Weird question

johnnyp

Just opened up the XL and holy snickers, there was still a single, orange glowing piece of lump from my cook last night. 

Easiest answer, I must have left the vent cracked open. Except i didn’t. 

Alinement gap?  Slight, but nothing I haven’t already been cooking with for a while.

Unless this is semi-normal, Air must be getting in somehow. I’m starting to fear a cracked base.  I’ll have to investigate more in the day light. 

Anyone have any insight? 

GrateEggspectations

All I can say is that this would have me worried. Sorry I can’t help.

Legume

Perfect setup for cold smoking?

RRP

I'd be most suspect that your bottom vent was allowing just enough air in to sustain a smoldering fire. Test it by trying to rattle the door. If that is the case you can tighten the track. Holler back and I'll tell you how.

YukonRon

I hope it is what Ron suggests. Mine has not had, what  consider a tight seal when closed, but the fire was extinguished each time I closed it.
Do check your base, inside and out, just to be sure.
Best of luck.

nolaegghead

Obviously air is getting in there somehow, or we're looking at a supernatural event.

One thing you can do is start a fire, get the egg up to temp so any cracks will open up, and dump some sawdust, leaves, grass or something that will create an enormous amount of smoke.  Shut the vents and lid like you would to put out the fire. Maybe add a couple ice cubes to create some additional pressure, and look where the smoke comes out. If you have a a crack or leak, you should see smoke.

We use smoke tests to check for leaks in our laboratory ventilation ducting.

Hopefully it's just a leaky gasket.

DoubleEgger

Check the silicone sealant around the bottom vent. 

YukonRon

DoubleEgger said:

Check the silicone sealant around the bottom vent. 

@DoubleEgger
I thought that too. Mine is shoddy as heck, but when closed, it is extinguished. Good point.

lousubcap

@nolaegghead - great suggestion.  I periodically get to the same deal with the tail-end of a fire starter.  Cranks out smoke as the burn winds down-prematurely shut the dome and watch the billowing smoke rise from the DFMT.  Consider myself lucky with no other obvious leaks and good to go again.  FWIW-

johnnyp

I visually inspected the outside outside of the egg, but don’t see anything concerning.  That includes both the bottom vent and sealant.

the plan is to do a more thorough inspection in the daylight when I can more easily disassemble everything.

cracking is on my mind because I did an accidental clean burn the other night and wrapped my thermometer.

gonepostal

Glad i stumbled on this post. I cooked Monday night and the Large was behaving oddly on getting up to temp. Last night had plans to cook for the Mother in laws Bday and lifted the lid only to find a tremendous amount of ash and still smoldering lump. Cleaned out all the ash, loaded with new lump, and the same results as Monday night. Took forever to get up to temp. I'm way overdue for a good cleaning so will be taking everything out and examining all of the above mentioned ideas to see what is going on...

I was blaming it all on the KJ BB charcoal...

johnnyp

gonepostal said:

Glad i stumbled on this post. I cooked Monday night and the Large was behaving oddly on getting up to temp. Last night had plans to cook for the Mother in laws Bday and lifted the lid only to find a tremendous amount of ash and still smoldering lump. Cleaned out all the ash, loaded with new lump, and the same results as Monday night. Took forever to get up to temp. I'm way overdue for a good cleaning so will be taking everything out and examining all of the above mentioned ideas to see what is going on...

I was blaming it all on the KJ BB charcoal...

You know what....

this was KJ Big Block as well.

it seemed foolish when my mind jumped to the fuel as a problem.  But what a coincidence.  If i can’t detect any issues with the egg. I’ll def be keeping an eye open now. 

nolaegghead

The brand of lump isn't the problem.  There is no oxygen in lump, regardless of how crappy it is.  Would make for a great Friday night troll thread, though.

johnnyp

nolaegghead said:

The brand of lump isn't the problem.  There is no oxygen in lump, regardless of how crappy it is.  Would make for a great Friday night troll thread, though.

I suppose I was curious how lump density would impact smouldering on limited airflow. Since I have a known alinement gap and  KJ uses super dense South American hardwood, i at least considered that as a variable. 

RRP

Here's another idea - got a trouble light? At night just drop it in the dome neck and look for "light leaking". This won't work for a cracked base on the bottom, but it's an easy way to rule out or confirm a gasket or vent issue.

nolaegghead

RRP said:

Here's another idea - got a trouble light? At night just drop it in the dome neck and look for "light leaking". This won't work for a cracked base on the bottom, but it's an easy way to rule out or confirm a gasket or vent issue.

I tried that and I found a HUGE leak where the cord went in!!!

RRP

nolaegghead said:

RRP said:

Here's another idea - got a trouble light? At night just drop it in the dome neck and look for "light leaking". This won't work for a cracked base on the bottom, but it's an easy way to rule out or confirm a gasket or vent issue.

I tried that and I found a HUGE leak where the cord went in!!!

Reread what I posted 

nolaegghead

RRP said:

nolaegghead said:

RRP said:

Here's another idea - got a trouble light? At night just drop it in the dome neck and look for "light leaking". This won't work for a cracked base on the bottom, but it's an easy way to rule out or confirm a gasket or vent issue.

I tried that and I found a HUGE leak where the cord went in!!!

Reread what I posted 

I'm just trying to be funny, Ron.

stv8r

lol "Holy Snickers"....love that!