Heating up XJ! Can't find problem.
03-20-2016, 05:22 PM
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Heating up XJ! Can't find problem.
So I recently bought a pretty well built XJ. Some of the few, more important mods I think might have something to do with it heating up are the following. HP D30 front, ford 8.8 rear. Both locked. 4.56, running 35s. It has 2 fans up front. Both seem to be working fine. We replaced the water pump and most of the important hoses, thermostat and other minor parts. It's still heating up ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY! It seems like the faster I go the more it heats up. Was thinking of replacing the radiator next, but I have a strong feeling that's not the culprit. Plus it looks pretty good, no leaks or damage to it. 96 XJ 4.0 inline 6 engine, aw4 automatic transmission. Please help!
Last edited by JSaenz; 03-20-2016 at 05:53 PM.
03-20-2016, 05:49 PM
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03-20-2016, 11:09 PM
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03-20-2016, 11:24 PM
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Actually no, that's not what he was doing. That was a pretty standard first question on this board because any of us who would like to help you need to know what machine we're working with. Any time you post, you should include that info so people give you the correct response.
03-20-2016, 11:30 PM
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Actually no, that's not what he was doing. That was a pretty standard first question on this board because any of us who would like to help you need to know what machine we're working with. Any time you post, you should include that info so people give you the correct response.
03-20-2016, 11:32 PM
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these two fans, are they the factory clutch fan/electric fan or are they double aftermarket type fans?
if factory, i would check or replace the fan clutch. and again, if the electric fan is factory, is it coming on when it gets hot?
do you have a proper shroud in place?
if they are aftermarket, what side of the rad are they on and are they a push or pull type, and are they the correct (push/pull) for what side they are on?
but there are many parts to your cooling system that needs to be working properly.
if factory, i would check or replace the fan clutch. and again, if the electric fan is factory, is it coming on when it gets hot?
do you have a proper shroud in place?
if they are aftermarket, what side of the rad are they on and are they a push or pull type, and are they the correct (push/pull) for what side they are on?
but there are many parts to your cooling system that needs to be working properly.
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03-20-2016, 11:57 PM
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Take off the grill. What does the front of the radiator look like? Caked with a bunch of mud or can you see through easily. Did you replace the lower radiator hose by chance?
03-21-2016, 12:25 AM
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Just spitballing some ideas:
I think I would consider a cooling system overhaul. If this Jeep is new to you, you really don't know what condition the cooling system is in. So radiator, cap, thermostat, hoses, water pump and fan clutch (if it still has the mechanical fan) and flush flush flush. I hate to just throw parts at a problem, but a cooling system overhaul is really just regular maintenance on an XJ.
Also, this might seem like a weird direction to go, but how's the transmission? An overheating automatic transmission can dump heat into the cooling system. Maybe you're asking too much of a tired AW4 with that big axle and fat tires.
A blown head gasket can also cause overheating on the highway, but I wouldn't jump directly to the worst conclusion.
I think I would consider a cooling system overhaul. If this Jeep is new to you, you really don't know what condition the cooling system is in. So radiator, cap, thermostat, hoses, water pump and fan clutch (if it still has the mechanical fan) and flush flush flush. I hate to just throw parts at a problem, but a cooling system overhaul is really just regular maintenance on an XJ.
Also, this might seem like a weird direction to go, but how's the transmission? An overheating automatic transmission can dump heat into the cooling system. Maybe you're asking too much of a tired AW4 with that big axle and fat tires.
A blown head gasket can also cause overheating on the highway, but I wouldn't jump directly to the worst conclusion.
03-21-2016, 12:56 AM
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these two fans, are they the factory clutch fan/electric fan or are they double aftermarket type fans?
if factory, i would check or replace the fan clutch. and again, if the electric fan is factory, is it coming on when it gets hot?
do you have a proper shroud in place?
if they are aftermarket, what side of the rad are they on and are they a push or pull type, and are they the correct (push/pull) for what side they are on?
but there are many parts to your cooling system that needs to be working properly.
if factory, i would check or replace the fan clutch. and again, if the electric fan is factory, is it coming on when it gets hot?
do you have a proper shroud in place?
if they are aftermarket, what side of the rad are they on and are they a push or pull type, and are they the correct (push/pull) for what side they are on?
but there are many parts to your cooling system that needs to be working properly.
03-21-2016, 01:02 AM
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Just spitballing some ideas:
I think I would consider a cooling system overhaul. If this Jeep is new to you, you really don't know what condition the cooling system is in. So radiator, cap, thermostat, hoses, water pump and fan clutch (if it still has the mechanical fan) and flush flush flush. I hate to just throw parts at a problem, but a cooling system overhaul is really just regular maintenance on an XJ.
Also, this might seem like a weird direction to go, but how's the transmission? An overheating automatic transmission can dump heat into the cooling system. Maybe you're asking too much of a tired AW4 with that big axle and fat tires.
A blown head gasket can also cause overheating on the highway, but I wouldn't jump directly to the worst conclusion.
I think I would consider a cooling system overhaul. If this Jeep is new to you, you really don't know what condition the cooling system is in. So radiator, cap, thermostat, hoses, water pump and fan clutch (if it still has the mechanical fan) and flush flush flush. I hate to just throw parts at a problem, but a cooling system overhaul is really just regular maintenance on an XJ.
Also, this might seem like a weird direction to go, but how's the transmission? An overheating automatic transmission can dump heat into the cooling system. Maybe you're asking too much of a tired AW4 with that big axle and fat tires.
A blown head gasket can also cause overheating on the highway, but I wouldn't jump directly to the worst conclusion.
Last edited by JSaenz; 03-21-2016 at 01:05 AM.
03-21-2016, 01:07 AM
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03-21-2016, 05:11 AM
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Wait, what?
Am I your personal internet assistant? Should I be waiting at my computer, just waiting for you to log on?
The question asked was legit. And thank you, extrashaky, for explaining why I asked the question. Also for your advice, it is exactly what I would have told him.
OP, if you want advice...you need to learn to be patient sometimes. If I don't reply right away, someone on here will. I have my own junk to work on. That said, if you want to take some of the load off your cooling system, get an auxiliary cooler for the trans. Replace the rad at the same time. Just because it "looks okay" doesn't mean it is. Maybe it's got some sediment or scale in it, preventing it from doing it's job. It's also inexpensive.
Am I your personal internet assistant? Should I be waiting at my computer, just waiting for you to log on?
The question asked was legit. And thank you, extrashaky, for explaining why I asked the question. Also for your advice, it is exactly what I would have told him.
OP, if you want advice...you need to learn to be patient sometimes. If I don't reply right away, someone on here will. I have my own junk to work on. That said, if you want to take some of the load off your cooling system, get an auxiliary cooler for the trans. Replace the rad at the same time. Just because it "looks okay" doesn't mean it is. Maybe it's got some sediment or scale in it, preventing it from doing it's job. It's also inexpensive.