Hi,

I have a 96 jeep xj with a 3.5" RE lift kit on 31s. The jeep is built for beach use (Outer Banks). The sand can be soft and depending on the day I could have a decent load.

This is my setup.
Fresh coolant
Flowkooler 1747 Water Pump
zj clutch fan
97-01 ac fan

The other day the temp was ~80F. Around downtown I started to get hotter than I like, I'd say ~220F. I was running the AC.
What could be going wrong? If I get hot on pavement I'll definietly overheat in the sand. I'm assuming some will mention the water pump. But, before I change back to the stock I'd like to get some opinions.
I'm still troubled that it would have that negative of an effect to counter act the other improvements I've made.

 

Probably a bad clutch fan if it's heating up in traffic-stop lights.

Make sure your coolant looks good. It won't hurt to change it out.

 

Well, first let's check the obvious - is your electric fan working correctly? Does it come on when it should? How's your T-stat?

We have members here who live in places like Arizona who have no cooling problems with stock equipment, so if yours is not cooling well, either something is broken or....

Or too much water flow is actually not good in a stock vehicle, since it doesn't allow the coolant to stay in the radiator long enough to transfer the heat.

 

220F is normal...the factory electric fan does not even come on until 221F...you will always hit this idling in traffic at 80F

What you absolutely need for a beach rig is an trans temp gauge

fit in in the "trans temp gauge port" on your '96

your AW4will overheat in the sand, and you will have no way of knowing

with a gauge, at least you can stop and give it a rest

the stock trans cooler is too small

 

Yep. An external cooler isn't a bad idea even for a street queen.

 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing about the water pump...

 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing about the water pump...

 

Any recommendations for a trans cooler?

 

Also, I was assuming my needle was at 220F but I'm not actually sure. Where on the gauge is 220F?

 

There are other coolers out there but I can recommend the B&M #70264.

The temp gauges on these XJ's aren't the most accurate. Best to borrow or buy an infrared thermometer. Point it at the thermostat housing at operating temp to verify the actual temp.

 

what type of external cooler do you want to use?

Round / Cylinder air cooled?

Or a flat radiator style one you would mount to front of radiator or condenser?

Example of a round one
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/product/221617

Example of a flat version
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/product/222988

Both work well. Comes down to where/ how you want to mount it.

What radiator do you have? Is it a plastic aluminum OEM 1 row? Might be better off just going to an upgrade on the radiator and can continue to run transmission cooler internal
2 row would give you better heat transfer.

If you have the 91+ model, you'd have a cap on the top of radiator. that is the open system layout
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/prod...221504/1180055

if 87-90 they normally don't have a cap, use a pressurized overflow bottle.
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/prod...221565/1179716

Links for reference as i sell these parts.. Not pushing anything.

Michael
radexpress
609 978 6666 x 1

 

Any decent brand. B&M, Hayden. They aren't complicated. The Radiator Express guy asked some good questions. Good to think about them.

If you want to go Cadillac, put one BEFORE the in-radiator cooler, to dump some transmission heat before it gets to your coolant, and put one AFTER the radiator to dump more heat before it goes back to the trans. With your intended use, that might not be a bad idea.

 

Good info, thanks!

 

Where is 220F on the temperature gauge? What temp does the red bar start at?

 

Try getting a cheap scan tool and read from the coolant temperature sensor.