CJ coolant flow

[bgrinder]

My 86 CJ7 seems to run hot. If I leave the radiator cap off and start it , should I see flow in the radiator. Is there a diagram to show direction of flow in the cooling system? Which way does a thermostat go into the housing?

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Over heating can be from a multitude of issues, bad head gasket, bad thermostat, bad radiator cap, bad T-stat, air in the system, or clogged radiator just to name a few. When the T-stat is open the water goes to the top tank of the radiator. The coolant then flows down to the bottom tank then up to the pump to do it again. The T-sat opens towards the top tank,

Take the cap off the radiator when the engine is cold and make sure it is full. Start the engine and wait for it to come up to temperature so the T-stat opens and the coolant starts to flow. If you are low the top of the tank will drain out exposing the tubes. If so add coolant. Once the coolant is flowing but before it heats up so much it overflow the radiator look for bubbles as bubbles can be an indicator of a bad head gasket. (air getting into the system)

 

[DREDnot]

The end of the thermostat with cylindrical housing with the temp rating stamped on it goes in toward the head. When it gets up to temp, that housing and the valve move inward, unseating the valve and letting the hot coolant flow around it and out of the head toward the upper tank.
You wont see much coolant flow till the engine gets up to temperature and the thermostat opens up.
A thermostat that is in backward can cause the engine to run hot or overheat.