I read something about getting a compression test done. How if at all could I do this at home. Is this something that must only be done at a shop??

 

you wanna check to see what your fan isnt kicking on. should come on at 215*

 

Replace the fan clutch, you must have sufficient air pulling through the rad.

 

I thought your rad shop told you something might not be up to par? Again, the conditions (trail riding) under which your vehicle is being operated, is simply overwhelming your cooling systems capability.......nothing to do with running a t-stat or not. A t-stat simply controls the minimum operating temp.

It sounds like you want your street Jeep to perform like a competition off-road rig. No competition rig is running a factory stock cooling system. If you want your XJ, or any other vehicle for that matter, to not overheat under extreme driving conditions then be prepared to do some cooling system mods/improvements.........electric water pump, bigger surface area rad, etc., etc. Jerking around with the t-stat ain't goin' to cut it.

 

I belive you can rent a compression tester from autozone, It can easily be done at home. http://www.automedia.com/Engine_Comp...cr20050801cc/1
this seems to be a fairly good how to

 

had a gunked heater core in my other jeep not my 99. i know plenty of offroad rig xj's that are still running the stock cooling system. im not saying im trying to make a competion rig just a very capable weekend one. i have a 3 core radiator, dual electric fan and spaced hood on my 99. you still havent told me why my cherokee runs cooler with the stock thermostat

 

Ok so the compression test seems fairly straight foward but after reading in on it, it seems it is a test to determine worn piston rings or valves or valve seats. How can I differentiate between worn internals and a blown head gasket??

 

I replaced my fan clutch last year

 

215?? I thought it was 225!?

 

its between 215 and 220. suppose to be 217 to be exact

 

Did you do your t-stat comparison back-to-back, the same day, same ambient temp, same trail, same distance, same run time, exact same conditions for both or no t-stat(s)??? If you did, then my bad.........your vehicle is the exception. If you didn't, you don't have a valid comparison.

 

went out with a 160*, temp started to climb so i took the thermostat out. after that it boiled over. i thought about what everyone said so after it cooled down i put the stock 192 back in and continued to wheel. magically my overheating issue was gone. i know what happened to my own jeep.

 

When changing t-stats, did u properly dispose of the antifreeze/coolant while out on the trail? I don't believe in magic.

 

of coarse im part of the blue ribbon coalition. wanna try and argue about that too?

 

How can I argue with magic?