Variance in vent openings

[Jon MI]

I just find it odd that I hear all these people talking about having there vents open 50%. I have found that I have my vents open to about 25% tops to maintain temp.

Why the differance? Am I starting with more lit coals then others? Am I just so hot it rubs off on my WSM?

Just curious. My temps maintain right where there suppose. 10 hour cook and really no adjustments exept the first hour to get things where they need to be.

 

[Bob T.]

Weather is a big factor. Wind, temps.
How leaky your WSM is. Amount of food you have on. I have a diffeerence between using water in the Brinkman pan, or 3/4" of sand in the Weber pan.
Cooking at 230 or at 270 makes a nice difference on mine when I do it in the non Guru mode.
I hear even the elevation you are at will cause a difference. Maybe the mile high people can chime in on that one.
I'm sure there are other things I am forgetting.

 

[Ken McCrary]

How much ash being generated by your charcoal is another