- Location
- In the islands
I went ahead and swapped a stock pump I had on the shelf and a cheap CSF 1-row rad just to test and everything is working the way it should now. Hasn't gotten over 215 after a good long test drive with start and stops at the end. Now I'm wondering if the 4-row rad will have any difference with the stock pump.
IMHO, 4 row radiators are nothing more than a marketing gimmick. The tubes hide behind each other and do not get sufficient cool air passing over them. In addition, the tubes are too small and easily get blocked.
In the 17+ years I have been on this forum, the only people that are satisfied with after market aluminum radiators are those who buy the high dollar ($400+) units and they all have one thing in common,...two rows of tube each being 1" or thicker. Everyone who bought an OEM radiator are happy with it.
I am a firm believer that a properly maintained OEM cooling system is up to the task of keeping the 4.0L temperatures within working parameters. Although I have not tried the snake oils, I believe that ported thermostat housing, special water pumps as well as many of the thermostats out there are snake oil. The entire cooling system in my XJ is now 12+ years and all OEM with the exception of dual electric cooling fans.
Happy to hear the temperatures are now within the acceptable range.
In 2001 I installed a 3 core copper brass radiator that did not cool as good as the OEM single core it replaced.