Super Hot Valve Cover

[johnny boy 93]

Hey Guys,
Just before I start, I want everyone to know I have a freshly rebuilt engine with about maybe 10,000 k on it.
So I went for an evening drive, just a little boosting here and there, not even wot at all, and I got home, and parked my car. I got out and it smelled like paint was burning. I looked at my engine temp, and it was fine. I lifted the hood of the car, and just touched the valve cover. It was SUPER HOT! Now, I don't know if this is normal, but do they get that hot all the time, or is it just the rebuilt engine?

Thanks
John

 

[GSX4BangR]

Normally they do get hot but i don't think super hot. It seems like you may have somethign wrong which is usual since you have a fresh built motor.

 

[johnny boy 93]

Well can anybody think of anything that might be wrong?

 

[GSX4BangR]

Valve covers usually get around 300 degrees depening on how long and how hard you drive it. I dont know if you have a stock colored valve cover or a painted 1 but if you have a painted one then it probably isn't a high-temp paint which wil most likely give you that burnt paint smell.

 

[kenamond]

Do you have a heat shield on your exhaust mani?
I've seen someone install the VC without a gasket...did you happen to do that? That would let heat conduct to the VC more easily.

 

[Defiant]

Well can anybody think of anything that might be wrong?

Before you think anything is, get a thermometer -mom's turkey thermometer will do it- and find out what the temperature actually is.

 

[tqmx1]

^^ and then put it back without telling her.

 

[johnny boy 93]

Hey guys,
So it is really weird, I can drive it to work and around town, and it will not get that hot, but if I give it some gas while driving it gets pretty hot. I am going to get a thermometer on my lunch break here and see what it does. Otherwise to all your other questions, it is a stock valve cover painted with high temp paint, My exhaust mani heat shield is on, and my valve cover does have the gasket on, and it is done properly. Any other ideas?
Thanks again Guys
John

 

[GSX4BangR]

Well engines get hot, especially when you drive them hard so that's nothin new, but if you really think there might be a problem, take it to a mechanic and see if they can figure out why its getting so hot.