Gsx engine bay very hot

[clbailey]

My temp gauge sticks right in the center but I've noticed the engine bay gets very hot. Can't even touch the valve cover for more than a Milli second without it hurting. Is this supposda be this way?

 

[DSM1G90]

What about the heat shield that's (should be) attached to the inside of the hood?

Can't even touch the valve cover for more than a Milli second without it hurting. Is this supposda be this way?

( Sounds like the OP has never owned a car before..)

ALL gasoline motors are hot to the touch right after operating - from lawnmower engines to the big diesel electric engines that operates the railroad trains.

And they need to be hot to operate correctly.

Gotta realize that it's over 2K degrees in the combustion chamber and things DO get hot to the touch.

You don't put your hand on the stove's burner right after the heat is turned off, do you? Danged, hope not!