Average coolant temp

[weathergirl3]

What's the average coolant temp for a Willys JLU 3.6l V6? I have a little over 8k miles and feel she's running a little warm. I tried Google and my owners manual, and while I did get answers, I'd rather hear from owners.

We recently went though a (fun!) mud pit and I have cleaned the radiator several times since then but am still a little concerned.

Sponsored

 

[JT23JL]

I am not sure that there is an average coolant temperature.. Different driving and weather conditions can have an effect on the coolant temperature. Anything in the 200 – 230 degree Fahrenheit range for the 3.6L engine is probably nothing to worry about. Temperatures in the 240 range are not unheard of.

Are you seeing coolant temperatures higher than what you have seen in the past?

 

[smokeythecat]

I regularly see temps hit around 230F. One thing that might ease your mind is to look at the analog gage. It's a pretty safe bet they have it set so the center is an average running temperature. At least that's where the needle on mine is most of the time.

 

[flyer92]

Anything in the 200 – 230 degree Fahrenheit range for the 3.6L engine is probably nothing to worry about. Temperatures in the 240 range are not unheard of.

This is about what I'm seeing too, although it can depend heavily on ambient temperatures, loading, terrain, speed, etc. The previous generation of this same engine in my 2016 Grand Cherokee runs about 20 degrees cooler, so the higher temps in the JL really got my attention as well. If you are observing temps as JT23JL discussed above, you should be OK.

 

[mwilk012]

It’s the programming of the fan controller that causes the difference. The thermostat begins to open at 194F and is fully open at 212F.

Turn your A/C on max and it should come down.

 

[The Fixer]

It’s the programming of the fan controller that causes the difference. The thermostat begins to open at 194F and is fully open at 212F.

Turn your A/C on max and it should come down.

I was running around in my wife's 3.6 JLU yesterday, and noticed temps in the low 200's, up to a high of 221 before the fan lazily kicked on.

Meanwhile, the fan in my 2.0 JL sounds like you're on a runway next to an airplane.

 

[jav_eee]

What’s “a little warm” to you? These engine temps are all over the place. 195 to 221 is what I’ve seen under light city driving and idling.

 

[Richardrocks]

I’ve posted about this before and other forum members and the service advisor at my dealer have said to ignore temps unless it throws a code.

On mine around town and on any trail, even coasting downhill, fan comes on high briefly at 231F and temp drops to 215 ish, then repeat. Over and over. It’s only ever in the low 200s if I’m cruising on the highway. Doesn’t matter if it’s 30 or 80 out, mine loves to hang out above 220. Curious to see what happens on a 100 degree day.

My Ram stays very consistent for the most part, whereas the Wrangler fluctuates up and down 20 degrees all day long Hope it’s “normal”! Maybe this is why Ford and most other brands I’ve driven don’t show engine temp readout ?

 

[jav_eee]

ICurious to see what happens on a 100 degree day.

Oh I can answer this. It’ll be the same temps. We’ve been having these highs for a week already with “feels like” nearing 120°.

 

[weathergirl3]

I am not sure that there is an average coolant temperature.. Different driving and weather conditions can have an effect on the coolant temperature. Anything in the 200 – 230 degree Fahrenheit range for the 3.6L engine is probably nothing to worry about. Temperatures in the 240 range are not unheard of.

Are you seeing coolant temperatures higher than what you have seen in the past?

I've hit 240 a few times after my mud nose dive (what a blast though!) but I've had the radiator cleaned a few times since then. On my 9 minute drive home, I'll be at 203 when I get to my driveway. I think I'm just more aware of my temps now that I have been in the past.

 

[weathergirl3]

What’s “a little warm” to you? These engine temps are all over the place. 195 to 221 is what I’ve seen under light city driving and idling.

I have a 9 minute drive home from work and I'll be at 203 when I get to my driveway. I'll hit 220-231 after driving up a larger hill. I think I'm just more aware of my temps, now, because of my muddy nose dive at Bantam, which did clog my radiator. I've had it cleaned, and will clean more, several times since then but now I obsessively watch my temps. I've hit 240 a few times (and a little above the half marker) but that was before my radiator was cleaned as well as it is now.

 

[speedymart]

It shouldn't really be going above 230 under normal conditions. At 240 the fans should be running full blast. If you're regularly hitting 240 under normal driving then there's something wrong. 250 is flat out overheating.

 

[SavannahAL]

I’ve posted about this before and other forum members and the service advisor at my dealer have said to ignore temps unless it throws a code.

On mine around town and on any trail, even coasting downhill, fan comes on high briefly at 231F and temp drops to 215 ish, then repeat. Over and over. It’s only ever in the low 200s if I’m cruising on the highway. Doesn’t matter if it’s 30 or 80 out, mine loves to hang out above 220. Curious to see what happens on a 100 degree day.

My Ram stays very consistent for the most part, whereas the Wrangler fluctuates up and down 20 degrees all day long Hope it’s “normal”! Maybe this is why Ford and most other brands I’ve driven don’t show engine temp readout ?

My experience was similar to yours maybe even a little worse. I posted about it before. Mine was a 2018 purchased new 20 August 2018. My temps were between 215 to 244 and overheated several times leaving me stranded for an hour until it cooled down. I posted on it here previously. No codes were thrown even when it was overheating - I couldn't tell you why. And same as you it didn't matter if it was 30 or 80 as the outside temp, it acted that way summer or winter.

One other thing to the OP. I asked what the normal operating temp was at the dealership. You know that old joke when you ask someone the time and they tell you how to build a clock? The answer was 10 minutes long and didn't answer anything. It was = depends on your driving habits, season of year (temp), traffic congestion, elevation, ... my eyes started rolling over.

Fast forward to February 2022 and I picked up a new 2022 JL Ecodiesel. That 3.0 diesel had been great for me. 27mpg in town, 29mpg highway with gobs of torque for towing. Been very happy with it.

 

[Richardrocks]

Yike

My experience was similar to yours maybe even a little worse. I posted about it before. Mine was a 2018 purchased new 20 August 2018. My temps were between 215 to 244 and overheated several times leaving me stranded for an hour until it cooled down. I posted on it here previously. No codes were thrown even when it was overheating - I couldn't tell you why. And same as you it didn't matter if it was 30 or 80 as the outside temp, it acted that way summer or winter.

One other thing to the OP. I asked what the normal operating temp was at the dealership. You know that old joke when you ask someone the time and they tell you how to build a clock? The answer was 10 minutes long and didn't answer anything. It was = depends on your driving habits, season of year (temp), traffic congestion, elevation, ... my eyes started rolling over.

Fast forward to February 2022 and I picked up a new 2022 JL Ecodiesel. That 3.0 diesel had been great for me. 27mpg in town, 29mpg highway with gobs of torque for towing. Been very happy with it.

Yikes. When you say it left you stranded, what was happening? If no codes, what indicated that it could not be driven?

edited: never mind, I read your previous post.

fortunately, I haven’t seen anything above 240 but we bought it in February.
fortunately, I haven’t seen anything above 240 but we bought it in February.

I have an extended warranty documentation stating that these are normal temps ?

 

[Rick4570]

Mine is all over the place. 22 JL with 3.6 etorque. On the highway on a nice cool day, around 205. Same cool day going up my slight incline driveway it hits 230 by the time I get in the garage.

I have gone on slow lazy trails in the summer where I am not even in 4x4 and it will hover around 230-239 with the fan on and off occasionally bringing it down to 212-215.

Then when I leave I have a long hill to coast down and it will drop to 180. I have seen 59-60 degree temperature swings within minutes on mine. Crazy, as I have never seen any other vehicle have temperatures that extreme on both sides. I guess that is just how Jeep is made. Doesnt seem to have any long term ill effects on it. Come to think of it, maybe this is why the plastic oil cooler housing eventually leaks on the 3.6---constant extreme heat cycles.

Sponsored