8 hours spent replaceing cooling system, now runs too cold?
01-28-2009, 02:31 PM
#1
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Year: 1994
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8 hours spent replaceing cooling system, now runs too cold?
As the title states...
I had a great time working on the Jeep yesterday. A simple radiator, hose, and t-stat swap turned into a nightmare.
At first everything went smooth, drained the coolant w/o making a mess, old radiator and t-stat out, no problems.
Put in the T-stat and the housing doesnt seem to fit right. Pour some distilled water down there and seemed to be okay.
Move onto the radiator (ready-rad) and the bottom tranny cooler line doesnt clear the body of the truck! Not even close. Its raining and nasty and I had to break out the M3 to drive to the parts store
.
Get there and there other radiator has the same issue, the 90 degree elbow for the factory external tranny cooler sticks out to damn far. I getting desperate and call around and every other parts store carries the same brand radiator! Call the dealer, not in stock but runs $380!!!!
My last hope is a specialty radiator shop that I think will be $$$, but no they do have one in stock and a different brand. Cross my fingers and drive for 45 mins to find a much better looking CSF radiator that almost looks identical to stock. Ask about heavy duty and they recommended to ty this one first, they were confident it would do the trick. Best part was they price matched the parts stores for $112.
Got home and it cleared, but had some additional brackets I had to remove to clear the condensor.
Everything is back on order, fire it up and an instant LEAK! T-stat housing. Pull it off and sure enough not seated right, back to the parts store for another gasket (right before closing time).
Put it in and everything is good to go.
Sorry for all the drama, but it was a horrible experience
. My M3 cooling system overhaul including H2O pump was easier.....
Now for the question. Went with a premium Stant 195 degree T-stat, new hoses and stock style radiator. Water pump was replaced by PO less than a year ago. Removed and cleaned temp sensor. When I am driving down the freeway (around 40 degrees or so) I am running around 180-190 degrees. Idling is around 190. Is this too cold? Before it used to run around 180 to 215 constantly sweeping. Is the brand new t-stat not running properly? I have had issues with Stant in the past and normally go with OEM for t-stats but wasnt an option this time.
Oh, and moral of the story...
Make sure everything fits before removing. If something doesnt seem that it lines up correctly, it probably doesnt.
I had a great time working on the Jeep yesterday. A simple radiator, hose, and t-stat swap turned into a nightmare.
At first everything went smooth, drained the coolant w/o making a mess, old radiator and t-stat out, no problems.
Put in the T-stat and the housing doesnt seem to fit right. Pour some distilled water down there and seemed to be okay.
Move onto the radiator (ready-rad) and the bottom tranny cooler line doesnt clear the body of the truck! Not even close. Its raining and nasty and I had to break out the M3 to drive to the parts store
.Get there and there other radiator has the same issue, the 90 degree elbow for the factory external tranny cooler sticks out to damn far. I getting desperate and call around and every other parts store carries the same brand radiator! Call the dealer, not in stock but runs $380!!!!
My last hope is a specialty radiator shop that I think will be $$$, but no they do have one in stock and a different brand. Cross my fingers and drive for 45 mins to find a much better looking CSF radiator that almost looks identical to stock. Ask about heavy duty and they recommended to ty this one first, they were confident it would do the trick. Best part was they price matched the parts stores for $112.
Got home and it cleared, but had some additional brackets I had to remove to clear the condensor.
Everything is back on order, fire it up and an instant LEAK! T-stat housing. Pull it off and sure enough not seated right, back to the parts store for another gasket (right before closing time).
Put it in and everything is good to go.
Sorry for all the drama, but it was a horrible experience
. My M3 cooling system overhaul including H2O pump was easier.....Now for the question. Went with a premium Stant 195 degree T-stat, new hoses and stock style radiator. Water pump was replaced by PO less than a year ago. Removed and cleaned temp sensor. When I am driving down the freeway (around 40 degrees or so) I am running around 180-190 degrees. Idling is around 190. Is this too cold? Before it used to run around 180 to 215 constantly sweeping. Is the brand new t-stat not running properly? I have had issues with Stant in the past and normally go with OEM for t-stats but wasnt an option this time.
Oh, and moral of the story...
Make sure everything fits before removing. If something doesnt seem that it lines up correctly, it probably doesnt.
01-28-2009, 03:05 PM
#2
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Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
It's cold out..Mine during the winter will run under 200..It's cold as hell so it's to be expected. At least I think so.. The true test will be come summer when it's hot and then you will see if it will keep things cool enough. I honestly wouldn't worry about it but that's just me.
01-28-2009, 05:26 PM
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sounds like its not reaching temp to open the t stat. do you have good heat? xj's can be a pain to bleed the air out of the system cuz the heater core is the same height as the top of the radiator.
if you have good heat i wouldn't worry, but make sure you used the right mix of coolant, too strong a mix will cause it to stay too cool.
if you have good heat i wouldn't worry, but make sure you used the right mix of coolant, too strong a mix will cause it to stay too cool.
01-28-2009, 05:42 PM
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very possible you still have air in the system. Let the engine run with the radiator cap off. Turn the fan on High, defrost and full heat. The engine will get nice and hot and allow the t-stat to open, If it doesnt you can let the engine run around 2000 RPMs for a bit to help it out.. It should open and suck more coolant down.
01-28-2009, 08:54 PM
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Year: 1994
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. Fun but $$$ to drive.... BMW = Break My WalletI will try and bleed the system more. I think BMW's are even harder to bleed, took me a dozen or so times parking on an incline and opening the bleeder screw to get it right (I think its good).
Drove the Jeep to work tonight and ran around 200 or so the entire trip on the freeway. Didnt sweep back and forth like it used to. Got to a little below 210 in traffic and t-stat would open kicking it back down.
I was so busy working on the Jeep last night I never realized my lift kit was delivered and sittin on my porch. Too bad tonight was my first night back and I have to work the rest of the week....
Last edited by 91 Laredo; 01-28-2009 at 08:58 PM.
01-28-2009, 08:57 PM
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Year: 1994
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sounds like its not reaching temp to open the t stat. do you have good heat? xj's can be a pain to bleed the air out of the system cuz the heater core is the same height as the top of the radiator.
if you have good heat i wouldn't worry, but make sure you used the right mix of coolant, too strong a mix will cause it to stay too cool.
if you have good heat i wouldn't worry, but make sure you used the right mix of coolant, too strong a mix will cause it to stay too cool.
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01-28-2009, 09:32 PM
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I did a complete cooling system overhaul a few weeks ago and now it barely cracks 185*. I jammed cardboard in front of the rad for now and it might get to 200-205 on the interstate now. My 99 has killer heat but I don't drive that in the winter. 
01-28-2009, 10:42 PM
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it also helps to jack up the driver side with a floor jack, making the top of the radiator higher than the heater core if its being difficult.
it isn't right cuz you described the way it should work and thats how it used to work. in this weather you'll see the t stat open, gauge goes down, then back up and stays close to operating temp. your t stat isn't opening, either air, bad stat (which is way too common now) or installed wrong.
it isn't right cuz you described the way it should work and thats how it used to work. in this weather you'll see the t stat open, gauge goes down, then back up and stays close to operating temp. your t stat isn't opening, either air, bad stat (which is way too common now) or installed wrong.
01-28-2009, 10:47 PM
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Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: inline 6 4.0L
During our recent rebuild, we replaced the rad. and thermostat, and mine never reaches 210. My heater seems to never get hot though. I'm wondering if these issues are related. I'm sure they are somewhat but is it the heater core?
01-29-2009, 05:14 AM
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Year: 1994
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I know the t-stat is installed correctly, spring goes in towards the block. I am getting constant hot air so I am not sure that there would be any air pockets in the system.
On the freeway on the way home it would run around 185 ish and off the freeway it was around 205 or so at idle. It seems that every so often it will dip down below 185. Its pretty cold outside, probably around 32.
It seems like if the t-stat wasnt opening it would overheat? I was having issues with my M3 where the t-stat was stuck open and would not heat up at all.
Hmmm......
Its a premium Stant t-stat. Should I yank it and go OEM or see how things go and keep an eye on it?
Should my gauge stay in one spot and be rock solid?
On the freeway on the way home it would run around 185 ish and off the freeway it was around 205 or so at idle. It seems that every so often it will dip down below 185. Its pretty cold outside, probably around 32.
It seems like if the t-stat wasnt opening it would overheat? I was having issues with my M3 where the t-stat was stuck open and would not heat up at all.
Hmmm......
Its a premium Stant t-stat. Should I yank it and go OEM or see how things go and keep an eye on it?
Should my gauge stay in one spot and be rock solid?
01-29-2009, 08:40 AM
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sounds like its not reaching temp to open the t stat. do you have good heat? xj's can be a pain to bleed the air out of the system cuz the heater core is the same height as the top of the radiator.
if you have good heat i wouldn't worry, but make sure you used the right mix of coolant, too strong a mix will cause it to stay too cool.
if you have good heat i wouldn't worry, but make sure you used the right mix of coolant, too strong a mix will cause it to stay too cool.