How hot is too hot?
 

Most Cherokee owners as well as myself are always concerned about overheating issues. I plan on towing a trailer with my '95 4.0 auto and have a new cooling system. My question is, how hot (temp) can the cherokee run and still be ok? I know these motors can take a lot of abuse. I have a freind that says he has gotten his cherokee so hot several times (no temp gauge) that coolant was seeping out between the block and head, the radiator hissing like a steam whistle. After he let it cool down, it ran normal like nothing ever happened and still runs good to this day. I don't plan on going to that extreme.

run it till it catches on FIYA!!!!!

Right around 220-230 is the max IMO. 4.0's have a tendency to blow head gaskets when they overheat...Tj

First your friend has a blown head gasket. Don't ride withhim any farther than you are willing to walk.

Your jeep should maintain a temp of about 210 deg. If it were to climb to the 220-230 range for short periods of time, like on a hill. I would not be concerned. If it were to go above 230 and stay there I would pull over and let it cool and check for leakage.

x2, and check your coolant level before. i take a gallon of water with me in the back at all times in all my vehicles because of the problems i had with my yota

Thanks. The only thing I am unsure of is the t-stat. And from what I gathered on here, the 195 degree t-stat is the only one to use.

i would consider a trans cooler if you do a lot of towing the stock one in the rad is not up to heavy pulling

Me myself I use a 180 in summer and 195 in winter...Tj

195 will get you the best gas mileage, and if your cooling system is in good working condition then you will be fine. common problems on the 4.0 is leaking water pump or bloated/ worn out lower radiator hose. so make sure you check those as well. i run a 180 t-stat because i don't use it on the road very much and soon to upgrade to a duel electric fan with automatic cut on and off switch. also i ran my old 88 4.0 @ like 230-240 on a daily basis and it seemed to run fine like that for about a year. then just one day on the way to work it EXPLODED!!! so just cause it feels fine @ 240...its not, it is DIEING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the temp rising when going up log hills and randomly when on interstate and around town. Just got the Jeep and did a tune up,( Radiator flush, plugs, rotor button, dist cap,) when driving I noticed that it would heat up to 230 or so going up long hills and on the highway. I just put in a 180 thermostat and now it runs cool and only gets up to 210 going up long hills and intermittently on the highway. what causes the temp to do this? 210 isn't hot and it doesn't overheat but why such a variance in temp?

Could be the factory gauge reading incorrectly. The t-stat only controls minimum coolant temp.

I replaced the radiator in the wifes XJ last summer, and replaced the t-stat with 180. Only time it heats now is long grades. Happened friday climbing from 500' to 1600' on White Oak Mtn literally pegged the gauge out. Had to stop and let it cool. Then headed down the mtn and cooled it down only to have it happen again. Check thecoolant and it was 2 liters low. :cursing:

I wish there was room for a nice 4 core radiator in it about 24" tall. :cry:

my jeep runs at a solid 220 all the time,,is there a way to make it run cooler

put the right tstat in it djb383 isnt an engineer but the guys at jeep are that put a 195 tstat in are.

The most you'll ever get is right before the point of self destruction. Mine runs around 230 in the summer and other than a little heat soak occasionally I have not had to worry.