Engine Cooling

[magnuskgc]

So I started the car today, (85 with a 3.2 ) its been sitting for a little bit because I have not had a chance to get it on the road and it took a back seat to other projects
I let it run as I do every couple of weeks.. but today is the 1st time I decided to open the engine lid because there was a little smoke coming from the engine vent...(which I think is somewhat normal) OUCH IT WAS VERY HOT.

Now I realize the engine is in the back and there will be allot of heat but I do not know if this amount is normal.. I touch engine lid and rear fender area and the while back appears to be hot.

Is my car going to burst into flames? Now my 1st instinct would be to check the gauge but it is not working at the moment..(new one is on the way).. Any ideas or suggestions??
And in the picture below the air box is missing but I have since installed one

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by magnuskgc

Now I realize the engine is in the back

Hard to judge if you are making a cute joke.

You are not supposed to let the car idle for very long, maybe 5-10 minutes, not 20-30 minutes. The cooling just does not work all that great unless the car is moving.

Looks like you are due for a full tune up, including ignition timing. I lowered my operating temps 30 degrees by doing it right after some shop messed it up bad. My rear bumper used to get real hot, and you could feel the heat coming off of it after shut down. Not so much anymore, not much at all.

There are a couple of threads and a tech article on engine cleaning. It's more fun to work on a clean engine, just saying.

If that is salt on your engine, get it off ASAP, salt is a corrosive.

[magnuskgc]

Kack

Not so much a joke as I was trying to avoid the comments of " the engine is is the back so of coarse it gets hot" and things like that..

I did not realize that you should not let it idle for too long... but now that you mention it that makes sense... after all the cooling does depend on air moving through the ail cooler.. right..

It is not salt on the engine... its actually dust front body work.. I plan in cleaing the engine very soon. It's actually an old picture.. that car is painted and 99% done.

[cgibson67]

Mouse nest around engine cooling fins? I found one after my cars winter hibernation. Would cause the engine to run hotter, but I can't imagine to the extent that you mentioned.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by cgibson67

Mouse nest around engine cooling fins? I found one after my cars winter hibernation. Would cause the engine to run hotter, but I can't imagine to the extent that you mentioned.

Yea, I think this tech article covers removing the alternator/fan and looking for things like that.

Pelican Technical Article: Engine Compartment Detailing

Originally Posted by magnuskgc

.. that car is painted and 99% done.

Pictures would be cool.

Don't get engine cleaners on the new paint.

I have read that powerwashing is bad on the seals, and steam cleaning it gets old grease off better anyway.

[magnuskgc]

should not have been around long enough to get a mouse nest.. I did look but could not find anything... I am leaning towards having it idle too long... it was like 20 minutes.

Anybody thing that could have been it??.. I post more pics tommorow.. its raining today.

[schumicat]

use a meat thermometer or a cheap mechanical temp gauge ($15 at pep boys) to measure the oil temp through the filler.

[dshepp806]

Is your temp gauge operative?


Drive it at speed then report your temps back to us....

BEST!

Doyle

[RSTarga]

It's really not a good idea to start your engine and let it idle unless you are going to drive it.