#2 Cylinder
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
#2 Cylinder
I have 1980 L48 stock with 48K miles. I had a leak in my intake so took it off- cleaned,painted and just put it back on- put new plugs, cap and rotor on also. After warming the car up for 10 minutes I touched the valve covers and noticed that valve cover above the #2 cylinder was much cooler than the other cylinders. The engine idles fine, and when I push the throttle no mis-firing or roughness. Have not put it under load on the street yet.
Is this normal for this engine? If not what might cause this?
Darrel
Is this normal for this engine? If not what might cause this?
Darrel
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by Darrel1
I have 1980 L48 stock with 48K miles. I had a leak in my intake so took it off- cleaned,painted and just put it back on- put new plugs, cap and rotor on also. After warming the car up for 10 minutes I touched the valve covers and noticed that valve cover above the #2 cylinder was much cooler than the other cylinders. The engine idles fine, and when I push the throttle no mis-firing or roughness. Have not put it under load on the street yet.
Is this normal for this engine? If not what might cause this?
Darrel
Is this normal for this engine? If not what might cause this?
Darrel
not quite sure what you mena by this, the valve cover is cooler on the even side of the engine, or just one spot?
a little more if you please
tim
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
You pretty much can't judge anything by touching the valve cover. If I'm check heat signatures, I use a digital laser thermometer on the exhaust manifold/header right after I fire it up. It's real easy with headers, but with cast iron manifolds they heat up to a uniform temprature fairly quickly, and it's pretty tough to measure after that. Doesn't sound like you have a problem...
Hans
Hans
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Originally Posted by sweethence
not quite sure what you mena by this, the valve cover is cooler on the even side of the engine, or just one spot?
a little more if you please
tim
a little more if you please
tim
After the car has warmed up, I touched the top of the valve covers with my hand right above each cylinder. The #2 cylinder was significantly cooler than above the other cylinders, was not sure if this is an indicator of a problem or not?
Darrel
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Darrel1
Just one spot above #2 cylinder-
After the car has warmed up, I touched the top of the valve covers with my hand right above each cylinder. The #2 cylinder was significantly cooler than above the other cylinders, was not sure if this is an indicator of a problem or not?
Darrel
After the car has warmed up, I touched the top of the valve covers with my hand right above each cylinder. The #2 cylinder was significantly cooler than above the other cylinders, was not sure if this is an indicator of a problem or not?
Darrel
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
It sounds as if you think your car is not firing on the # 2 cylinder. If the car is running smoothly you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If you want to see if it is firing, pull the plug and start the car with the plug in its wire grounded to the engine; if it arcs across its gap it is firing. Again, I wouldn't worry if it is running smoothly.
Bernie
Bernie
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Never heard of this before. The valve train under the valve covers doesn't generate heat that is isolated to certain points. Once the car is warmed up, the valve cover should be the same throughout.
Maybe the front of the valve cover is cooler because it is not over the center of the exhaust manifold.
Less likely is that maybe you have a clogged push rod that is not spraying oil over that area. I think this is unlikely, but just trying to come up with a reason why you may have the temperature difference.
Maybe the front of the valve cover is cooler because it is not over the center of the exhaust manifold.
Less likely is that maybe you have a clogged push rod that is not spraying oil over that area. I think this is unlikely, but just trying to come up with a reason why you may have the temperature difference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by dgruenke
Never heard of this before. The valve train under the valve covers doesn't generate heat that is isolated to certain points. Once the car is warmed up, the valve cover should be the same throughout.
was gonna say the same thing. if the car is runing right then no worries, if you really want to understand temps though invest in a temp gun for the accuracy
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I think that this may be a strech though
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Thanks for the response, I will just monitor it until I get the car out on the road and see what happens under load (missing, stumbles, or sluggish or nothing).
I did take off all the compresor stuff earlier this winter, so maybe its just getting more air pushed on it from the fan and is cooling the front f the valve cover??
Darrel
I did take off all the compresor stuff earlier this winter, so maybe its just getting more air pushed on it from the fan and is cooling the front f the valve cover??
Darrel
