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Running hot after adding winch

10K views 32 replies 16 participants last post by  wildrnesxperienc 
#1 ·
I put my winch on finally and its making me run a little warm. On the highway when im pulling a small trailer its running about 220. Not overheating but seems a little toasty. You guys know of a good way to make it run cooler on the highway? Offroad its fine. I remember when my dad had his cj7 he just added another fan to the front of his radiator and it helped alot.
 
#9 ·
If you have a winch cover, take it off and throw it away. Air can circulate a lot better around a winch than a winch with a cover. Most people with covers have problems at highway speeds even without pulling a trailer.
 
#21 ·
At highway speeds, a winch with a cover causes a significant amount of air to bypass your radiator- enough so that the remaining airflow cannot cool the engine, especially if you have an automatic transmission which also heats the coolant in the radiator. Now you have been told the actual and complete cause of your overheating. You can either do something about it or not. Most people, even with automatic transmissions, are OK without a winch cover.
 
#24 ·
Im am doing somthing about it thats the whole point of this thread... not sure if you read it but a few posts ago i said i was going to flush it. I emptied and filled my rad once tonight. Im gonna do it a few more times over the next couple days to make sure its completely flushed. Then probably order a new rad if it still looks nasty
 
#22 ·
I have a 97' the radiator was ready for replacement,
I pulled all the hoses flushed the engine and heater core, the heater core was showing signs of slow flow and draining (replaced it)
replaced the water pump, radiator, thermostat and hoses.......
The system has done its job for almost 20 years.
If you cooling system fails so will your engine.
The cost was minimal compared to the result and confidence of a vital part of maintenance.

I can sit idle and have no worries of overheating, as it should be.
 
#26 ·
I have a winch cover with no issues. If it was the winch, it would more likely overheat during city driving, not at maximum air flow highway speeds. It sounds like a partially clogged radiator since you mentioned poor coolant quality. Do a complete flush, burp the system, install a new radiator cap, and clean any debris, straighten bent fins on the front of the radiator.
 
#27 ·
It may not be an issue with air flow as much as it can be an issue with turbulence. At highway speeds it is possible that the turbulence changes the airflow to the point that some air is being redirected around or over the radiator opening therefore causing the higher temps.
 
#28 ·
I moved my license plate to the fairlead mount until I get a winch. This minor change has caused my temp needle to move from a hair to the left of the centermark to a hair to the right of the centermark at a consitent 2700 RMPs (80 mph) on the highway. I suppose the bull bar could be contributing to this as well. It was added at the same time. I can only assume that once I add lights to the mounting tabs, my airflow will get worse. I'm interested in how I can increase airflow with these mods in place as well.

 
#29 ·
Look at your plate, at 80mph most of the wind is diverted and thrown over the hood. At slower speeds it's just the area behind the plate but as speed increases is acts as a deflector. The same concept as a motorcycle windshield if you think about it, you look over the shield yet the shield throws the wind over your head. The fix is easy, move the plate.
 
#31 ·
Some details: my Jeep was involved in a wreck in May and cost $20k and two months to repair. Most of the damage was to the front end and suspension. Repairs included a frame swap and replacement of the front quarter panels, grill and hood. The radiator was replaced due to a crack to include all associated tubing. I live in Houston and the wreck/repairs occurred in Dallas. The shop insisted I monitor the temps on the 4.5 hour drive back in case the tubing got crimped or anything.

Temps were stable the entire drive back and the needle came to rest on the gauge where it always had prior to the accident. The following weekend was when I installed the maximus winch plate/bull bar and licence plate. The only things that were touched with a wrench were the stock bumper and brackets on the front of the frame. The weekend after is when I noticed that the resting position of the temp needle had moved a couple of millimeters at sustained revs during a 2 hour road trip. I guess my issue is, yea, i can move the plate, but what am I gonna do when a winch takes its place? It will likely occupy a larger area than the plate as well.

I appreciate everyone's advice and will look into the topics mentioned. Also, sorry for posting in the wrong forum. I hadn't had my coffee yet and though I was in the JK section.
 
#32 ·
If the shop asked me to monitor temp after $20K.... due to possible damage I would be pissed.

If you are having temp problem there is a problem.

I can let my Jeep idle, parked with the ac on and it will maintain 195 Degrees.
I have a winch, full bumper with grill guard including flood lights and never gets above that no matter what speed I drive.
 
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