cherokee01

What is the normal tempature a 2001 cherokee 4.0 automatic should run at?

djb383

R u talking about engine coolant temp or tranny fluid temp?

Presuming u run a 195* t-stat and the total cooling system is performing at it's peak, normal engine coolant temp range would be say 190-200 in cold weather driving using the heater, up to say 215-225 hot weather driving using a/c. As long as the gauge points +/- the middle (or the light stays off), all is good.

Using a 195* stat, the normal range will be say 190* to 225* throughout the 4 seasons of driving conditions.

Tranny fluid temp will run 130*-140* winter driving and 190*-200* summer driving.....higher if towing.

Fred/N0AZZ

The 225* temp will bring the electric fan on or should for additional cooling before it hits that high and cool back down quickly to 210-215*. Other than that he is right on with the 190* or so for an average, mine runs about 180 most of the time in normal conditions.

cherokee01

Yes I was asking on engine temp. It has no thermostat in it now. Forgot to get it when I was putting back together yesterday. Getting it today. But it was running around 210 without it. I feel that's kinda on the high side. But I'm not sure that's why I'm asking.

djb383

Do u have access to a point-n-shoot infrared temp gun? The factory dash gauge is far from an accurate indicator of actual coolant temp and how coolant temp fluctuates, depending on driving conditions. I never said 190* or so was average.....I said "presuming u run a 195* t-stat, normal engine coolant temp range would be say 190-200 in cold weather driving using the heater". Running "about 180 most of the time" sounds like one is using a stat that is rated lower than a 195 stat, which changes everything, no? I'm not sure what the definition of "normal conditions" is.

salad

210 is within the normal range for an XJ with 4.0L and quite average.

There's a lot more to the cooling system than just the thermostat. The clutch fan, which is very important, will move more or less air depending on how how it gets. If you aren't flying along in the winter it is not surprising your Jeep doesn't act differently.

djb383

The thermostat does one thing only......determine minimum coolant temp. The rest of the cooling system components, their condition and driving conditions determine actual coolant temps above the stats rated temp.

What r the precise driving conditions when the coolant temp is actually at 210????......that would be the answer to the $64K question. Until the answer to that question is determined (hint, it's a trick question), the needle pointing at +/- the middle of the gauge just indicates indicates all is good, not that coolant temp is actually 210. The only thing truly accurate about 210, is that 210 is printed on the gauge.

210* is definitely within the range of normal lows/highs but cooling system condition and specific driving conditions determine when 210 is actually reached as the "average" temp. Wherever the needle points may not be always accurate when indicating an "average" temp, due to driving conditions constantly changing. .

RTorrez1

My 98 runs at 210 all day long. The only time I see it go above that is whan the ambient temp reaches 110deg, Then my temp will reach 214deg I have never seen it go above that except for one time, and that was when I drove into a swarm of butterflies and the filled the radiator and caused the temp to hit 225.

djb383

210 all day long......is that going by the factory dash gauge? Year round?

RTorrez1

I have checked it with an I.R. gun and it actually around 197. And yes at stays in the same area all year round.

djb383

.....and that's what most factory gauges r designed/rigged to do....to stay in the same area as long as factory temp parameters/ranges r being met. An aftermarket gauge will reflect the highs/lows of the factory temp parameters.

pismo61

My XJs temp gauge goes up and down with my scan gauge.My jks temp gauge is more of a dummy light with a needle (it just stays in one place till the temps get real hi).

djb383

Good to know your your XJ gauge goes up/down.......seems as though most don't. Our other 3 family vehicles r like your JKs......once warmed up, needle never moves but the ScanGauge "tells it like it is" showing temps fluctuating up/down depending on the changing driving conditions throughout a days worth of driving.

salad

My 1999's moves just fine

djb383

Apparently some do, some don't......so, what's the temp if it's not pointing at 100 or 210 or 260???? Just kidding. LOL