Engine runing very HOT!!!!
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, CA
Engine runing very HOT!!!!
Ok what is the deal with this 3.8's? 
I been looking at the posts and this things run so hot that they can melt battery trays and wires.....
Is there a way to make this engine run cooler? Maybe thermostat change or something? I thinking of the hood vents.
Mine is not overheating or anything like that I just don't like how hot the engine area gets(you can't even touch anything because you burn your self) Maybe i need to flush my system, Has anyone noticed this also?
I been looking at the posts and this things run so hot that they can melt battery trays and wires.....
Is there a way to make this engine run cooler? Maybe thermostat change or something? I thinking of the hood vents.
Mine is not overheating or anything like that I just don't like how hot the engine area gets(you can't even touch anything because you burn your self) Maybe i need to flush my system, Has anyone noticed this also?
Last edited by HecJeep; Jun 30, 2009 at 06:51 AM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, Virginia
My 2dr x is starting to run hot, too. Part of it is the rubber engine hoses being covered in muddy water (caked), when they ought to sweat. Step one for me is to clean them up with a nylon brush and water
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Tracy, CA
1. Keep your engine clean (i know its a jeep its supposed to like mud, but not the engine).
2. Use an additional cooling additive (like water wetter), it lowers the surface tension of the cooling fluid allowing it to penetrate into the metals and reduces cavitation. It works.
3. Get a 180 or 195 degree thermostat and install it.
4. Beware of what you have in front of your grill, winches and lights can block critical airflow.
5. Depending on how hot yours is getting you can try lowering your coolant mix from 50/50 to maybe 60/40. The more water you have in your system the cooler it will run, the problem is that it requires much higher maintanance and you have to be careful to not lower your boiling point to below that operating temp of your engine (the glycol in coolant raises the boiling point and acts as the anit-freeze but also reduces the heat disipation capacity of the fluid).
2. Use an additional cooling additive (like water wetter), it lowers the surface tension of the cooling fluid allowing it to penetrate into the metals and reduces cavitation. It works.
3. Get a 180 or 195 degree thermostat and install it.
4. Beware of what you have in front of your grill, winches and lights can block critical airflow.
5. Depending on how hot yours is getting you can try lowering your coolant mix from 50/50 to maybe 60/40. The more water you have in your system the cooler it will run, the problem is that it requires much higher maintanance and you have to be careful to not lower your boiling point to below that operating temp of your engine (the glycol in coolant raises the boiling point and acts as the anit-freeze but also reduces the heat disipation capacity of the fluid).
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
I've always been a big supporter of running a cooler t-stat, depending on what it is you do with your vehicle, where you drive it, how much traffic it sees and so on.
BUT... the newer the vehicle, the more picky that ECU gets when you start to change things. I've heard some of the aftermarket programmers allow for you to run a cooler t-stat, that particular program would supercede your stock calibrations. I say mod it to the gills, whatever it may be... but don't be cheap, and spend the money to tell your ECU what you're doing. This is the way to get best results.
BUT... the newer the vehicle, the more picky that ECU gets when you start to change things. I've heard some of the aftermarket programmers allow for you to run a cooler t-stat, that particular program would supercede your stock calibrations. I say mod it to the gills, whatever it may be... but don't be cheap, and spend the money to tell your ECU what you're doing. This is the way to get best results.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, CA
1. Keep your engine clean (i know its a jeep its supposed to like mud, but not the engine).
2. Use an additional cooling additive (like water wetter), it lowers the surface tension of the cooling fluid allowing it to penetrate into the metals and reduces cavitation. It works.
3. Get a 180 or 195 degree thermostat and install it.
4. Beware of what you have in front of your grill, winches and lights can block critical airflow.
5. Depending on how hot yours is getting you can try lowering your coolant mix from 50/50 to maybe 60/40. The more water you have in your system the cooler it will run, the problem is that it requires much higher maintanance and you have to be careful to not lower your boiling point to below that operating temp of your engine (the glycol in coolant raises the boiling point and acts as the anit-freeze but also reduces the heat disipation capacity of the fluid).
2. Use an additional cooling additive (like water wetter), it lowers the surface tension of the cooling fluid allowing it to penetrate into the metals and reduces cavitation. It works.
3. Get a 180 or 195 degree thermostat and install it.
4. Beware of what you have in front of your grill, winches and lights can block critical airflow.
5. Depending on how hot yours is getting you can try lowering your coolant mix from 50/50 to maybe 60/40. The more water you have in your system the cooler it will run, the problem is that it requires much higher maintanance and you have to be careful to not lower your boiling point to below that operating temp of your engine (the glycol in coolant raises the boiling point and acts as the anit-freeze but also reduces the heat disipation capacity of the fluid).
Last edited by HecJeep; May 25, 2009 at 07:35 PM.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Tracy, CA
I am not 100% positive but I believe it is 210. I have heard a few swear it is 195, and I called the local service department and even they werent sure (weird too cause they are a great service center....the dealer they are part of sucks balls though).
