header coating
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 189
Likes: 6
header coating
Just got a set of Kooks headers and was thinking about either doing ceramic or the hot-jet coating. First of all, is it worth spending the extra $$ on? I live in Florida and wanted to see if there were any places in the area that could do this.
Any suggestions or ideas would be helpful.
Any suggestions or ideas would be helpful.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
I think the ceramic coating is a must for the following reasons:
1) Significant reduction in the under the hood engine bay heat.
2) Higher exhaust gas velocity---heat stays in the exhaust gas improving hp and tq.
3) Enhances the life of the header by reducing corresion effects.
4) Helps heat the CAT and prevents CEL problems--assuming you
are using the after market CAT
1) Significant reduction in the under the hood engine bay heat.
2) Higher exhaust gas velocity---heat stays in the exhaust gas improving hp and tq.
3) Enhances the life of the header by reducing corresion effects.
4) Helps heat the CAT and prevents CEL problems--assuming you
are using the after market CAT
Last edited by megasport; May 3, 2006 at 11:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
No need to coat stainless steel, they do not rust and they already have a very low thermal conductivity. The underhood heat should be the same or less than mild steel headers that are coated. If you want the bling and even lower underhood temps, then coat them.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Rancho Santa Margarita CA
Originally Posted by megasport
I think the ceramic coating is a must for the following reasons:
1) Significant reduction in the under the hood engine bay heat.
2) Higher exhaust gas velocity---heat stays in the exhaust gas improving hp and tq.
3) Enhances the life of the header by reducing corresion effects.
4) Helps heat the CAT and prevents CEL problems--assuming you
are using the after market CAT
1) Significant reduction in the under the hood engine bay heat.
2) Higher exhaust gas velocity---heat stays in the exhaust gas improving hp and tq.
3) Enhances the life of the header by reducing corresion effects.
4) Helps heat the CAT and prevents CEL problems--assuming you
are using the after market CAT
Some will say it is not needed but then again many would also say 400HP is not needed. For me it has zilt to do with cost! I simply want the best looking set-up. If you then add the improvements referenced above it is a must for me.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 82
From: Ridgeland MS
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Ok 
I agree with all that say that ceramic coatings lower temps under the hood. I have a set of coated hookers on a big block 69 Camaro and they look/function great. I got them from Hooker already coated.
Where does one go to get a set of Kooks coated as was in the original post at the beginning of this thread? I do not know. Also, I would like to know if a coating can be applied to a set of headers that have already been used?
Bill
I agree with all that say that ceramic coatings lower temps under the hood. I have a set of coated hookers on a big block 69 Camaro and they look/function great. I got them from Hooker already coated. Where does one go to get a set of Kooks coated as was in the original post at the beginning of this thread? I do not know. Also, I would like to know if a coating can be applied to a set of headers that have already been used?
Bill
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 593
Likes: 1
Coating stainless steel can trap heat into welds and cause them to crack so there is no reason to coat them as they maintain heat better then mild steel.
Trapping heat can be a negative to the added heat to the O2s which then can report incorrectly and cause the VCM to incorrectly adjust the AFR.
If VCM is not tuned and trapped heat causes O2s and cats to be hotter also could cause the cat over temp (COT) circuit kick in sooner and dump excess gas in to cool the temps down at a loss of performance.
Being the headers are low and mostly under the car they are not adding that much heat to engine bay like the old manifolds used to do so coating SS does not buy anything since they would not rust like mild steel does.
Trapping heat can be a negative to the added heat to the O2s which then can report incorrectly and cause the VCM to incorrectly adjust the AFR.
If VCM is not tuned and trapped heat causes O2s and cats to be hotter also could cause the cat over temp (COT) circuit kick in sooner and dump excess gas in to cool the temps down at a loss of performance.
Being the headers are low and mostly under the car they are not adding that much heat to engine bay like the old manifolds used to do so coating SS does not buy anything since they would not rust like mild steel does.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,799
Likes: 106
From: God's Country, ID
Originally Posted by boosted_z06
Coating stainless steel can trap heat into welds and cause them to crack so there is no reason to coat them as they maintain heat better then mild steel.
Trapping heat can be a negative to the added heat to the O2s which then can report incorrectly and cause the VCM to incorrectly adjust the AFR.
If VCM is not tuned and trapped heat causes O2s and cats to be hotter also could cause the cat over temp (COT) circuit kick in sooner and dump excess gas in to cool the temps down at a loss of performance.
Being the headers are low and mostly under the car they are not adding that much heat to engine bay like the old manifolds used to do so coating SS does not buy anything since they would not rust like mild steel does.
Trapping heat can be a negative to the added heat to the O2s which then can report incorrectly and cause the VCM to incorrectly adjust the AFR.
If VCM is not tuned and trapped heat causes O2s and cats to be hotter also could cause the cat over temp (COT) circuit kick in sooner and dump excess gas in to cool the temps down at a loss of performance.
Being the headers are low and mostly under the car they are not adding that much heat to engine bay like the old manifolds used to do so coating SS does not buy anything since they would not rust like mild steel does.
I have run a set of non coated and a set of ceramic coated LG LT's on two different c6's and I can say it was $$ well spent the second time around!
Looks awesome compared to raw stainless look.
Does not throw CEL compared to throwing a CEL within the first 10 minutes (without ceramic coating). This reason alone was worth the $$.
Lastly, actually improves performance which is proven by testing (I believe Jet-hot has the some results posted if I recall).
If you spend $1000+ on headers I would shell out the extra $$ for coating.
Last edited by DSOMC6; May 4, 2006 at 01:22 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Newark, DE
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Tavarez
would you coat the LG stainless steel ones aswell?
http://z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65536
You still need to take precautions with dressing O2 sensor wiring, etc., but it seems to help. 7000 miles later, they look as good as the day they were installed.