So I'll start off by saying this is my first "new" vehicle and first JEEP.

Got her with 5800 miles in September.

She's been good to me since, hit 21k this weekend. I drive a lot for work.

Anyway, at 15k or so they did the water pump under factory warranty cause it was making some squealing, never overheating at all, they just decided to change it and it's been great since then too.

The temperature needle never moved from the middle. I mean it's always been right at the middle like every JK owner brags about.

This weekend, I had to drive into NYC. As soon as I exited the Lincoln Tunnel into NYC I noticed the temp needle moved ever so slightly passed the middle. I mean it moved like 1 mm maybe 2, enough that I could see the middle line between Hot and Cold. It came back down to middle like 1 minute later and did it again at the next light or stop and came back down quickly.

I WAS sitting in traffic for a bit but nothing crazier than normal NJ traffic.

The jeep still drove normally, nothing out of the ordinary.

The next morning I popped the hood open and checked the rad overfill tank and radiator, and everything was as it should. And no leaks anywhere.

Please don't mind noob-ness... is this something to worry about? is it normal?

Any insight is apprecited.

 

If your needle moved 1mm I wouldn't be worried. When sitting In traffic at a stop sometimes it helps to move from drive to neutral. It helps the trans fluid cool.

 

she's standard transmission.

 

Radiator fins looking in good shape? Not clogged or bent?

 

fin are good. nothing clogged or bent. i went under there to look for mud or dirt, it was clean and solid.

 

any other input from the jeep connoisseurs? any insight is appreciated.

 

Mine does this often, once it goes above the halfway mark the electric fan will kick on and it will drop back down to the halfway mark. I have a Super Chips gauge on my dash and halfway is around 200 degrees mine will go as high as 230 but the fan brings it down pretty quick. Next time listen for the fan, you should be able to hear it.

 

I bought the elm327 to monitor temps on me phone... ill give it a try.