as 186 at about 45 mph with the AC on in 100° ambient.
It sounds like you fixed the original problem. HOWEVER, the Jeep wants a 195° thermostat. It's supposed to run at 210°. Otherwise, the ECM is going to think that it's not fully warmed up, and will add more fuel causing the engine to run rich.
Hook up a real temp sensor and see what the actual temp is
I agree. No reason to believe the factory gauge. I'm in Tucson. Have the original thermostat, mine per the gauge runs just under 210 and drifts about a needle width higher if I'm climbing a long hill with the AC on. It's never boiled over or overheated. Has yours?