would iridium plugs make an engine run hotter?

[shenandoah75]

I changed plugs (41-101) / wires (Magnecore KV-85) on my 8.1 this weekend @ just over 100K Miles.

 

While temp gauges are normal, the engine bay definitely seems hotter than normal and almost has a burning smell. I didn't may much attention to it until we got home tonight and my wife mentioned the smell after Could the plugs do this?

 

I have been tempted to put in the lower thermostat mod, but right now have the original.

 

thx

-brad

[Knowklew]

Plug wire on the header.

 

 

This^^^^^

[Zembonez]

I bet you are smelling something that got on the headers or other hot surfaces. Plugs aren't going to make the engine bay hotter. A lower temp thermostat is a bad idea. The computer is designed to work with the OEM temp.

[jandersinc]

A lower temp thermostat is a horrible idea on a computer controlled engine. If your engine is overheating you have a problem that needs to be fixed (and not just with a lower temp thermostat). These engines are designed to run at a certain temp and if they're not there the computer will always try to compensate to get it up to a normal temp.

[Doug_Scott]

When the plugs were changed maybe whoever changed them rested their hands on the exhaust manifold. It takes a while to burn off the oils from your skin. Any other work done at the same time? Maybe an oil change? Maybe someone spilt oil on manifold. Or it just maybe that it was overly hot outside that day, and everything is normal.

But to answer your original question, the plugs will not make the engine bay hotter than it was before.

[shenandoah75]

thx all. plugs definitely aren't touching the headers. the coil close to cylinder makes that near impossible on the big block...

 

definitely could have been me dripping oil (either engine or tranny). It's always run hot, i just don't remember the hood / sheet metal being that warm after a 5 mile drive + return trip a couple of hours later (trips were in the evening). The gauge < 210, so i don't think it's technically overheating.