My Jeep Cherokee

[JordanWalk193]

So I need some help with this thing. I freaked out when it overheated today and when I got home I let it cool down and when i turned it on it idled with the temperature at about 240. I don\'t think it should be that high and what do I do to get it down?

[MrMindless]

1) make sure the cooling system has no air in it
2) make sure the radiator is clear.  I know it\'s been mud-packed before
3) make sure the fan is working right.  mechanical thermal clutches can fail - like mine in the Dakota has.
4) check the thermostat to make sure it\'s opening when it should.
5) once you know the cooling system can be trusted and to do this won\'t make a bad situation worse, idling a motor to cool it down is more effective and less thermally stressful - but if it gets hotter of course that\'s not helping things


additional info:
1) take the cap off when it\'s cold and make sure the radiator is full.  start the motor and add coolant as needed.  when it starts overflowing put the cap back on.
2) visual should take care of this.  water from the backside forward is the best cleaning method
3) if it\'s an electic fan, it should come on when it gets hot.  if it\'s a mechanical fan once it\'s overheating if you rev the motor it should sound like a jet taking off.
4) the hose going to the top of the radiator should stay cool until the engine reaches operating temp and then get hot fast.  you can check this at the same time you\'re checking for air in the system.

[MrMindless]

oh yeah - sometimes XJs just suck at staying cool.  if the system passes all of the above tests, make sure the radiator is good and clean (that\'s the easiest thing to not be certain of) and run some Water Wetter to help it move more air.

also be sure your a/c (if equipped) is off, and running the heat on full blast full hot will help suck heat out of the coolant.  the heater core is just like another radiator.

On the trail you can also pop the hood to the safety latches and that will allow a bit of extra air through.

[JordanWalk193]

it has 2 fans and theyre wired to be going at all times when the ignition is turned. do you know if you burn a lot of oil offroading?

[smichaelR22]

it has and e fan and a mech fan- both working

when it was hot, coolant resivoir was to the top.  couldnt check to see if it had air in the system.  i figured it was a stuck/cranky thermostat

[MrMindless]

if your motor burns oil it\'ll burn oil.  

Me?  I only burn about a quart per 5,000 mile change.  And I\'ve never done the belly pan gasket, that\'s probably where half that comes from.

[JordanWalk193]

i was REALLY low on oil when i got home. i looked for leaks and theres nothing i can see or anything on the ground so i figured im burning it but its a lot of oil to be just burning so i was hoping i blew it out on sunday lol

[MrMindless]

unless you rolled it you didn\'t loose it by wheeling.  you just lost it by just running the truck.  see how it does on the road, watch for blue smoke while on the gas and at startup....  do a compression test if you really care to be scared.

[smichaelR22]

hmm i didnt see any blue smoke behind you. Did you check it before you wheeled? was it good?

[JordanWalk193]

i just found out the stick was jammed up and now i have too much oil in it....duhhhh. does anyone run with more water than antifreeze in their radiator? there is a lot of antifreeze and not much water in mine. would this affect it?

[smichaelR22]

how are you deciding how much water and how much antifreeze is in there?  (it mixes and all looks one color??)

sounds like you need a good flush and refill with a new thermostat while your at it to eliminate alot of questions...

[MrMindless]

sounds like Smike is correct.  and remember that it\'s both poisonous and tasty so don\'t just dump it, take care of it properly.

[kensdodge]

was the over flow tank way over full like to the top ?  if it was you have 1 of 2 problems either the thermostat stuck closed or ya puked the head gasket . head gasket is pretty easy to diagnose if drain the overflow fil the rad start it with the cap on and it starts pushin fluid into the tank or the hoses start gittin har chances are it the head gasket . if ya have access to a pressure checker throw it on rev the engine if you see a substantial pressure increase its the head gasket .

[JordanWalk193]

So this isn\'t really an update but I am in the process of installing the CB and getting the jeep inspected. I got a nice set of wheels from a friend of GTJake so things are well underway.

[GTJake]

im glad that you got those wheels! did you go to his house to pick them up?? if so...did you see the monster grand cherokee in his driveway??