I have a 95 XJ with 4.0 inline six. It overheated, like mount saint Helen, the other day and to make a very long story short, I found the head was warped and had it shaved 8 thousandths. When checked with a straight edge I could slide a 6 thousandths feeler gauge under the straight edge on cylinders 3 &4.
I also installed a new temp sender on the rear of the head because the old one broke when I disconnected the wire. Installed the head this morning and put it all back together.
Re-installed the radiator and hoses and transmission lines, filled it with coolant. After I worked all (I think all) the air out of the cooling system, it still runs just under the red mark on the temp gauge. The electric fan never kicks on and when I loosen the cap it doesn't blow coolant out like it did the other day.
Tomorrow I think I will pick up an IR thermometer and check the temp that way. I have no idea what the temp gauge was reading when it overheated the first time, my son was driving it and he told me he never looked.

Am I missing something? Am I moving in the right direction?

Edit: This is a 4.0 H.O. engine. It is a former police vehicle from Pa. It still has the extended idle switch that is functional. The radiator was new last year and I installed a new thermostat today. I also checked the thermostat to be sure it works before I put it in.
I don't know if any of this additional info helps but here it is anyway.

 

Did you have the head checked for cracks?

 

The head was tested for cracks. None found.

 

All I can say is the e fan comes on at around 217* It's a 95? Maybe the fan should some on with the defrost on, and with the AC on if it's charged.

Maybe you are fine! Others will know more than me on your 95.

 

I think you're going in the right direction, checking the temp with an IR thermometer. Did you replace the thermostat? Overheating could probably have warped the thermostat. If so, what brand did you use?

 

I replaced the thermostat. I thought it was the cause of the initial overheat. Checked the new one in a pan of water on the stove before I installed it. Not sure of the brand but I did get it from a Jeep dealer.

 

I just ran it about 20 min and checked it with an IR thermometer. It tells me it is running at 155 to 180 degrees depending on where I point it. The thermostat housing never gets above 180. The upper radiator hose pretty much hovers around 165. I shot the head around the temp sending unit and it shows 200 degrees.
My temp gauge stays just off the red area, 250(?) degrees. I disconnected the gauge and it dropped below 100 then I grounded it and it pegged. As I said before the sending unit on the back of the head is new. I have no Idea why the gauge is reading the way it does.

 

Once a guy put in a sender for a gauge when he had a light. His light would come on dim, flicker, do weird stuff. I wonder what a sender for a light would do in a Jeep with a gauge? I suppose nothing unless it overheated, then peg it?

I wonder if you have a 180* thermostat. I use a 195.

 

When I bought the sending unit they asked me if it had a gauge or a light. I told them gauge. At this point, I'm wondering myself.

The thermostat is supposed to be stock for that engine.