do you use an IR temp gun??

[grumpyvette]

How many guys have and use a IR temp gun?
I just found and bought this one,on that site, (below) after you use these things you really are able to tune better and how much you need one to tune correctly,becomes aparrent I miss my old one!! I had one(can,t remember the brand or model , )it grew legs and walked at the track,(I used it mostly as a tuning tool)

http://www.infrared-usa.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=4994

along with a timing light,vacuum gauge,and A/F ratio meter, and digital volt meter,leakdown tester are some of the other basic tools you need,




I got the IR gun today, (4 days after ordering it) so they obviously shipped it the day after the order was placed with no delays or problems , it measures within 1% of my exhaust probe SO Im assuming its correct , it came in a plastic case with instructions and a spare battery, (ILL need to read up) but so far it appears to be about what I expected and should prove very useful as a tuning aid , like the A/F ratio meter and a few other high tech gizmos that make isolateing problems easier

http://www.dawesdevices.com/airfuelmeter.html

http://vmaxoutlaw.com/tech/leakdown_tester.htm

http://www.centuryperformance.com/vacuum.asp

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=2998&prmenbr=361

basically its a great way to spot cylinders that are misfiring (they run cooler than average( or cylinders that run lean(they tend to run hotter than average) and if your getting into to much ignition advance too quickly , or your retarding the ignition theres a noticable change in engine exhaust temp range.
now each engine combo will differ as to the temp range and depending on the combo , 975F-1200F is the basic range of header temps ,but its the differance BETWEEN the differant cylinders that your looking for, if they vary theres a PROBLEM and it helps a good deal to spot it quickly, things like vacuum leaks, and clogged injectors are fairly easy to spot also,rocker arms can also be checked, if the bearings are starting th go or the oil flow is restricted thats fairly easy to spot also if the valve covers off, loose ignition wires, fouled plugs, ETC.

 

[JohnZ]

Yup, I've had one for many years - terrific diagnostic tool that doesn't lie!

 

[ON 7TH]

had the old type,a MAC probe,gona up date 1 of these days

 

[BarryK]

yep!
I just got one last month. I spent days trying to track down an issue with my engine running very hot and couldn't find any reason for it until JohnZ convienced me to go out and buy the IR Temp gun. As soon as I shot the t-stat housing I realized that I was chasing my tail all the previous days and my motor was fine but the temp sender unit had gone flakey and was reading too high by over 40*.
I can see how handy of a tool having the IR temp gun is going to be as i learn how to do more of my own work on my car.

In the meantime, until I need to use it again, I had fun reading the temps of everything in the house including the dog, 2 cats, walls, dishes, my own arms, etc.
BTW, if you are bored and have pets, they go nuts trying to catch the little red light as you move it over the floor and the walls and the furniture, etc

 

[Tom Bryant]

It's on my list of things to get before I start my new engine.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I was missing on one cylinder a few years ago and I asked a guy that had one of the guns at work to point it at my manifolds and it pinpointed the cylinder in a matter of seconds. It's on my wishlist now. Great tool to have in the toolbox.