Are these high idle temperatures normal?

[KennethS]

Sometimes folks who don't live here don't fully understand what we deal with in the summer.

That is so true.

 

[lBasket]

That is so true.

View attachment 590517

Making those single digit temps look pretty nice

 

[KennethS]

Making those single digit temps look pretty nice

I always tell people I can put on more clothes to stay warm, but there's only so much I can take off to stay cool.

 

[KennethS]

Here's another perspective of Phoenix summer temperatures. Imagine this going on for the entire summer.

 

[limeliam]

@limeliam Is this with the AC on or off?

On

 

[limeliam]

@limeliam Is this with the AC on or off?

On

 

[MikeE024]

I remember in an older thread about temps we were talking about AC and if I recall your AC was not working at the time, or you didn't check temps while it was running. Did you get the AC going? I have temps similar to the OP with AC on and everything is new and confirmed working as designed. New Mopar radiator less than 5,000 miles on it. New Mopar WP/Robt Shaw stat, fan clutch tested shows 100% lockup, cooling system spotless, new Mopar cap and recovery bottle.

There are past threads where I recall some people saying it is normal, but I still don't know. I also have the black inserts in my grill which I plan to remove this year just to see if that makes a difference, some say it won't and some say it will. It's the last thing I have to try.

Your input and a couple others here has a lot of weight since you live where both the OP and I live. Sometimes folks who don't live here don't fully understand what we deal with in the summer.

View attachment 590518

It’s possible we had multiple conversations along the way since a while back I had my AC bypassed.

I remember chatting about this with you more recently after I commented about my ECTs being happy after a thermostat change. IIRC, the numbers with the AC on were higher but acceptable.

I’ll idle with the AC on later today and report back.

My ECTs with the AC off have been around 195* (with two coolers in the grill).

 

[B1Toad]

I remember chatting about this with you after I commented about my ECTs being happy after a thermostat change. IIRC, the numbers with the AC on were higher but acceptable.

I’ll idle with the AC on later today and report back.

My ECTs with the AC off have been around 195* (with two coolers in the grill).

I really don't have issues in these temps, I only have them when we get into triple digits.

 

[ColoJeep]

Just a thought , if it cools OK driving normally , in extreme triple digit temps why not just increase you idling rpm by putting it in neutral or clutch in and adding some revs . More pump flow and fan CFM. This was a common issue in the 60's and 70's and nobody really worried about it.

 

[MikeE024]

I really don't have issues in these temps, I only have them when we get into triple digits.

That makes sense.

And it’s why I commented about OP’s temps not being ok if they get this hot at this time of year.

Your question was valid, but 225* ECTs in idle with the AC on at this time of year means he’ll likely be even hotter when ambient temps are 115*. (Not cool)

 

[KennethS]

Just a thought , if it cools OK driving normally , in extreme triple digit temps why not just increase you idling rpm by putting it in neutral or clutch in and adding some revs . More pump flow and fan CFM. This was a common issue in the 60's and 70's and nobody really worried about it.

I do that with my manual transmission vehicles - not to keep the coolant temperature down (those are OK even in 115+ heat) but to keep the AC blowing cold. R-134A doesn't cool worth a dang at idle speeds, but increasing to 1200 RPM or so keeps the vent temperatures where they should be.

 

[MikeE024]

Just a thought , if it cools OK driving normally , in extreme triple digit temps why not just increase you idling rpm by putting it in neutral or clutch in and adding some revs . More pump flow and fan CFM. This was a common issue in the 60's and 70's and nobody really worried about it.

That works, and I've done it to improve my AC when idling here in AZ and Vegas.

But, if he's at 225* now, then it's likely going to be higher once it's 30* to 40* hotter outside. We can't mess around in this climate, so the system needs to be running correctly.

 

[lBasket]

Just a thought , if it cools OK driving normally , in extreme triple digit temps why not just increase you idling rpm by putting it in neutral or clutch in and adding some revs . More pump flow and fan CFM. This was a common issue in the 60's and 70's and nobody really worried about it.

This is not fun to have to keep up with on a trail that is for sure

 

[ColoJeep]

I do with my manual transmission vehicles - not to keep the coolant temperature down (those are OK even in 115+ heat) but to keep the AC blowing cold. R-134A doesn't cool worth a dang at idle speeds, but increasing to 1200 RPM or so keeps the vent temperatures where they should be.

R - 12 was kickass in comparison.

 

[MikeE024]

This is not fun to have to keep up with on a trail that is for sure

Not at all. A person would need to not run AC on the trail or not hit the trails.

 

[lBasket]

R - 12 was kickass in comparison.

It's about to get even worse, isn't it? Aren't they phasing out what they use now?

 

[ColoJeep]

This is not fun to have to keep up with on a trail that is for sure

You need deeper gears !

 

[ColoJeep]

It's about to get even worse, isn't it? Aren't they phasing out what they use now?

Yup.

 

[MikeE024]

You need deeper gears !

Don't mind me, I'll just be over here in 10.88:1 to ensure my ECTs don't go higher than 230* with the AC on.

 

[lBasket]

You need deeper gears !

I know it!!!

But that doesn't help my Jeep cool off when I'm idling. Dealt with this last Moab, and I don't even have AC. I think I still might have to figure out why it is/was doing it but hard to test right now.