Can dome misalignment cause increased lump burn?

SmokyBear · May 2014

Hi, everyone.

Can dome misalignment cause increased lump burn?

I have a very tight dome (dollar bill won't pull out) at 3/4s of my dome and looser (bill pulls out easily) on about 1/4 of it (right side).

I don't see any smoke escaping on the right side, so wouldn't "think" there's too much airflow contributing to longer shutdown times or increased lump burn, but gotta say I burn through lump (RO, Wicked Good, whatever) like nobody's business.

I'm lighting with an electric lighter if that makes any difference. Have been wondering if I used starter cubes or something else if it'd burn less lump - but I can easily fill firebox halfway full and have nothing but ash and a few pebbles within an hour..

Full disclosure: this is on a..'red headed stepchild' (KJ Classic), not a LBGE. Really wishing at this point that I had just gotten the LBGE instead to compliment my Mini BGE! That Mini is a lump MISER..but I'm not sure if it's due to better ceramics/etc or just because it's a heck of a lot smaller than the KJ Classic.

TIA for any/all help you guys can provide. The other forum is like a ghost town and no help to be had on the 'red side'.

NPHuskerFL · May 2014

Yes. Only because you are likely sucking in air around the gasket area. Align and do dollar bill test.
Kamado - Kamado Lid adjustment.. Big Green Egg -…:

http://youtu.be/71Jplxn4yAg

SmokyBear · May 2014

Thanks..I've also heard that if you don't see smoke coming out to leave it well enough alone, as there isn't likely air leakage w/no smoke? (And, it's easy to make it worse trying to align?)

SmokyBear · May 2014

Also..if I was pulling it a lot of additional air, wouldn't my temp be going nuts during a cook?

I have a hard time getting my KJ Classic above 550 - and that's with good lump, good lighting, draft door wide open, running top naked, etc.

No idea how you guys are getting nuke temps on your LBGEs.

nolaegghead · May 2014

If you can control the air flow from barely-enough-to-keep-fire-lit to nuclear, you control how much lump it burns. Leaks on the gasket area usually bleed a little smoke, I suppose that could make the egg a little less efficient, but I'm skeptical.

lkapigian · May 2014

I just replaced my blown gasket but even before that I did an 18 cook no problem and low fuel consumption even with almost no gasket

NPHuskerFL · May 2014

I would align it for two reasons. Longevity of gasket and aesthetics. The video just really simplifies the process IMHO.

TexanOfTheNorth · May 2014

nolaegghead said:

If you can control the air flow from barely-enough-to-keep-fire-lit to nuclear, you control how much lump it burns. Leaks on the gasket area usually bleed a little smoke, I suppose that could make the egg a little less efficient, but I'm skeptical.

I'd agree with this. Although, as you said, might contribute a bit to the time it takes for your fire to go out post-cook.

Can dome misalignment cause increased lump burn?

Comments

Categories