Daft question about hot engines?

[carlo]

Evening all.

 

I have just noticed the whole engine area of my 405 petrol seems to be getting unbelievably hot after driving for a while.  I'm talking about everything, the plastic rocker cover, pipes, anything metal I can reach, the throttle housing; almost too hot to touch.  Also the front wings get very hot.  When you stick your head underneath the bonnet you have to draw back as the heat hits you.  And it stays like that for a good half an hour/hour after the engine is switched off.

 

Is this normal behaviour?

[DSdriver]

Does it have a working temperature gauge? Does it ever need coolant added? 

[bub2006]

My xsara and vectra did that. Scenic too but not hot to touch

[EssDeeWon]

Check fan operation, and coolant levels when it cools down.

 

Next time the engine seems extra hot leave it running and see if there is any movement from the fan. Assuming its electric and not viscous..

[carlo]

No, fan cuts in and it never seems to lose much water.  I've driven the thing on lots of long journeys without any overheating problems

[Forty-two]

Sounds ideal for camping.  Fry an egg and some bacon on ???

[dave21478]

My wee Escort is running really well with no overheating or coolant issues at all but I cant get near the engine bay after a run.

[mercrocker]

If you are getting no other symptoms its probably normal. The plastic shit on my 190E feels like its going to melt sometimes. Summer temperatures (even crap ones like we get here) mean that nothing gets much chance to cool below ambient for a very long time. Engines will continue to heat up for quite a while after they are switched off - particularly if the cooling system has been doing its job....

[willswitchengage]

 

Good for defrosting kayak kit

[New POD]

The Vauxhall 2.0 SEH (as used in mk2 cav SRI) gets very hot as standard.