Headers Dissipating Heat
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 47
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From: San Antonio Texas
Headers Dissipating Heat
Please weigh in. I was mentioning to a friend that my turboed Vette was running hotter than usual. I told him that I had checked all of the usual suspects; radiator; cowl; chin spoiler; water/coolant mixture; etc...when his friend chimed in. He works at a well know performance shop, as suggested that the engine block was getting too hot and needed a set of headers to remove some of the excess heat. I've been running without headers since I had the turbos installed over 5 years ago. Is there any credence to this theory? I have scheduled an appointment with my tuner to see if he can assist with this issue.
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St. Jude Donor '12,'13,'15,'16,'17
Hi,
When you say hot, how hot. Maybe thermostat not opening all the way?
Not sure why you would need headers if you ran it for 5 yrs the way it is with no issues.
When you say hot, how hot. Maybe thermostat not opening all the way?
Not sure why you would need headers if you ran it for 5 yrs the way it is with no issues.
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Last edited by SacCityCorvette; Jun 13, 2012 at 03:23 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 47
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From: San Antonio Texas
I don't think that it is the thermostat, because I've changed it out (no kidding) 3 times. And I agree, it wasn't an issue for 5 years, so why now? I am going to re- install my high speed fans this weekend. Wish me luck.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Riverside CA
St. Jude Donor '12
Stainless steel is much better at removing heat than the stock manifolds and will run much cooler.
Ceramic coating on stainless headers is purely cosmetic. The only headers that need ceramic coating are the mild steel ones to prevent them from rusting.
Ceramic coating on stainless headers is purely cosmetic. The only headers that need ceramic coating are the mild steel ones to prevent them from rusting.
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St. Jude Donor '12,'13,'15,'16,'17
When you say "I am going to re- install my high speed fans this weekend."
Does that mean you don't have fans? Maybe I'm missing something.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 47
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From: San Antonio Texas
I am running the stock fans. I had placed the high speed ones on without a shroud. The stock one had a shroud. I'll have to fashion some kind of shroud for the high speed ones.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
I would think that headers, even coated ones, having a larger surface area, will radiate MORE heat and increase underhood temps. Have never seen temps decrease on any vehicle I've owned after adding headers.
Used to be in the RV business, headers were promoted by manufacters to help cooling on motorhomes. Never saw it help temps, in fact most ran hotter...
I also have an STS setup, stock manifolds though. They say that headers would cost power from cooler exhust temps, that the lower velocity makes the turbos spool slower. Also, that with all the backpressure, there is no flow improvement. So...Don't think youll notice a diference in power or temps with headers but keep us posted.
I did find the vette ran hotter after the turbos but I think it was the intercooler blocking some airflow. I went with an a larger all aluminum radiator- problem solved.
Used to be in the RV business, headers were promoted by manufacters to help cooling on motorhomes. Never saw it help temps, in fact most ran hotter...
I also have an STS setup, stock manifolds though. They say that headers would cost power from cooler exhust temps, that the lower velocity makes the turbos spool slower. Also, that with all the backpressure, there is no flow improvement. So...Don't think youll notice a diference in power or temps with headers but keep us posted.
I did find the vette ran hotter after the turbos but I think it was the intercooler blocking some airflow. I went with an a larger all aluminum radiator- problem solved.
CF Senior Moments Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
[Q
Ceramic coating on stainless headers is purely cosmetic.
I disagree - ceramic coating helps reduce the outside temps -keeps more of the heat internal to the exhaust and might even help his performance a little bit with rear turbos.. just sayin ....
Ceramic coating on stainless headers is purely cosmetic.
I disagree - ceramic coating helps reduce the outside temps -keeps more of the heat internal to the exhaust and might even help his performance a little bit with rear turbos.. just sayin ....
CF Senior Moments Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I would think that headers, even coated ones, having a larger surface area, will radiate MORE heat and increase underhood temps. Have never seen temps decrease on any vehicle I've owned after adding headers.
Used to be in the RV business, headers were promoted by manufacters to help cooling on motorhomes. Never saw it help temps, in fact most ran hotter...
I also have an STS setup, stock manifolds though. They say that headers would cost power from cooler exhust temps, that the lower velocity makes the turbos spool slower. Also, that with all the backpressure, there is no flow improvement. So...Don't think youll notice a diference in power or temps with headers but keep us posted.
I did find the vette ran hotter after the turbos but I think it was the intercooler blocking some airflow. I went with an a larger all aluminum radiator- problem solved.
Used to be in the RV business, headers were promoted by manufacters to help cooling on motorhomes. Never saw it help temps, in fact most ran hotter...
I also have an STS setup, stock manifolds though. They say that headers would cost power from cooler exhust temps, that the lower velocity makes the turbos spool slower. Also, that with all the backpressure, there is no flow improvement. So...Don't think youll notice a diference in power or temps with headers but keep us posted.
I did find the vette ran hotter after the turbos but I think it was the intercooler blocking some airflow. I went with an a larger all aluminum radiator- problem solved.
How in the world would coated headers radiate more heat in the engine compartment? That is just not true!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
I have had Jet Hot coated headers on my Trans Am. While they dont radiate as much as uncoated headers, hold up better, and look nicer they STILL radiated far more underhood heat than stock manifolds.
On the ther hand WRAPPED headers DID make a big difference in underhood temps. But in neither case did they make the engine run cooler.
But thats just my experiance.
I wrapped the exhaust all the way to the turbos on the vette, but never ran it without to compare. Couldnt hurt.
On the ther hand WRAPPED headers DID make a big difference in underhood temps. But in neither case did they make the engine run cooler.
But thats just my experiance.
I wrapped the exhaust all the way to the turbos on the vette, but never ran it without to compare. Couldnt hurt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
Same here. Have you flushed the system? Were/are you using Dexcool ar glycol? Did you make sure that something didnt suck up into the radiator behind the intercooler? And last, did you make sure all the air was purged from the system? I had a similar problem with my '95 Vette until I learned how to burp it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: San Antonio Texas
I'm am officially an expert at burping my Vette. There is no debris that has been sucked into the radiator, and I have tried the 50/50 and 75/25 mixture of water to coolant. And I only use dexcool along with two bottles of water wetter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 864
From: So Cal
Just a thought, but I think that for folks to really help you they might need a little more detail. "Hotter than usual" is a pretty broad description for a supercharged C5. 5 degees hotter? 20 degrees hotter? Hotter at freeway speed? Hotter around town below 40 mph, above 40 mph, with AC on or off etc... etc...
My understanding is that burping is not really an issue for the C5. It basically self purges through that valve at the top of the radiator into the purge tank if the fluid levels are correct.
FWIW, as I recently found out, having too much fluid above the full line in the purge tank can lead to a number of issues including some degree of overheating. If the fluid is well above the full line after shutting down over night it needs to be siphoned down below the line.
Also, FWIW, my average temps have seemed to drop about 3-5 degrees after I had a set of B&B SS shorty step headers installed.
My understanding is that burping is not really an issue for the C5. It basically self purges through that valve at the top of the radiator into the purge tank if the fluid levels are correct.
FWIW, as I recently found out, having too much fluid above the full line in the purge tank can lead to a number of issues including some degree of overheating. If the fluid is well above the full line after shutting down over night it needs to be siphoned down below the line.
Also, FWIW, my average temps have seemed to drop about 3-5 degrees after I had a set of B&B SS shorty step headers installed.
Last edited by B747VET; Jun 14, 2012 at 08:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 47
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From: San Antonio Texas
I think that I might have solved the problem. I pulled the shroud and upper radiator support off, and discovered that the fans were not flush up against the radiator. they were just hanging out about 8-10 inches away. I cinched the up flushed to the radiator and anchored them to the front shroud. Now when I run it hard with the AC on it will get to 228-235, but quickly recovers under calmer driving conditions. Without running the AC it gets to 220-230 under hard driving, but recovers back to about 225 once I back off. This is with the stock fans. I want to see what the high performance fans will do. Will keep y'all posted. Thanks for all of the input.