Headers: Coated or not?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
It might depend on whether the pipe is mild steel or stainless steel. This gets hotly (pun intended) every so often.
A ceramic metallic coating will prolong the life of header pipes. They'll be cooler running and cooler to the touch more quickly in the cramped engine compartment. They'll always look good. Personally, I've always used JET HOT coated headers on my cars.
If the header pipes are stainless, they will change in appearance to a soft patina with repeated heat/cool cycles. Some like that, some don't.
In C5 Tech, use search or search this forum (in the red banner). Use keywords "jet hot coated headers" or "ceramic metallic coated headers" or "coated headers". There's plenty to read.
JET HOT has a plant in Tempe by the way.
http://www.jet-hot.com/
HPC has a plant in Chandler.
http://www.hpcoatings.com/industries/energy.aspx
A ceramic metallic coating will prolong the life of header pipes. They'll be cooler running and cooler to the touch more quickly in the cramped engine compartment. They'll always look good. Personally, I've always used JET HOT coated headers on my cars.
If the header pipes are stainless, they will change in appearance to a soft patina with repeated heat/cool cycles. Some like that, some don't.
In C5 Tech, use search or search this forum (in the red banner). Use keywords "jet hot coated headers" or "ceramic metallic coated headers" or "coated headers". There's plenty to read.
JET HOT has a plant in Tempe by the way.
http://www.jet-hot.com/
HPC has a plant in Chandler.
http://www.hpcoatings.com/industries/energy.aspx
Last edited by hotwheels57; Oct 9, 2009 at 07:20 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
Every coated header I've installed... has eventually began to surface rust. That goes for Jet Hot especially. My own FLP headers were sent to Jet Hot to be recoated and came back looking like jewelry. After 6 months, the collectors were showing rust and the finish became a dull, boring gray.
I will only run stainless headers on my cars. Yes, they change color over time but they still look better than the ceramic headers. Both types of headers are better than bare mild steel at trapping heat.
Also... keep in mind... if you scratch or scrape a coated header, it'll rust very quickly.
I will only run stainless headers on my cars. Yes, they change color over time but they still look better than the ceramic headers. Both types of headers are better than bare mild steel at trapping heat.
Also... keep in mind... if you scratch or scrape a coated header, it'll rust very quickly.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Every coated header I've installed... has eventually began to surface rust. That goes for Jet Hot especially. My own FLP headers were sent to Jet Hot to be recoated and came back looking like jewelry. After 6 months, the collectors were showing rust and the finish became a dull, boring gray.
I will only run stainless headers on my cars. Yes, they change color over time but they still look better than the ceramic headers. Both types of headers are better than bare mild steel at trapping heat.
Also... keep in mind... if you scratch or scrape a coated header, it'll rust very quickly.
I will only run stainless headers on my cars. Yes, they change color over time but they still look better than the ceramic headers. Both types of headers are better than bare mild steel at trapping heat.
Also... keep in mind... if you scratch or scrape a coated header, it'll rust very quickly.
Overall, unless you're looking for a show car or really worry about heat, regular stainless is fine. Coat them if you want, but overall most established installers will agree to not coat them.
I'd stay away from any mild steel header. They'll eventually rust out no matter how much you coat them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Every coated header I've installed... has eventually began to surface rust. That goes for Jet Hot especially. My own FLP headers were sent to Jet Hot to be recoated and came back looking like jewelry. After 6 months, the collectors were showing rust and the finish became a dull, boring gray.
I will only run stainless headers on my cars. Yes, they change color over time but they still look better than the ceramic headers. Both types of headers are better than bare mild steel at trapping heat.
Also... keep in mind... if you scratch or scrape a coated header, it'll rust very quickly.
I will only run stainless headers on my cars. Yes, they change color over time but they still look better than the ceramic headers. Both types of headers are better than bare mild steel at trapping heat.
Also... keep in mind... if you scratch or scrape a coated header, it'll rust very quickly.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: Arden NC
I've had many cars with coated (Jet Hot) stainless headers and they still look good.
I agree that the Jet Hot won't last if you scrape it, no coating will.
The coating is designed to keep the underhood temperature down and it does.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
I've installed a set of Jet-Hot brand headers on a 2000 Trans Am and after just 6 months it was already showing rust at the collectors. I've heard many times on ls1tech that Jet-Hot has the worst coating out there. Odd that they have the best name recognition in regards to coating when they fail miserably. The cat convertors were trash too. Looked like rolled up cardboard inside of a pipe. Didn't use 'em. Plan to have them coated again and again if you use Jethot.
For me, it's raw stainless, polished to a chrome shine. It will turn a little blue, but I like that look a lot more than a dull lifeless gray from coatings.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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Another vote for Jet-Hot. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 8
From: Indian Rocks Beach FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I have Melrose headers which are mild steel and come coated inside and out. I have had them on my car since July '08 and have put 25K daily driven miles on them. I drive in rain quite often. There is not a sign of rust anywhere and the underhood temps are noticeably cooler.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: NJ
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Coating stainless is the best way. The coating itself doesn't rust.
I've had many cars with coated (Jet Hot) stainless headers and they still look good.
I agree that the Jet Hot won't last if you scrape it, no coating will.
The coating is designed to keep the underhood temperature down and it does.
I've had many cars with coated (Jet Hot) stainless headers and they still look good.
I agree that the Jet Hot won't last if you scrape it, no coating will.
The coating is designed to keep the underhood temperature down and it does.
Have had coated headers on my 96' Camaro for almost 10 years without issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 16
From: Katy Tx
I was at a Corvette show just today and was noticing how much better the coated headers looked - all of the others looked "old". The coating does take on a satin silver look after use but still look better than the dis-colored stainless. Underhood temps have to be better on the coated ones too.
