I'm Skeptical of These New Grille Cooling Claims

[ShadowsPapa]

Taking the grille off may actually be worse than running with the stock grille as it's possible the air won't build the pressure needed to be forced through the radiator as efficiently since it can escape easier around the sides of the radiator.

That would be my gut feeling - it's directed through the radiator with the grill - and can get around it without. It's why some cars and trucks have seals around certain areas to force the air through and prevent it from going around, including down and under.
Grills guide air. The slots are like scoops in a way.

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[Toro34]

Taking the grille off may actually be worse than running with the stock grille as it's possible the air won't build the pressure needed to be forced through the radiator as efficiently since it can escape easier around the sides of the radiator.

I agree with this logic. It's not necessarily a function of blockage, but of airflow x speed.

Grill off will most likely cool better at slow speed, but as mentioned a few times, at highway speed it may actually run hotter because air isnt being correctly diverted correctly. Jeep engineers understand the tradeoff and design accordingly.

Unless you have a wind tunnel to test, i doubt any shadetree is going to improve much on the work already put in to the design

 

[Orange01z28]

Does anyone with a gasser actually have any cooling problems? Or are they just looking at numbers through a carbureted iron block lens?

 

[Gren71]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/24-grill-insert-experiment.71812/

The experiment begins

 

[Alpine Warthog]

We need the guy who did the comparison of the pizza cutter tires to the wide tires perform an analysis! He seems like he would figure this out!

Whoa.... who is this and what comparison? I need to read this. I was just wondering about skinny tall tires yesterday

 

[NotSo Bright White]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...off-road-tires-a-scientific-comparison.71725/

 

[Imbuere]

Does anyone with a gasser actually have any cooling problems? Or are they just looking at numbers through a carbureted iron block lens?

I was having battery issues on a long trip once. Trying to get the alternator to pump some more amps, I reved at around 3500 rpm for a just few minutes while stationary.

My JL 3.6 went into to limp mode from the excessive heat. While this is a worse case scenario, I can see others having it happen if they're stuck in sand or mud.

 

[willys 41]

Just got back from the 4X4 shop in Livermore
I brought up my concerns about the jeep hitting 231 before the fan would kick on and bring the temperature down
I ask Joe if any one has added a fan with variable speed on the font of the radiator
He said no put he has a lot of customers that have the same complaint and if I go ahead he wants to Know the results
I just ordered the 10in. Mishimoto fan and Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) Fan Controller
I will let you guy Know how it goes . good ,bad or no change

 

[skiptheroad]

All previous Wrangler generations as well as the CJ's had open slotted grills with no mesh in the slots. I'm not sure why Jeep designer's felt the need to add the plastic mesh to the JL and JT grills. Perhaps the mesh in the slots serve some function but I suspect it's simply for aesthetics as the mesh really isn't capable of blocking small stones or large bugs from striking the radiator.

 

[Stinggrey 21 Rubi]

I installed a PPE aluminum pans, trans and engine. I see near 10 degrees lower across the oil and trans fluid temps during light towing. I think the 2 pans were 500 bucks. They are finned and do hold more fluid. I think if you are serious about cooling improvements this should be your first mod. Just my opinion

 

[trilifter7]

I have a 2023 JTR and I‘ve pulled my 25’ camper loaded around 5500lbs several times now. I have the 3.6 gas engine and when pulling at 65-68 mph I regularly see oil temps around 240F. With a pretty strong head wind coming back on one trip I was running 245-250F for a good stretch but I was also running in 4th and 5th gear a lot at around 4000-5000 rpm. These temps are high but I’ve gotten use to it now and as long as It stays under 260F I’m ok with it now. If I could drop these temps 5-10F I’d definitely go with the new grill.

 

[jwilson2899]

Maybe @tonywin can chime in and help out

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-my-2020-jt-temperature-readings-added.71565/

 

[willys 41]

If you want to see even lower trans temps rap your exhaust pipe where it goes under the trans pan
I would see trans temps 225 just around town put after the rap it stays around 201
Just got back from Lake Tahoe off and on road temps never got over 206 even the long pulls up to Tahoe
The key is to rap it twice
The first rap is normal rap. The second rap is with the foil backed exhaust rap put I found out that the foil wont stay on so my next step is going to install the foil rap with the foil down. the foil dose a good job at blocking the heat
Before the rap my exhaust pipe was 400 to 450 now checking the temp of the rap is around 180 to 225
How can a pipe at 400 to 450 an inch away from the pan not add heat to the trans oil
Seams to be working for me
And yes all testing was done with and without the skid plates. The results where the same

 

[Brojave22]

I agree with this logic. It's not necessarily a function of blockage, but of airflow x speed.

Grill off will most likely cool better at slow speed, but as mentioned a few times, at highway speed it may actually run hotter because air isnt being correctly diverted correctly. Jeep engineers understand the tradeoff and design accordingly.

Unless you have a wind tunnel to test, i doubt any shadetree is going to improve much on the work already put in to the design

a grill guard protects the radiator but also has to allow air through, your saying a bare radiator wouldn't catch air to cool it down? that logic does not make any sense at low speed or high and before you start I have a mechanical engineering degree

 

[tonywin]

I noticed a 15* cooler coolant temp here in AZ. We've had about 30 days straight of 110+. My coolant temps were constantly 215-225 in traffic. I've had the new grille for a little over a week and it hovers around 192 now and occasionally spikes up to 205* if i've been sitting awhile or under load. I have not hit 215+ coolant temps ever since.

I believe these grilles will make the most difference in extreme heat climates like here in PHX. If you're hovering around 195-200* already, I doubt it'll drop down to the 170s. The prices have raised for these grilles and it's not worth it at this point to pay that much and get a few degrees difference.

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