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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: 95 Lowbuck on November 24, 2005, 06:31:45 AM

Title: Overheating
Post by: 95 Lowbuck on November 24, 2005, 06:31:45 AM
I just bought a 1995 Rio Grande with a 2.5.
I thought the motor was running quite warm by the guage, (210-225),
and it was very slow to warm up.
Also the clutch on the fan was leaking oil.
I replaced the clutch, flushed the cooling system, and replaced
the thermostat with a stock 195*.
By the way, some had drilled a bypass hole in the thermostat.
It also had a new 2 core radiatior installed before I bought it.
It now warms up quick and I can tell when the thermostat opens
and closes by the guage, but still runs at (210-225).
If it was running this hot the thermostat would never close.
Are the guages on these Jeeps normally off this much,
or do I still have a problem.
Title: Re: Overheating
Post by: jwrape on November 24, 2005, 08:30:38 AM
Quote from: "95 Lowbuck"
I just bought a 1995 Rio Grande with a 2.5.
I thought the motor was running quite warm by the guage, (210-225),
and it was very slow to warm up.
Also the clutch on the fan was leaking oil.
I replaced the clutch, flushed the cooling system, and replaced
the thermostat with a stock 195*.
By the way, some had drilled a bypass hole in the thermostat.
It also had a new 2 core radiatior installed before I bought it.
It now warms up quick and I can tell when the thermostat opens
and closes by the guage, but still runs at (210-225).
If it was running this hot the thermostat would never close.
Are the guages on these Jeeps normally off this much,
or do I still have a problem.


My 92 YJ 2.5L runs at 210 all the time. That is hot by my standards too and I know when I took my valve cover off a month ago that it looked like it had ran hot a few times by all the burnt grease on the rocker arms. I cleaned off as much as possible without getting it all down in the crankcase but I think they all run hot cause my Grandmothers Cherokee looks the exact same way under the valve cover. Hers runs at a decent temperature but still has the same burnt grease deposits.
Title: Overheating
Post by: Jeffy on November 24, 2005, 12:31:15 PM
195-210 is about normal for a AMC 2.5L & 4.0L
Title: Overheating
Post by: 95 Lowbuck on November 25, 2005, 06:23:56 AM
That sounds like a reasonable temp to me.
But I am still wonder if I should trust the guage,
or trust the 195* thermostat that I can see is working
by the guage. It looks like it does open and close.
Should I go to a 185* thermostat ?
Swap out the sending unit ?
Title: Overheating
Post by: Jeffy on November 25, 2005, 11:41:39 AM
Swapping to a 180 degree thermostat won't do anything.  Once the thermostat opens, it's open and temps are allowed to rise.  Unless it's boiling over, I would just keep my eye on it but not worry about it too much.
Title: Overheating
Post by: 95 Lowbuck on December 27, 2005, 08:38:19 AM
By the way, after trying different sending units,
the factory one gave me a accurate reading. (185-210*)