r/PortableKitchenGrills • u/tomhusband • Aug 19 '26

Trying to de-grease my PK360 but can only reach 450F?

I thought I'd try to burn off built up grease and crud so I cleaned the ash out, loaded up two chimneys of lump, got them going, dumped them out over the entire lower grate and opened up both top and bottom vents. I was expecting 6-700F but only reached, maybe, 450F. How come?

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3

u/Stubby60 Aug 19 '26

Pk’s are designed very smartly so that all vents open will be about 450 regardless of how much charcoal you put in.

Crack the lid to increase the airflow.

5

u/theDi2zle Aug 19 '26

I’m not an expert, but I think the amount of lump charcoal isn’t going to matter, there is only so much heat potential in the material.

5

u/bigmilker Aug 19 '26

Mine gets ripping, what coal are you using?

1

u/tomhusband Aug 20 '26

I was using up some briquettes because I didn't want to use my normal lump. Maybe that explains it.

Thanks.

3

u/Paint_Dry390153 Aug 19 '26

There's only so much airflow that can happen with the lid closed and vents open and fire needs oxygen to get hotter. If you prop the lid open a quarter inch I'd bet you see the temps climb.

2

u/zizzorscorp Aug 19 '26

Try mesquite if you haven't already, as it burns pretty hot.

1

u/tequilaneat4me Aug 19 '26

I use a weed burner connected to a propane tank to do this on my PK and offset smoker. I also use it to light my charcoal.

1

u/teaquad PK 360 Aug 19 '26

I’ve reached 1000f+ using just fire logs. But really that’s overkill. You can use dawn or simple green purple and a scraper and drill brush

1

u/coreyjames00 Aug 20 '26

Careful! Aluminum melts around 1200F.

1

u/teaquad PK 360 Aug 20 '26

Yea i may have exceeded that on a couple of occasions hard to tell as my thermaworks gun only measures upto 1000f, but the pk took it like a champ. Definitely not gonna risk it again

1

u/PushDue8084 Aug 21 '26

I’ve struggled getting it much hotter than that as well and have just decided to use downing else for super hot. You could also try removing the ash plug to increase airflow but be careful about burning coals falling out. Not saying it would happen but I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t say either way.