[Guest]

The other night after a drive

The other night after a drive around town I noticed that my rear header was glowing red at the sampling connections to the headers. I haven't looked at this before while the engine was running at night and was wondering if this was normal.
Thanks in advance.Walt

 

[Guest]

Sorry............1980 308GTS

Sorry............1980 308GTSi

 

[Guest]

Hi Walt,

Welcome to Ferrari

Hi Walt,

Welcome to Ferrari-Talk.

No glowing red hot isn't normal but it is common on engines that are running out of spec on exhaust gas CO. You should have the exhaust gas numbers checked and the out of spec condition corrected. This red hot condition can lead to a cracked header.

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

"Big Time" crack, or b

"Big Time" crack, or blowing out all together.

First problem I had to tackle after getting my 308GTB.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the fast resopnse J

Thanks for the fast resopnse JRV, it's not the answer I was looking for but I will have it checked. Thanks again!

 

[Guest]

>>it's not the ans

>>it's not the answer I was looking for but<<

what answer were/are you lookng for?


without any "data" you want me to tell you what's wrong and what to do about it?

Generally we try to refraim from making wild, unfounded guess's....without being given some hard data to work with, such as exhaust gas readings. Most of the guys here have solved a myriad of problems putting up with such badgering for actual, useful info.

If you're just interested in guess's, I guess your engine is running rich, with high HC's...causing the syptom of glowing headers....now the exact cause of the symptom (besides simply rich & missing)is not so easy to guess.

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

The answer I was looking for w

The answer I was looking for was that it was normal, which I now know it isn't.
No, I didn't want you or anyone to tell me what is wrong with my engine, just if the condition I asked about was normal or not. You answered the question in an appropriate way with the information I gave( it is all the information that I have at this time) and it is exactly what I wanted.I now know what I should do next...get the exhaust gas analyzed and move forward from that.
I do appreciate the responses and I'll be back as soon as I have gathered more information. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Mine actually were hot enough

Mine actually were hot enough once to melt the aluminum casing of the headers. It was splattering on the ground behind me as I went down the road!

Thankfully a gf was following me and alerted me.
It's a symptom of unburned fuel, but as JRV says, that could be caused by a number of malfunctions!
Improper jetting, malfunctioning distributor advance, fouled plugs.

Once repaired the engine ran much stronger.

 

[Guest]

Thanks again to all. At this t

Thanks again to all. At this time I have not had a chance to look into this further but when I do I'm sure I'll have more questions for the knowledgable folks here. BTW 308GTSi

 

[Guest]

"was glowing red ...sampli

"was glowing red ...sampling connections to the headers"

I popped the hood one dark evening to check the oil after a run and notice the sampling connector threads at the head were a dull red.

This is the first I've seen it. I too was wondering if this was normal. Now I know to have it checked.
thanks

 

[Guest]

What are you driving Clyde?

What are you driving Clyde?

 

[Guest]

Sorry,
'83 308GTB qv

Sorry,
'83 308GTB qv

 

[Guest]

I'm back. What exhaust CO

I'm back. What exhaust CO should I have? I am getting 1.05 at 2500 RPMs
As always, Thanks.

 

[Guest]

1.05% CO is well within range.

1.05% CO is well within range...

what is idle CO reading?

 

[Guest]

At 1500 RPMs the CO is 1.22.

At 1500 RPMs the CO is 1.22. The readings were taken for my FINAL(25 yrs. old) emissions check

 

[Guest]

Hi Walt,

the readings are w

Hi Walt,

the readings are well within spec on the CO side... do you have any HC numbers?

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

2004 Emissions
HC @ 1500 RPM

2004 Emissions
HC @ 1500 RPM 84
HC @ 2500 RPM 135

2003 Emissions
HC @ 1500 RPM 49
HC @ 2500 RPM 56
Same inspection station, different machines. If that matters.

 

[Guest]

Walt,

are these readings af

Walt,

are these readings after the cat?

if so (which I didn't realize based on CO #'s) then I would say 1.2-1.5 is on the pretty rich side...if you have No Cats or these numbers are Pre-Cat then they look good.

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

JRV I do have cats & the

JRV I do have cats & the readings were taken after them.
Here is everything I have:
........25/25 Test................50/15 Test
HC ppm......84.......................135
CO%........1.05......................157
NOx ppm.....48........................42
RPM.........2315.....................1500
CO+CO2......15.6 .....................0.1

Sorry I don't know exactly how these numbers relate to tuning my engine but I'm learning.
As always thanks!

 

[Guest]

Hi Walt,

the HC #'s tip

Hi Walt,

the HC #'s tipped me off the exhaust was being checked after the cat.

You would be better off if you could see CO in the range of .04-.07 at the tailpipe...instead of the above 1.0 numbers you presently have...I would sispect pre-cat the CO is 2.0 or higher which is a rich running condition. The HC numbers indicate you are firing on all 8 with no mssfires of note.

Regards, JRV