Robotkiller

So I've started my cross country trip in my 98 xj pulling my home made aluminum trailer. Finding the right radiator has been a challenge but met a master radiator tech in Laramie Wyoming you helped me out I'm now running a two row 5/8 tube 1/8 find which cools so much better. But still on step grades running above normal. I believe I'm running 3.55 gears with a aw4 auto. Question is 3 fans or 3.72 gear or manual or all the above. Or any other advice on the road now so limited tools.

00t444e

How much weight are you pulling and what are your temps?

Robotkiller

Pulling 1800 temp at just above the first line after 210. It gets there and holds steady but that has also been the point where I reach the top of the grade afraid that's going to get me in trouble on longer grades.

WyoCherokee

The 4.0 is designed to run at 210 to 212 degrees. The factory gauge is essentially a dummy gauge and doesn't tell you the true temperature. You really need to know how hot its actually getting by installing an auxillary temp guage like an autometer. Any auto parts store will have them, and the adapter that you install on your hot line to your heater core. It reads the temperature as the coolant comes out of your engine. You can also get a cheapo IR gun and shoot the thermostat housing. Anything above 220 is where you want to start backing her down or stopping to let it cool off. The 4.0 will reach 212 before the fan clutch kicks on and 220 before the aux fan kicks on, and it will hover in the 212 to 215 range when under load. Check your fan clutch for proper operation and that your engine was flushed when they replaced the radiator. Also has the ATF in your transmission been changed recently? the AW4 is cooled through the radiator, and a hot transmission will elevate engine operating temps. Gears will ultimately help you, but you are not going to do that on the road.

Robotkiller

The Trans was rebuilt before I left there's a over sized Trans cooler mounted over the electric fan that fan is on a switch witch I run when I'm pulling the trailer. Anyway I've done most everything I can expect change gears ratio add three fan set up. I'm wondering if the gear swap would keep the speed up and the rpm down under load I do believe 3.72 was what they put in the tow package on the cherokee. As far as mechanic skills I can take apart and put back together put am terribly at diagnosis.

Robotkiller

The Trans was rebuilt before I left there's a over sized Trans cooler mounted over the electric fan that fan is on a switch witch I run when I'm pulling the trailer. Anyway I've done most everything I can expect change gears ratio add three fan set up. I'm wondering if the gear swap would keep the speed up and the rpm down under load I do believe 3.72 was what they put in the tow package on the cherokee. As far as mechanic skills I can take apart and put back together put am terribly at diagnosis.