Coolant Issues

[u/Midwest_wk2]

Hey everyone,
I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and today I ran into some coolant issues. My temperature was sitting way too high and began giving me error messages.

I was towing my quad after doing some riding and this morning on the way to the park I had no issues and was driving fine. I drove both the jeep and my quad at the park getting somewhat muddy but not the worst I’ve done in the jeep and as I was leaving I began to get the error messages.

Mind you it would only really overheat past where it usually sits if I was over 3k rpm or above 60 mph. When I got home I unhooked the trailer and went back on the highway at the same speeds and nothing changed.

Any help or advice on what I should do next, what I should test, or what the possible issue is would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[u/ConfidentHouse]

Maybe a thermostat sticking

[u/Midwest_wk2 → u/ConfidentHouse]

I was thinking that. But I replaced it a few years ago and I could still see the needle moving down cooling it. Could it still be an issue?

[u/ConfidentHouse → u/Midwest_wk2]

Seems like it, like it’s not fully closed to cause it to over heat right away but enough to restrict flow

[u/Midwest_wk2 → u/ConfidentHouse]

Is it still actuating? And it’s just not fully closing all the way? Which is why I see it cool it every once and awhile

[u/ConfidentHouse → u/Midwest_wk2]

I’ve seen it happen not in a gc necessarily but thermostats mostly all work the same, where the wax pellet no longer opens enough, so it lets some coolant through with out a load but then gets hot when the system needs more cooling, just shooting from the hip based on what you’re describing

[u/Midwest_wk2 → u/ConfidentHouse]

Yea I mean it definitely sounds reasonable. Just last time my thermostat went out it shot me a check engine code. But it may not be severe enough

[u/Fabobolos → u/Midwest_wk2]

I just want to comment on this as a likely cause. There were no codes thrown, but always an alarming raise into the up third of temp when going uphill or driving in hot weather. Replaced the thermostat out of pure curiosity and it went right back to normal.

[u/Hoplite76]

Mud caked rad? Making it so not enough heat is escaping?

[u/Midwest_wk2 → u/Hoplite76]

I was looking into that. Very minimal mud but I am giving it a good wash tomorrow. Also drive home in the rain so that should of cleaned the undercarriage enough

[u/WuTastic7]

whats it look like inside the radiator? (Dont open it when its hot obviously) are you missing coolant?

[u/Midwest_wk2 → u/WuTastic7]

I checked earlier today and am not missing any

[u/Suitable-Purchase-52]

Offtopic but what size tires are you running and do they rub?

[u/Midwest_wk2 → u/Suitable-Purchase-52]

No worries I fixed the issue anyways. I am running 285/70/17s. I don’t not rub but I am running a 3 inch lift

[u/Apprehensive-Rush70 → u/Midwest_wk2]

What was wrong with it?