Engine surface temperature

[Fazerider]

Cheers Limax, A thermometer that only reads up to 550°C will be nowhere near high enough to read the temperature of the header pipes Sharpie, I think they get to about 800 -900°C +  The slightest amount a rust will have the paint flaking off. I wonder if something like Jenolite which converts the rust into iron tannate, would be worth trying before repainting it. I've just been looking at something called corroseal, it maybe worth googling.

If the headers were that hot they’d glow dull red in the dark. The surface oxidation on mine is a yellow-brown colour which suggests they reach about 250ºC.
If you have shiny stainless pipes an infra-red thermometer will not get a reliable reading, they really need a black surface.