"Normal" temperatures?

[smokeythecat]

I was totally prepared to accept it as it’s established that it’s still within normal operating temp except that the engine was pinging quite a bit until at some point, the thermostat must have opened up because it’s the coolest I’ve seen it run.

Re pinging, Only got 1800 miles on it… maybe bad gas? Adjusting to rising seasonal temps?

It’s definitely a weird cooling system algorithm. Not sure why the fan cycling on and off (with temps easily fluctuating 20+ degrees constantly) is better than it just running like with the AC on.

Indeed. And I forgot to address the pinging comment. Mostly I was just going to say I have no idea what caused that and that I have never experienced it.

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[jeepdabest]

Phoenix in the summer my 19 jl Sahara does 192 to 195 on the freeway and sometimes hits as high as 215. Oil is usually 10 degrees hotter.

 

[Capricorn]

2023 XR - 3.6L Etorque. I reach 230F coolant and oil temps daily. I will not exceed 208 for a 20 mile trip but as soon as I enter my subdivision, temps go up to 228F and then by the time I pull into the garage, goes up to 230 and if I idle in the garage for a few seconds, fan kicks in and gets it down to 222-224. Other XR I had showed similar temps so I accept this as normal. The slower I drive, the hotter it gets. Wife's Sport S Wrangler (fully stock) - also 2023 runs 5 degrees cooler than mine in same conditions.

BTW, does anyone know if Sky One Touch weight is lighter than Freedom hard top or about the same?

 

[jack bauer]

2023 XR - 3.6L Etorque. I reach 230F coolant and oil temps daily. I will not exceed 208 for a 20 mile trip but as soon as I enter my subdivision, temps go up to 228F and then by the time I pull into the garage, goes up to 230 and if I idle in the garage for a few seconds, fan kicks in and gets it down to 222-224. Other XR I had showed similar temps so I accept this as normal. The slower I drive, the hotter it gets. Wife's Sport S Wrangler (fully stock) - also 2023 runs 5 degrees cooler than mine in same conditions.

BTW, does anyone know if Sky One Touch weight is lighter than Freedom hard top or about the same?

My 3.6 XR does the same as yours. Perhaps the elevated temps are due to the 4.56 gearing?

 

[Capricorn]

My 3.6 XR does the same as yours. Perhaps the elevated temps are due to the 4.56 gearing?

My 3.6 XR does the same as yours. Perhaps the elevated temps are due to the 4.56 gearing?

Weight too. Heavier suspension and wheels.

 

[wibornz]

They run hotter to improve emissions. 230 degree is easily with in operating temps. It will go into limp mode about 250 degrees or so.

The Platinum Pennzoil 0w20 oil doesn't even start to break down or burn off until about 315 degrees. The new coolants that vehicles use have a much higher boiling temp than water.


I understand though when we see the temps in our eyes as being extremely high. In cars of the past, if you were over 210 degrees, you were getting in the danger zone and potential blowing a head gasket. Those days are pretty much gone.

 

[Richardrocks]

I just bought a Ram 1500 and for the most part, it runs at a very consistent temperature (204 ish) unless under heavy load. The Wrangler, on the other hand, cycles between 212 and 230 every minute. The fan comes on around 231, temps drop right away, fan shuts off, repeat. The only time the Wrangler is consistent is on the freeway for the most part.

I get it, the Ram is a very different vehicle. Just interesting to note the up / down / up / down aspect of 3.6 Wrangler cooling.

 

[speedymart]

I just bought a Ram 1500 and for the most part, it runs at a very consistent temperature (204 ish) unless under heavy load. The Wrangler, on the other hand, cycles between 212 and 230 every minute. The fan comes on around 231, temps drop right away, fan shuts off, repeat. The only time the Wrangler is consistent is on the freeway for the most part.

I get it, the Ram is a very different vehicle. Just interesting to note the up / down / up / down aspect of 3.6 Wrangler cooling.

It's mainly because the engine bay is so constrained that it heat soaks pretty quickly. Honestly you'd be surprised how well hood vents help the engine bay cool down

 

[NWJeepr]

The cooling fan on with the A/C is to provide airflow for the AC condenser and to remove additional heat generated by the condenser from the engine bay.

AC on a hot day is great, but it is possible in some vehicles to overcome the capability of the cooling fans by using the AC under high engine loads (like towing up a grade, or in slow-speed wheeling applications). I wouldn't recommend using the AC to "cool" the engine. If cool engine temperatures are your goal, then I'd suggest using a much cooler thermostat (160?) and also reprogramming the ECU and cooling fan parameters (on/off temperatures) to match.

I agree with the others - normal driving from 195 to 210+, to about 230-240 are normal at hot idle when stationary and in stop/go traffic, for not just the 3.6, but a lot of modern engines. Before coolant temperature gauges on the dashboard became digital, you could visually see the natural swing of the temperature as the vehicle idled and got hot, to when the cooling fans kick on and bump it back down. That became a nuisance for service departments (why is my car almost touching the 'red' zone sitting in traffic?!), so with digital gauges, that swing has basically been programmed out. The gauge will show normal when operating, maybe just a hair above normal when it starts getting warm, and then it will creep to "way too hot" when there's a problem.

 

[flyer92]

Was just discussing this issue in another thread, as the oil temp (not coolant temp) in my 3.6L recently topped out at 248 degrees with the A/C off. Definitely got my attention because I rarely see temps exceed 230. However, I was driving up a 5-6% grade for 18 miles at 55 mph and air temp was between 100 degrees in the valley and 73 degrees on top of the mountain, but I think this may be typical for that driving condition.

Radiator is clean and I also have JT grille mesh installed, so I'm not convinced that it really provides as much additional air flow as we think. All that said, it's really interesting that the needle in the analog temp gauge always points to one tick mark below half, no matter what the actual temps indicate. Even though I liked having the analog gauge in the cluster, I've learned not to trust it now because many others have observed the same thing across a wide variety of temps.

 

[Shak14]

I am noticing that my 2018 3.6L is spiking high temps and that fan is stupid loud. Just this morning I had the AC on sitting in traffic and saw the temp spike to 255 and then drop to 212, spike again, and then drop. Kind of freaked me out. Debating on taking it to the dealership to see what they say. Not sure if this is common, or I need a new thermostat or something with the CPU? No idea. Any thoughts?

 

[Capricorn]

I am noticing that my 2018 3.6L is spiking high temps and that fan is stupid loud. Just this morning I had the AC on sitting in traffic and saw the temp spike to 255 and then drop to 212, spike again, and then drop. Kind of freaked me out. Debating on taking it to the dealership to see what they say. Not sure if this is common, or I need a new thermostat or something with the CPU? No idea. Any thoughts?

If it is the first time doing it since 2018, yes, a visit to the dealership is warranted. I assume you already checked coolant levels.

 

[Shak14]

Great. I have not checked the coolant level though. I guess I should do that first.

Update: So I went out and checked the max/min level in the overflow resevoir. It was bone dry and I couldn't see any fluid. I guess I should top it off.

Next question is where did it go? I see no fluid leaks or drips on the ground or in the engine bay.

 

[Capricorn]

Great. I have not checked the coolant level though. I guess I should do that first.

Update: So I went out and checked the max/min level in the overflow resevoir. It was bone dry and I couldn't see any fluid. I guess I should top it off.

Next question is where did it go? I see no fluid leaks or drips on the ground or in the engine bay.

Top up the coolant to the correct level, and check for any leaks in the next few days. I will still take it to the dealership to perform a check in the next few days.

 

[lights]

I personally wouldn't be worried. Even computer graphics cards hit 110C no problem. Things are designed to handle the heat.

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