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Proper readings for infrared thermometer

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roofman

roofman

Jedi Knight
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I bought one of those infared thermometers being a curious kind of guy. I wanted to check mainly the cooling system temps. How do you do it correctly, and what should I be reading?
For example : do you take a reading of the radiator, hoses, coolant, or what? and what temps should I be seeing?
Anyone done this?
 
They work good finding a rich or lean cylinder. just point at each exhaust manifold port and watch for temp variations.

The bad part is you can get pretty anal about a few differences in temp and go crazy fixing things that aren't broken.
 
The hottest part of your radiator should be right in front of the hose, on the metal part. Don't bother to read the hose, it will tell you nothing. The radiator is thinner than the thermostat housing and will give a truer temp reading.
 
I use mine to check my cooking oil to tell when it is time to drop my battered jumbo shrimp in.
 
Hey TR6BILL, what temp should I get?
 
Try -- your dog's nose... your wife's feet... in your ear... or just point it at the sky on a clear day (really strange reading).

That thing is a lot of fun. Pointing it as the tstat housing by the temp sensor will give you a read on the gauge accuracy.

Checking the top of the radiator vs the bottom (once the enignes hot and tstat open awhile) should be meaningful re the efficiency of the rad.
 
I used one of those to prove to three other guys that my JetHot coated headers run cooler than their stock manifolds. I had to let them do the testing, but I would have never been able to do it without the gauge.

After that they were testing tire temps, oil pan temps, anything to play with the toy for a few minutes longer. It really is a neat tool.

And we wonder why kids get hooked on video games.....
 
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