Last night i check all my fluids and i noticed everything was still hot. This was 21/2 hrs after the truck was running. You could handle things but just barly. I thought this was strange. Is this heat normal?

 

Depending on ambient air and how hard you were driving etc, the engine and tranny can build up a LOT of heat. During normal driving this heat is dumped into the air and thru the radiator. When you turn things off, all the pumps circulating fluids stop so all the heat in the metal parts dumps into the fluids. This can raise the temperature to much higher than during operation. It will also take some time for the heat to dissipate into the air.

So yes the fluids can be hot, even hotter, for some time after you shut things down. This is why I recommend letting the engine idel during gas stops if you have been towing a heavy load thru hot conditions. Even a few minutes at idle helps get rid of enough heat to prevent overflowing on shut down.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Thanks Jim. I noticed the heat on metal ducts plastic tops and plastic and metal mounts. I'm taking it you would say this would be normal seeing that all of this parts are connected and in the general area of the radiated heat dissipating into the air.
As to my condictions it was 82 degs yesterday and i drove no faster than 55mph and i amost never acculrate over 1800 rpms. The only time i get over 3000 rpms is if i'm in an acculration lane.

 

Yes the ducting will act like well a duct, channeling heat up from inside the engine and from radiated heat on their undersides. Most ducting I have seen is black which is a good heat radiator, ie sucking up heat from the engine and radiating it up out the top of the plastic. Also since it is plastic it is something of an insulator so it will help hold the heat inside the duct work for a longer period than a metal duct might.

The metal engine and tranny will hold a lot of heat. If it is 82 degrees, that heat won't dissipate as quickly as it might at say 50. So it will be there longer and feel hotter and the ducting helps draw it to the surface where you can feel it.

A closed hood also holds the heat there above the engine and of course reflects some back onto the ducting surface. THink how much air is moving thru the engine bay when the fan is going or the truck is moving. Then think how much cooling airflow you have when you shut down. Beeg difference.

This is all based upon guessing, some experience and classes long ago in Thermodynamics and materials when "I r an enjunear", etc.

Unless your plastic is melting or the engine is overheating, I wouldn't worry about it. Several hundred pounds of metal will hold a LOT of heat for a long time if it has no where to go.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson