They open with a “clang”!
Smoke emerges from within.
SE <<Bsshhh... clang!>>
thewayneiac: Considering the temperature, maybe they shouldn't open it just yet.
Ornette: It's possible that the "steam" is because LCL has a lower boiling point than water (otherwise Shinji would have serious burns all over his body).
Kendrix: Then again, considering that one of their two available pilots is exposed to that temperature, hurrying the f*** up might not be such a bad idea...
Then again, the Makers seem to have aknowdledged what you pointed out, as the ppl retrieving Shinji in Rebuild are given heat protection suits.