New Ceramic Coated Header Discoloration
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 291
Likes: 15
From: Virginia Beach VA
New Ceramic Coated Header Discoloration
Just installed a new set of Hedman Elite ceramic coated headers. After about 50 miles on them (the engine has 2000 miles on it and is tuned properly) The outside bend of the #8 pipe started to discolor and turn a white-ish silver and is rough to the touch compared to the other pipes. I put a heat gun on it running and it is not what I would consider abnormal.... around 300-400 deg F or so at idle operating temp. Is this normal or did I maybe get a bad set?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
They should all start to discolor at the same time, that one pipe probably wasn't prepped properly.
I was never impressed with how the ceramic coated headers look after you have them on the car for a while. Mine alway go grey but still look half decent.
I was never impressed with how the ceramic coated headers look after you have them on the car for a while. Mine alway go grey but still look half decent.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Yup, mine were almost chrome when first installed, and now are a grey color. I knew that going in, and they are a uniform color, so to me all is well. After 2 years they have not dulled any further than shortly after installing.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 291
Likes: 15
From: Virginia Beach VA
Cool, as long as it's normal I don't mind... now if the rest could just catch up so I had a "uniform" color that would be nice... I just wanted to be sure my ceramic coating wasn't completely useless on that pipe...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,257
Likes: 4
From: NJ
Yup most places do not coat inside of the header where you need it the most. Coating the outside just makes it look pretty. I know jethot dips them instead of sprays them. I tried a few times at home doing it until my oven broke. Probably because of the heat. Normaly ceramic coating needs 500 degrees to cure for an hour. My oven could go to 500 but I don't think it was designed that way. Had a few test pieces but never got a chance to test one. I think my first attempt I put too much on and it looks thick.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I had mine coated locally, I did not buy them coated. They are coated inside and out, and other that the fading to silver shortly after installing them, they are holding up just fine. I have no disappointments, they have done exactly as I expected them to.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
