How do you guys work on a hot engine? I mean, it's not really feasible to wait for the engine to cool since time is money. Do you just live with the burns?

 

From a non-mechanic:

Most engines aren't hot that often. I would bet that the majority of engines that get worked on have sat in a garage or parking lot overnight.

The ones that don't -- If it were me, I'd have a nice pair of welding gloves if I had to do something right away near an exhaust manifold... But even for stuff like cooling systems, you HAVE to wait till the engine's cool unless you want a hot coolant bath.

If time's money, I'm sure they can work on another engine until yours cools down.

 

From a Mechanic:

I have a couple of Kevlar heat sleaves I wear when I am up to my elbows on an engine. Other that that you try to avoid the hot stuff and watch your hands. I will some times fold 2 or 3 shop rags in half to handle hot parts but thats just for insulation.

Speaking of burns I have 2 blisters on my hands right now from a catalitic converter......

 

Aah, mechanics. What do they know?

 

I use to work in the pits for a lube shop and exhaust burns were our permission to scream out cuss words. LOL JK But damn they hurt. Then I worked for the Lincoln Mercury dealer and changing spark plugs on the 3.8 litres could hurt you if you wernt a pro at it. Its just life, do it fast enough so you can make money on the time you didnt waste worrying about burning yourself. Do it fast enough and you could be on the next car before your even spose to be done with the last car. Its just life

 

I've seen a mechanic place a large fan blowing on the motor for 15-20 mins to let everthing cool down a little while he worked on something else. That really helps alot. I've done it a few times since then and it works pretty well.

 

We used to use the fan trick at the dealer I worked for. The manual called for a min temp before making any valve adjustments. We would remove valve cover, and hang fan over engine, then raise vehicle on lift and work on other stuff. When done with under car work, lower it and engine would be cool enough to work on. Used to use those big 24" square house fans you could find in K-mart for $20.00. Worked great.

 

I have Mechanix gloves an an old oily long sleeve shirt for this stuff.

 

I took my 4runner in to get the PCV valve changed and the engine was good and hot. I got it back in less than 30 minutes so that just got me thinking. heheh.

 

Once you've built up enough scar tissue on your hands, you won't feel anything. Just be sure to pull your hands out when you smell burning flesh.

 

I think I have more scars than burns, damn tight spaces with sharp edges , but in my case, I don't work in a car repair facility, rather i use the college's lab shops for training and we have the luxury of letting cars cool down at least an hour while we go through lecture.

 

Yeah, I just love adjusting the valve lash on my HOT 22re, I have gloves and all... but theres always that one spot between the gloves and the sleeves:cry: sizzle ! Ah hell, chicks dig scars!