How hot do headers get?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Austin TX
Re: How hot do headers get? (xfactor974)
I measured the temps on my ceramic coated headers a while back using an infrared gun type thermometer. Singles were in the 550 range; the pair at 3/5 and 4/6 were around 675. This was after normal driving and while idling. Ambient temp was about 85.
[Modified by flynhi, 4:18 PM 4/18/2002]
[Modified by flynhi, 4:18 PM 4/18/2002]
Le Mans Master
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
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Re: How hot do headers get? (xfactor974)
JetHot ceramic coating is supposed to withstand 1300 degree temps, several people have burned the coating off their headers by either a very lean condition or badly miss timed. This usually happens at first startup when guys are trying to break in a new cam. Like one of the other guys said they can get hot enough to glow if you run your car hard enough, but under most usual conditions a well tuned car's headers shouldn't get over 1000 degrees.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: How hot do headers get? (xfactor974)
I don't know what temperatures the pipes are but exhaust gas temperature measured with a probe in the header pipe right out of the engine is around 1300 degree F. It can under lean conditions go to 1400F. Under hard runs the pipes do glow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
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From: spring city pa
Re: How hot do headers get? (norvalwilhelm)
I have found temps to be very close to Norvals findings . I used the probes in individual runners for testing purposes and got readings of 900f light cruise and close to 1300f under load. The testing was done on a 427 side oiler with dual quads .
Geo :rolleyes:
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From: hamilton square NJ
Re: How hot do headers get? (ram82fire)
So what would you guys estimate the temp at 1" away from the headers. My fuel line and trans lines are very close to the headers, maybe 2" away and I'm looking to buy sleeving from McMaster for them. Do you think 500 deg rated stuff is enough or should I go higher?
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Race Director
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: How hot do headers get? (xfactor974)
Along that lines, what about plug wire boot covers? I melted a couple of my boots when I broke in my cam, ran it lean for a about 5 minutes and noticed the manifolds end and exhaust pipes were glowing red. Shut it down and rejetted higher which made the glowing go down alot. Are those temp mentioned above with bare or painted headers as opposed to wrapped or coated headers. Norval I noticed you have yours wrapped not coated or do you have both?
Thanks
Thanks
Race Director
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: How hot do headers get? (Fevre)
Norval I noticed you have yours wrapped not coated or do you have both?
My headers are wrapped. I really like the fact that after a hard run and you open the hood that heat wave doesn't hit you. I found the underhood temperatures really went down after wrapping. My wrap is close to 10 years old but don't remember for sure and it is still in good shape. I do not take long high speed cruises.
The temperature of 1300F is not the header temperature but the exhuast gas exiting the head about 1 inch out. This is read off a probe inserted into the head and read off a temp gage in the car while running hard. It can be used to check for rich lean conditions. Some race cars have 8 probes and 8 gages on the dash to watch out for lean conditions. 1400F is definitely lean.
My headers are wrapped. I really like the fact that after a hard run and you open the hood that heat wave doesn't hit you. I found the underhood temperatures really went down after wrapping. My wrap is close to 10 years old but don't remember for sure and it is still in good shape. I do not take long high speed cruises.
The temperature of 1300F is not the header temperature but the exhuast gas exiting the head about 1 inch out. This is read off a probe inserted into the head and read off a temp gage in the car while running hard. It can be used to check for rich lean conditions. Some race cars have 8 probes and 8 gages on the dash to watch out for lean conditions. 1400F is definitely lean.
Le Mans Master
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From: Brazos TX
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Re: How hot do headers get? (xfactor974)
I would go with something rated greater than 500 F. Metal temps are typically 1/2 the temp of the exhaust gas and running something that close to the pipes will probably expose it to temps over 500. Especially if there isn't a lot of airflow around that particular area.
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From: hamilton square NJ
Re: How hot do headers get? (burners)
I bought some silica sleeve rated for 2300 deg for the fuel lines and the trans lines. it was only 2.13 per foot from McMaster as opposed to 3x that for fyrejacket from Fel-pro
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Peoria Arizona
At idle in the garage, our ceramic coated headers run about 360f on the single tubes (small block). The center tubes run about 450. This is measuring with a IR gun about 2" - 3" from the tubes.
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Race Director
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From: WI
buy a product from Aeroquip called "Fire sleeve", I use it on my car below
Melting Slicks
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From: Peoria Arizona
