The heat exchanger called auto radiator found in the engine bay of the Jeep governs the overall performance of the vehicle's engine. It keeps the Jeep components under the hood within the optimal temperature range. In the face of engine heat from the burning of fuel, the Jeep radiator pumps in coolant and water into the engine system. It takes the heat off the individual parts of the engine, preventing the system to overheat and malfunction. On the flip side, in cool weather drives, the Jeep radiator stops the flow of coolant into the engine block and prevents the car from stalling. Unlike most applications where radiators are used, the auto radiator installed on a Jeep does not merely absorbs heat but warms up the engine as well when the vehicle runs too cold.

A heat exchanger component called the thermostat directs the operation of the Jeep radiator. It is typically installed between the engine and the Jeep radiator. After the coolant is pumped into the valves in the radiator block and circulated in the engine, it returns to the radiator via the thermostat. Here, the temperature of the returning coolant is registered by the thermostat. This data is then used to direct the action of the Jeep radiator valves. They are closed and allow heat to build up in the engine when the thermostat registers low temperature read, and they are kept open and allow heat to be removed by the radiator when the engine becomes too warm.

Like other high-performance radiators, the Jeep radiator is built to hold up large amount of water in the tubes and passages on the radiator block. It provides a large area of contact with the atmosphere, which ensures an up to specs breathing space for the engine bay. Due to the nature of its function, the Jeep radiator is generally prone to wear out and results in engine overheating. Numerous factors like low coolant level, radiator leaks, malfunctioning radiator fans, a blocked thermostat, among others, usually cause overheating. But with frequent maintenance and checkup, the Jeep radiator can make the vehicle better-equipped in driving for a considerably long time.