Well this is a strange one.

My upper radiator hose (5 years old only, installed by myself) started leaking on the radiator side. I couldn't tell if it was the clamp getting loose or cracks at the end, so I just replaced it with a spare that I carry.

And ever since, the Jeep is running cooler than before. Before, the temp dial was always a little bit on the hot side of 210. Summer idling always makes the dial go up slowly till the electric fan kicks in.

Now with the new hose, the dial is on the cool side of 210, and even drops quite a bit when the heat is engaged.

All these years I have been chasing this hot issue, and it was the hose.

Not sure why, maybe the new hose molding allows for more flow or the rubber allows for more dissipation of heat (that hose dissipates a lot of heat which is why the fan shoot right into it). Go figure.

 

Seems weird but OK.
One thing that always bugged me about the upper radiator hose was how no matter where you position
the battery it seems to rub it.
Scoffed a piece like over the AC compressor to put on that section.
I also managed to find a piece to use on the lower hose cause it kind of rubs on the steering box too.
One time I was delivering to one of our customers and they happened to be working on a Jeep.
I noticed the plastic "clamp" that secures the overflow hose to the upper radiator hose.
Thought to myself I don't have that. Found one in the boneyard too.

 

I got rid of that plastic clamp years ago and went with the zip tie. The clamp kept moving around.

 

Mine doesn't secure as cleanly as I would like, notice its position on the upper hose, but never moves.

 

I just went to Pepboys and bought the lower hose too to replace it in the spring when I flush the system. I am thinking I may have bought the wrong hoses 5 years ago (without air conditioning) when I need with air conditioning, which the guy said has a wider diameter. And it kinda looks like it in the picture.