Wk2 tug overheating

[cardreader]

Thanks all for your input . Just towed from Maryborough in Vic to Wadonga . Tranny stayed pretty much around 93/94 (its true ignorance can be educated) even on the longer uphill grades but there were bugger all on this run . Water temp likes to sit a frag under 1/2 way but on the few long grades rose approx 3/ 4 on the guage . Towing in 7 seems to cause water temp to rise quicker than when in 6th . Water reservoir seems clear of gel etc but will replace cap tomorrow. Hopeful 1 possible cause (tranny) eliminated. I will be moving further north in a week or so , so will be keeping close watch as part of next section is from Bathurst to Katomba which will sort me out 1 way or the other . I will .let you know how it goes and again appreciate the help and advice given . Cheers all.

[JohnS]

Originally Posted by bjm

The thermostat ok as others have mentioned.? The thermostat on these 3 litre VM motors is fully open just under the red line on the gauge.The gauge is recognized as one of the most accurate around. try bleeding the system.Small bleed screw on top of the thermostat ,unscrew carefully a couple of turns when system under pressure.only coolant should come out ,no air.Be careful not to screw fully out. The plastic thermostat housings on these have a habit of leaking where bolted to the block. Did the guy who flushed the system do a leak down test on cap ,and rest of cooling system. . should carry a Bluedriver or equivalent to read any fault codes. Lot of info if Google overheating when towing in this model.

I am just curious if you could explain why my GC 2012, diesel behave like:

1)On cloudy rainy day ambient temperature 14-18 C, city driving, no towing, radiator fan is always working double duty, reminds me a helicopter taking off, constant high frequency fast revolutions, (EVO displays engine 84 C)
2)On normal days 20 to 32 C radiator fan would be occasionally switch on, after minute or two switched off, barely noticeable
Is it something to do with how thermostat works and is it related to the external barometric low pressure on rainy days?

[bjm]

There are a number of TSBs regarding incorrect fan operation in this model.These included free soft ware updates.This can only be done at a Jeep dealer.

[drover]

Software updates are always a worry, okay when things play up but if it ain't broke I will steer clear of them, they always seem to make another problem, they always seem to be band aid solutions like Microsoft updates.

[SouthernComfort]

The only time I've noticed something similar was an early morning on the way to collect our caravan from storage 6km away, about 18 ambient. Arriving at the yard, fan was dancing the full jig. Hitched up and did a round trip of 700km over a week or so, everything behaved normally. A day after dropping the van back at storage she started overheating constantly. Thermostat was playing up, a replacement fixed the problem. My conclusion is the thermo gets the wobbles and plays some trickery for a while before finally giving up.

[drover]

I wonder if a build up of that goop they put in the coolant stuffs up a sensor reading and causes the problems.... when I get around to it I was going to flush they system and put new coolant in.

[cardreader]

Just to finish this post off, even though it as taken 12 months.......took my jeep to Nat.ional Rad.iator repaired (?) In Albury/Wadonga . Was told radiator must be blocked and needs replacing, ok , have to check thermostat, ok , needs replacing as not opening/closing properly , ok . Had these replaced . Drives out to get caravan at Hume Lake and got approx 5k frm workshop and temp guage up to the orange ,not good , cooled down and returned to workshop . The manager then states some otherthing must be wrong as new parts used . This story just goes on and on , end result thermostat hadn't been tested and was stuck closed . 2 days later new 1 fitted and given a new radiator cap.You beauty off we go north to beat covid lockdown , coming out of Narabri up the grade and up goes temp guage regardless of working the paddles managing to keep just under the orange markings . Radiator cap fitted at workshop 19.5 psi , finally after 4 different mechanic shops I am told put a genuine radiator cap on ,it is 21 psi .Problem solved ,leaving me to wonder if that was all that was wrong to begin with .