Cooling your engine down with fans

[bradleyheathhays]

This may sound like a stupid question, as I'm prone to ask sometimes. But...I drive a '96 Cherokee with the inline 4.0 non-interference engine and it doesn't like driving in the heat so much. Since I'm a car down right now I'm driving it a LOT more than I used to. After a lot of driving in this hot weather it starts slower, but still starts and runs ok.

So to help it out I've been raising the hood and putting 2 box fans right on top of the engine to help it cool. I hadn't thought about it but my Mom asked if cooling it down too quickly could be bad for the engine. And since I don't know I thought I'd ask here.

Any harm in using my method to cool an engine down much more quickly than normal?

[Grumpy Bear]

Nope. 

[SnakeEyeSS]

If the only symptom is slower starting, it's likely your starter is suffering from heat soak. An inexpensive wrap you can buy from about anywhere that sells car parts (autozone, Napa, Amazon) may fix the issue. 

[Donstar]

I'm impressed with your mother!   I agree that the fans won't cause harm, but I question the need.  Why is the vehicle over-heating?  When the theory is that the engine heat is preventing the starter from working,  and you don't know why, take it to a mechanic.  I appreciate that there is a cost factor but I would be worried that the subsequent problems will only be worse!

[diyer2]

Define normal?

Fans wouldn't cool it down any faster than on a cold day.

 

[Brian715]

Fans are fine. I would avoid gallons of ice water though.