[Just_Me]

Hello all !!

It seems that the worst of Oklahomas summer is gone, and the XJ survived, but she is still sick. Possibly someone here can help.

Last weekend, I changed the water pump, fan clutch, removed the thermostat, drained the cooling system and added a bottle of Prestone's radiator flush. Would have prefered to changed the pump after completing the flush, but the slow drip from the pump turned into a steady stream so quickly, I was afraid to wait it out. I have a new195 degree stat, that will go back in it, after backflushing the system in a week or so. I also have a complete set of hoses that will be installed then too. (Considering getting proactive on it, with a new heater core then too).

Anyway, this XJ is still getting pretty warm, even though the temps are down in Oklahoma. But it overheats "STRANGELY". It doesn't just get hot, it slowly creeps up. I mean .......S...L...OOOO....W !!

It'll cruise along fine say at 65 MPH, around 2000 rpm, and hang just under 210, then ten minutes later, its just a hair over. after about an hour and 15 minutes, it is up around the third line, or higher. It does it going both two and from, on the same route, which is partially modern-day turnpike, part two lane state highway.

I am unsure as what to do about this. It is leaking no cooling fluid from anywhere, and there is none in the oil either. This is pretty much how it was acting right before the equipment replacement last weeken, ....save that it just doesn't get quite as hot. But I am unsure if that is because of the cooler weather, or because of the fanclutch/pump/etc.

I am used to seeing autos overheat by just getting hot,... not by slowly creeping up in temp, but this is my first Jeep.

Suggestions???

[xjfever]

sounds like a partially clogged radiator to me.

[littleblackXj]

X2 on the clogged radiator. I would also say t-stat but you already replaced it.

[Just_Me]

I can see that being possible. The coolant was very rusty. I'll go ahead and do the back-flush (have it done). If that doesn't solve the problem, I guess the next steps would be a new temp sending unit, and possibly a new radiator.

[Just_Me]

I failed to remove the inner spring, on the bottom hose, and put it in the new one, when I replaced it. It seems that it has been being sucked closed, and creating the "plugged" radiator. Oh, well. Live and learn!!

[powerplantboss]

I'v seen this before check the Cat on the exhaust system that is what it sounds like it is and also check to make sure the electric fan is rotating in the right direction. On the cat when it starts to get plugged it will make the engine start to run hotter i have had this happen on chevys and on fords. i also have had a car reasently that was getting hot and some one eles had worked on it the electric fan had not been installed correctly and the rotation was wrong. (remember the fan is to suck air into the engine compartment through the radiator, also check the fan on the fan clutch it is designed to work the same).

[Just_Me]

Thanks man. I'm pretty sure the Cat is fine, as I replaced it last fall when I replaced the muffler and O2 sensor. I would be a bit surprised if it has clogged already, and I am not getting any indication from the O2 sensor that there is a problem in the exhaust. The electric fan does rotate correctly, and the fan on the fan clutch only goes on one way. Even if ya turn it around, it still rotates and blows air in the same direction.

I noticed the lower hose crushed just a little bit, and happened across an article that mentioned it will get sucked closed without the inner spring, at higher speeds. This is exactly what mine is doing, and cools rather quickly while siting at the sonic waiting on a cherry limeaid, on my way to or from work.

Funny....I noticed that the new hose didn't have a spring in it, and even wondered if I should have pulled it and put it in the new one. Now I know!!