8hp Honda overheating?

[sunnyridge]

I have a 2003 8hp Honda and the other day after a morning of trolling the paint on the starboard side of the plastic cowling at the top just below motor cover became very discolored on about a fist sized patch as if from heat. The motor feels quite hot to the touch on the head but the oil was not really hot at all. I am just not sure how to tell if the motor is overheating. There is good flow out the check hole. The spot where the paint discolored is by the carb and not really near the hottest part of motor. I would like to know how hot the motor would be around the head on normal conditions and i think the oil would be really hot if their was a problem would it not?

 

[eipeldau]

Re: 8hp Honda overheating?

Hi,
When you consider the engine is hot, try touching the water that comes from the check hole. It should be warm-hot, since it has to be absorbing heat from the engine. If it's cool, it means your thermostat is somehow stuck closed, and the cooling water is not being renewed. In such case, the water you're touching is coming pretty much straight form the pump and is being discarded without doing the cooling job. This is the normal situation when your motor is still cold or when a faulty thermostat does not open when the engine is hot.
It's really easy for you to check the thermostat, but I suggest to you buying a shop manual for this job and for any other that may come up in the future.
Good luck!

Henrique