MSAM9699

I am a new jeep owner and I'm concerned about the temperature when idling. I am not used to seeing 210 when idling on a vehicle. I feel as if I'm going crazy thinking about it. When I'm driving it goes down below 210 like I'm used to but when I idle it goes to 210. It is 90+ degrees where I am at and heat index is even hotter than that. But in the late evenings when it cools down it still does it. Once again, not over heating. Just working myself up over it and just needed some input.

Thanks!

PatHenry

210 is the proper operating temperature. It sounds to me like you're completely functional. No need to worry.

MSAM9699

Thank you so much. I worry way too much. I had some vehicle issues that scared me previously when it came to temp. Being a first time jeep owner I was clueless. Just didn't make since why it would climb while I'm in town in traffic and then once I get to moving faster it goes back down.

Thank you.

PatHenry

Anytime!

It's cooler when moving because of the greater air flow over the radiator and engine and increased coolant flow. At idle it's just the fan(s) dissipating the heat.
My 95 runs about 202-ish at most times, but goes to 210 when it's hot and I'm doing a lot of idling/crawling (through traffic, unfortunately.)

fb97xj1

I wouldnt worry about it until it hits 220 at idle and the electric fan doesnt turn on. To further help lessen your worry running at 210, the last time i checked my 97 with the code reader after a long drive with no a/c, it (the code reader) read a little under 200. The gauge read a hair under 210. If you are curious about the actual temps, you can use a code reader that can display live data, or buy an IR thermometer and point it at the thermostat housing. Gauges are not 100% accurate so the IR is one of the first things many will suggest when it appears the engine is running too hot, or if you think its running hot for whatever reason.

MSAM9699

MSAM9699

EZEARL

Is this an XJ or ZJ? 4.0L engine?

PatHenry

A grand cherokee has a different setup than an XJ (regular cherokee which has 2 fans - a mechanical and auxiliary electric ) so you'd have to look and see how many you have. Regardless of fan setup or model, a Jeep I6's (or the 4.7 V8's) normal operating temp is 210. I would guess that you have a single electric fan IIRC, in which case it will kick on to keep the engine at 210.

EZEARL

Rock Auto offers both an electric fan and a fan clutch for a '99 ZJ. Anyway he says his fan kicks on at 210. Could be his temp gauge sending unit is causing his gauge to read wrong. If his fan is coming on his temp may well be as high as 218+. He needs to verify his temp.

BlueRidgeMark

By the way, if you have a Grand Cherokee, you want the Grand Cherokee forum, which is here.

MSAM9699

I figured it out. Thank you everyone. I realized I posted in this group when I should've posted in the Grand Cherokee WJ group(I did once I realized this). Again, im new to this. Thank you again everyone.

msumms

I have a 96 xj and the temp creeps to 222 at idle. then at 222, the electric fan comes on and kicks it down to 212-15 (according to obdII, i have no gauge just idiot lights). i have replaced the fan clutch with stock, temp sensor at the thermostat housing (dealer part), and the electric fan, flushed and burped. basically everything i could do without overhauling the entire cooling system.

mind you this is all at idle, and it takes a couple minutes to get up there. the car doesn't overheat while driving and never goes above 210 otherwise. so i'm guessing its an air flow issue. it has the stock tranny cooler in front of the radiator so i'm guessing thats restricting some air flow, but i'm worried about the e fan not kicking on until the coolant temp sensor reads 222 even after replacing the sensor. e fan it comes on automatically with AC. Heat blows hot, ac blows cold, burping the radiator with the heat on reduces the coolant level at the radiator neck so I know the core isn't blocked. Coolant flushed thoroughly and is bright green after 500 miles.

any ideas? i realize overriding the computer for the E fan would probably solve the issue but i feel like it would be a time consuming band aid.

PatHenry

I had a similar issue and I put a new thermostat in and it solved the issue.