What is the pro's and con's for ceramic coatings on headers and exhaust components versus hi temp paint. Also nationwide wide company like Jet Hot versus local ceramic coater. Average coast for a set of V-8 headers?
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Feb. 9, 2012 2:53 p.m. pirate New Reader
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Feb. 9, 2012 3:10 p.m. Raze SuperDork
pirate wrote:
What is the pro's and con's for ceramic coatings on headers and exhaust components versus hi temp paint. Also nationwide wide company like Jet Hot versus local ceramic coater. Average coast for a set of V-8 headers?
Helluva lot more durable than high-temp paint... Much more expensive...
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Feb. 9, 2012 3:41 p.m. scardeal HalfDork
Doesn't ceramic coating also have insulating properties as well?
I was under the impression that ceramic coated headers would keep engine-bay temps lower than raw headers.
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Feb. 9, 2012 4:08 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork
Might as well drop a question in here, too: do ceramic coatings cause problems like header wraps do? I've seen some claims that wrapping headers can make the steel brittle over time.
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Feb. 9, 2012 4:09 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
scardeal wrote:
Doesn't ceramic coating also have insulating properties as well?
I was under the impression that ceramic coated headers would keep engine-bay temps lower than raw headers.
They do.
They're also helpful (in theory) with turbo manifolds because it keeps all the heat inside, increasing velocity.
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Feb. 9, 2012 4:42 p.m. Don49 Reader
As a provider of ceramic and dry film lubricant coatings, I can tell you they are far superior to header wraps. The technology come from the aerospace and airplane industries, The ceramic coating will prevent corrosion and reduce heat radiated off the headers. Depending on the particular brand you can expect up to 90% less heat @ 1" from the header. For example: 900 degree header surface temp- 90 degree air temp 1" away, even with ambient temp close to 90. Prices will vary with different vendors. Don't forget to include the cost of shipping both ways. Are the components new? If you provide used contaminated pieces, it may cost more for the process. The key to doing the coatings properly is in the prep and removing all contaminants. Any of the major vendors will do a good job. Local applicators can vary greatly. You might check with your local speed shop/cirlce track shop.
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Feb. 9, 2012 4:48 p.m. Javelin SuperDork
I've worked on race cars with coated and wrapped headers (not at the same time, obviously). We had a few problems with the wrapped ones, and some gains. The coated ones were amazing in their reduction of underhood temps, and we never had an issue. In fact, when a 700+ HP alcohol motor went boom, we were able to simply clean the oil/pistons out of the headers. No damage to the coating at all.
Worth every penny IMO.
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Feb. 9, 2012 5:19 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
hmmm worth coating the outside of a turbo?
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Feb. 13, 2012 2:59 p.m. pirate New Reader
Anyone have any experience with companies that use Cerakote Ceramic Coatings on Exhaust Systems? In addition to exhausts this stuff is used on firearms for a durable finish.
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Feb. 13, 2012 3:35 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork
Gat damn, I just called a company that's literally five miles from my house, $150. That's not too much more than good-quality header wrap!
The guys referenced in this article, in fact. I wonder if that sweet chrome-like finish can hold up to rotary heat...
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Feb. 13, 2012 3:35 p.m. Brett_Murphy Dork
A friend of mine used Jet Hot to coat their turbo manifold and down-pipe with good results.
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Feb. 13, 2012 4:39 p.m. Merc New Reader
+1 for NASA engineers. If I had unlimited funds, everything would get coated. I've been eyeing this company with envy. http://www.zircotec.com/
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Feb. 13, 2012 4:40 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
Osterkraut wrote:
Gat damn, I just called a company that's literally five miles from my house, $150. That's not too much more than good-quality header wrap!
The guys referenced in this article, in fact. I wonder if that sweet chrome-like finish can hold up to rotary heat...
It will. Local shop does that for turbo manifolds.
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Feb. 13, 2012 6:21 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork
ooo... like the chromed effect. I may need to send off the header and downpipe (when I get a new one) from my saab
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Feb. 13, 2012 6:59 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork
It seems I remember that it doesn't hold up well for rotaries. They get too hot.
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Feb. 13, 2012 7:54 p.m. HappyAndy Dork
carguy123 wrote:
It seems I remember that it doesn't hold up well for rotaries. They get too hot.
A rotary header can't possibly be hotter than a turbo housing. Possibly a higher avg temp, but not peak temp.
If I'm wrong I'll accept it, but I want some data to prove it.
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Feb. 13, 2012 8:16 p.m. Osterkraut SuperDork
HappyAndy wrote:
carguy123 wrote:
It seems I remember that it doesn't hold up well for rotaries. They get too hot.
A rotary header can't possibly be hotter than a turbo housing. Possibly a higher avg temp, but not peak temp.
If I'm wrong I'll accept it, but I want some data to prove it.
Might be close.
Either way, rotary exhaust gets about 1700*F. Anything rated above that should do the trick.
