Engine cover = giant heat trap?

[oachalon]

your engine is one huge aluminum heat sink, a little plastic cover is not trapping in all of the heat.

[Gentry78]

Originally Posted by oachalon

your engine is one huge aluminum heat sink, a little plastic cover is not trapping in all of the heat.

yeah but heat sinks only work if they have have parts that extend out away from them "block" and have air moving to extract the heat from the ends

[Muscle Master]

Originally Posted by oachalon

your engine is one huge aluminum heat sink, a little plastic cover is not trapping in all of the heat.

So your saying my iron block is easier to cool than an aluminum block ?

[oachalon]

the aluminum block and heads are taking the heat from inside the motor (combustion chamber) and trying to radiate it, thats why you feel so much heat.

It doesn't have to be shaped like a heatsink for it to still work. Also by nature you are going to have air movement. You have the hot air by the engine trying to move towards cool air and that air is then being replaced by cooler outside engine bay air.

Dont go by me 100% im not a thermal engineer just an electrical engineer so its not my field, but still have to know a little of everything.

[Gentry78]

Originally Posted by oachalon

the aluminum block and heads are taking the heat from inside the motor (combustion chamber) and trying to radiate it, thats why you feel so much heat.

It doesn't have to be shaped like a heatsink for it to still work. Also by nature you are going to have air movement. You have the hot air by the engine trying to move towards cool air and that air is then being replaced by cooler outside engine bay air.

Dont go by me 100% im not a thermal engineer just an electrical engineer so its not my field, but still have to know a little of everything.

true if you are moving or out side but sealed in a garage that will take a long time compared to in the driveway with natural air movement

yes true i know heat automatically wants to move to cooler environment by its nature but without the assistance from a fan this is very slow going

[rodimus prime]

Originally Posted by FNKNSTN

Did you park in a closed garage? Do you realize how many other GM vehicles have plastic covers like this? My 77 C-10 Silverado stays hot as SH*T for a while after I park it. I let it cool over night if I'm going to mess with the coolant/radiator. And if I'm going to mess with the exhaust, I try to pull it down the driveway and park it in less than a minute - 'cause it gets too hot to handle.

Instead of the laser temp gun.... did you try turning your ignition key to see the reading on your temp guage?

STL... Seattle? I would start worrying about the engine cover when all the Southwest guys start complaining about the engine overheating... Arizona, New Mexico, Texas... until then - just look at your temp guage every once in a while.

parked in a drive way. The purpose of a temp gun would be to get accurate readings under the cover....not at the temp sensor. Plus I could see how much longer if any it takes to cool with the cover on.

Im in the St Louis area. I understand many many vehicles have engine covers, but then again many many people care about how their engine looks more than whats good for it or squeezing every bit of performance out of it.

[surfgun]

I rather look at some wires and hoses than a huge Tupperware appetizer tray!

[FNKNSTN]

Originally Posted by rodimus prime

I understand many many vehicles have engine covers, but then again many many people care about how their engine looks more than whats good for it or squeezing every bit of performance out of it.

If you want to squeeze performance out of it, then strip it down. Tear out the passenger seat and the back seat... rip out the panneling and the dash... take out all the AC components... and take that thin plastic cover off the top that is "causing" your engine to stay hot for so long. You'll get increased performance.

[rodimus prime]

Originally Posted by FNKNSTN

If you want to squeeze performance out of it, then strip it down. Tear out the passenger seat and the back seat... rip out the panneling and the dash... take out all the AC components... and take that thin plastic cover off the top that is "causing" your engine to stay hot for so long. You'll get increased performance.

Im sorry I made an observation. An observation that may actually help performance. Incase you forgot the purpose of a CAI is to suck in cold air. Well what good is that doing when it hits an intake that is wrapped up like a bitch in a sleeping bag about to be murdered by Jason Vorhees?

It counteracts the purpose of a CAI. Hence the reason I think all CAI's are putting out the same numbers on dynos. I dont think it has anything to do with cold air, as much as removing the baffles and having a better filter.

Im trying to point something out to people who may care about it. You dont like the idea....dont do it. It took me 10 minutes to remove it. BFD. Just so you know the plastic intake cover also has another layer under it of some foam.....so more heat trapped.

But that doesnt matter to you, so nobody should care. I forgot.

[LS 1st gen]

I'm thinking that my Victory Red engine cover will make good garage wall decor

[rodimus prime]

Originally Posted by LS 1st gen

I'm thinking that my Victory Red engine cover will make good garage wall decor

I actually just did that to mine. LOL. It looks pretty cool on a wall.

[Vash]

I want to see someone put some braided covers on those 2 heater hoses.

Then some colored silicon hoses. Samco radiator hoses etc etc.

It would look tighter than covered imo*.

As far as the original question about heat. It's not a problem as long as your engine temps are running nominal all the time. There is a blanket on top of the whole thing anyway.

[rodimus prime]

Originally Posted by Vash

I want to see someone put some braided covers on those 2 heater hoses.

Then some colored silicon hoses. Samco radiator hoses etc etc.

It would look tighter than covered imo*.

As far as the original question about heat. It's not a problem as long as your engine temps are running nominal all the time. There is a blanket on top of the whole thing anyway.

Im not worried about engine temps at all. Im just thinking that it will heat the incoming air more than a CAI will cool the air. Hence a CAI being useless except for removing baffles.

[FNKNSTN]

Originally Posted by rodimus prime

Thats what I thought. Nothing to say.

I love you anyway