Hood Heat Shield Question

[xj9687]

Heres my question...my dad has a 98 cherokee and i have a 96 both with the 4.0...his runs a straight 190-200(temperature wise) all the time barely ever running any hotter than 210 even after idling for a while...with mine it runs around 195-210 and whenever i sit in traffic and idle it runs up around 220-225...i was looking the other day and on his hood there is nothing on it just the metal hood...on mine there is a heat shield or something im not exactly sure what it is...i was wondering if my jeep would run any cooler if i took that thing off...any input would help...thanks in advance for any info.

[ILLXJ]

I ripped mine out,but installed hood vents at the same time. So I don't know if it made any difference. I have read that the insulation was put in because of the paint decay problem. I don't know for sure. I've been running with out it since 2003 & haven't noticed any problems with the paint. Maybe because it is white.:dunno: JIM.

[xj9687]

thats what i was thinking but why is it in a 96 and not a 98...idk but thanks

[UNCC_99XJ]

If it's what Im thinking it is, I believe they also are designed to fall down ontop of the engine incase of a fire and help put the fire out. Not sure if there's any truth behind that or not.

[muddshutter]

That's an interesting concept? How many Jeeps Caught on fire that year?

[basso4735]

17 billion

[muddshutter]

any way

[DenLip]

thats what i was thinking but why is it in a 96 and not a 98...idk but thanks

I think it was a cheapening/lightening issue... removed with the '97 redesign IIRC.

I always thought the PRIMARY purpose of the hood pad was sound-deadening... and with the XJ's gradual march "downmarket" such luxury features got the axe, one by one...

Den

[xj9687]

So do you think it will start to flake or mess up the paint on the hood if i take it off?

[OT]

I've found that a denim replacement hood liner works great.
The lighter, the better.
Stone washed reflects heat best.

[ren]

His cooling system is probably less "gunked" up than yours is. My '88 MJ runs about 190 all year, but it also has a 2 core ALum. rad in it with a 190 T-stat. My wifes '88 LImtied usually runs about 210-230 in the summer, then, as it gets cooler outside it runs cooler. It is running the old style cooling system. Her XJ is getting a "flush" this evening, so hopefully that will help it with the funny temps. that it runs. Have you tried "flushing" your system? ( cooling sytem on the XJ, don't really want to know about your system :P)