Thermal Imaging for engine tuning and troubleshooting

[HsvToolFool]

How fast is the response time of that thermal imager? Are we
seeing the instantaneous effect of hot exhaust gases in the
header tubes? Perhaps your photo indicates the heat of the
exhaust gases at one random moment. At another time, perhaps
the other two tubes are hotter.

It's very neat regardless.

[John S]

How fast is the response time of that thermal imager? Are we
seeing the instantaneous effect of hot exhaust gases in the
header tubes? Perhaps your photo indicates the heat of the
exhaust gases at one random moment. At another time, perhaps
the other two tubes are hotter.

It's very neat regardless.

The camera sees in "real time" and the image represents more of a "specific moment" and not a "random moment". Any changes in the heat signature are evident as they happen.
My next step is to set the camera up to record video and record the engine heating up from ambient (cold) to stable operating temperature. Once I do that I'll try to post the video and you will get a good idea of how responsive the camera is and also what the heat characteristic of the engine is.

[HsvToolFool]

The camera sees in "real time" and the image represents more of a "specific moment" and not a "random moment".

Sorry, I meant a random moment in the engine's combustion cycle.
Is it possible that the image captures hot exhaust gases as they exit
certain cyclinders? That might explain the 250-degree difference
between header tubes. In other words, the cool cylinders are on
their intake cycle while the hot ones are on their exhaust cycle.

A video will be extremely neat. That's a cool toy I'd love to have.

[silver69camaro]

That might explain the 250-degree difference
between header tubes. In other words, the cool cylinders are on
their intake cycle while the hot ones are on their exhaust cycle.

I'd venture to guess than such a rapid (and extreme!) thermal cycle would eventually crack the HREW tubing. The tubes can't radiate heat that fast, anyway.

[HsvToolFool]

The tubes can't radiate heat that fast, anyway.

I didn't think so either, but it was worth asking. It's incredible that
a 220-degree difference exists between cyclinders at idle. That can't
be good.