Headers and heat?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 515
Likes: 42
From: Littleton CO
Headers and heat?
I've just added Kooks headers and a cold air intake to go with my Corsa Sports on a 2006 coupe. My car is a daily driver.
I've heard that the headers make extra heat in the engine compartment.
Do I need to or should I make any other changes because of the extra heat?
I've heard that the headers make extra heat in the engine compartment.
Do I need to or should I make any other changes because of the extra heat?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as no wires or anything is touching the headers you should be fine. The biggest thing to worry about with headers heat is melting the 02 sensor wires. Also, I have heard people at the track who had been runing multiple runs and their clutch will stick to the ground from the clutch fluid being heated by the headers...
This being said; As long as your not being rough on your car constantly there should not be too much to worry about, but it never hurts to check every once in awhile and make sure everything looks okay.
This being said; As long as your not being rough on your car constantly there should not be too much to worry about, but it never hurts to check every once in awhile and make sure everything looks okay.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 3
From: CA
Just a thought...
if you're worried about underhood temps there is always heat warps. Just heat wrap the headers. The only down side is if you have ceramic coated headers, you'll be hiding the shine.
if you're worried about underhood temps there is always heat warps. Just heat wrap the headers. The only down side is if you have ceramic coated headers, you'll be hiding the shine.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
I have the coated ones no heat issues at all. I added a tunnel heat sheild while the exhaust was off.For extra protection.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
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CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
Me too. I have LG Pro long tube headers (coated) and I installed the Elite Engineering tunnel plate (mostly for rigidity but it may help with the heat as well). I don't notice any excessive cabin heat.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 1
From: Central Jersey, Union County N.J.
St. Jude Donor '10
Cats
I think the cats give off more heat than the headers. I have a H/C car, i coated my headers and i still feel excessive heat from the cats. I should have known better. Now i have to coat the cats. I also had an issue with the clutch pedal sticking to the floor on the street during normal driving and at the track.
Last edited by chazc6; Jul 10, 2008 at 06:20 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as no wires or anything is touching the headers you should be fine. The biggest thing to worry about with headers heat is melting the 02 sensor wires. Also, I have heard people at the track who had been runing multiple runs and their clutch will stick to the ground from the clutch fluid being heated by the headers...
This being said; As long as your not being rough on your car constantly there should not be too much to worry about, but it never hurts to check every once in awhile and make sure everything looks okay.
This being said; As long as your not being rough on your car constantly there should not be too much to worry about, but it never hurts to check every once in awhile and make sure everything looks okay.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 1
From: Central Jersey, Union County N.J.
St. Jude Donor '10
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08
I think the cats give off more heat than the headers. I have a H/C car, i coated my headers and i still feel excessive heat from the cats. I should have known better. Now i have to coat the cats. I also had an issue with the clutch pedal stick to the floor on the street during normal driving and at the track.
Don't Jet-Hot coat your catalytic converters. The cat's are designed to get hot, ignite and burn off excess hydrocarbons before they leave the tail pipe.
If you coat the cats; they will retain excessive heat and you will burn out the Metal Matrix Cores within the catalytic converter housing.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 1
From: Central Jersey, Union County N.J.
St. Jude Donor '10
Cats
STOP!!
Don't Jet-Hot coat your catalytic converters. The cat's are designed to get hot, ignite and burn off excess hydrocarbons before they leave the tail pipe.
If you coat the cats; they will retain excessive heat and you will burn out the Metal Matrix Cores within the catalytic converter housing.
Don't Jet-Hot coat your catalytic converters. The cat's are designed to get hot, ignite and burn off excess hydrocarbons before they leave the tail pipe.
If you coat the cats; they will retain excessive heat and you will burn out the Metal Matrix Cores within the catalytic converter housing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08
No problem my brother.
I was going to PM you when I saw your post of jet hot coating the catalytic converters.
When you do so; even with the lightest Jet Hot 1600 degree sterling coating; you basically turn the cat's into a mini high temperature incinerator.
Not only will the cats get hot enough on there own to burn off any hydrocarbons, but the internal heat retained in the coated cat housing will get so hot that it will literally incinerate the metal matrix cores inside the catalytic converter housing in about 4 months.
And do you want to talk about stink and smell?? OMG!
Your car will smell like a charcoal grill and the odor will permeate the interior cabin of the vehicle. Meanwhile you'll be scratching a hole in your head until the DIC finally throws a code.
By that point in time; your dual cats that are welded to your LT Header midpipes are now literally toast.
Don't ask me how I know this either!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
the same width as the tunnel by say 48". Fold the edge about 3/4 inch. so it just fits in the tunnel.Edges face down. I used some alum nuts about 3/8" thick for spacers and drilled the tunnel with a 1/8" bit in six places (don't worry doesn't hurt a thing if you make sure you drill in open areas so you don't hit anything) with the sheild in place. Space them in a pattern about an inch inside the tunnel bolts. With 2 in the middle.Then use a pop rivet gun with alum rivets. So it ends up solid with no noises.Plus make two small cuts on both sides to make tabs when In place and use the metal to wrap your o2 wires neatly out of the way. This helps big time your protects you from the radiant cat heat don't coat them!
Last edited by 3 Z06ZR1; Jul 11, 2008 at 03:52 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 1
From: Central Jersey, Union County N.J.
St. Jude Donor '10
Heat shield
Drop your pipes, and fab a heat sheild. Measure the tunnel, I think mine is around 48" long, then get some galvinized tin/steel in a sheet from a heating supply and cut it
the same width as the tunnel by say 48". Fold the edge about 3/4 inch. so it just fits in the tunnel.Edges face down. I used some alum nuts about 3/8" thick for spacers and drilled the tunnel with a 1/8" bit in six places (don't worry doesn't hurt a thing if you make sure you drill in open areas so you don't hit anything) with the sheild in place. Space them in a pattern about an inch inside the tunnel bolts. With 2 in the middle.Then use a pop rivet gun with alum rivets. So it ends up solid with no noises.Plus make two small cuts on both sides to make tabs when In place and use the metal to wrap your o2 wires neatly out of the way. This helps big time your protects you from the radiant cat heat don't coat them!
the same width as the tunnel by say 48". Fold the edge about 3/4 inch. so it just fits in the tunnel.Edges face down. I used some alum nuts about 3/8" thick for spacers and drilled the tunnel with a 1/8" bit in six places (don't worry doesn't hurt a thing if you make sure you drill in open areas so you don't hit anything) with the sheild in place. Space them in a pattern about an inch inside the tunnel bolts. With 2 in the middle.Then use a pop rivet gun with alum rivets. So it ends up solid with no noises.Plus make two small cuts on both sides to make tabs when In place and use the metal to wrap your o2 wires neatly out of the way. This helps big time your protects you from the radiant cat heat don't coat them!
I hope i can do this correctly. I already bought a sheet of aluminum, but i wasn't sure how to install it. Thanks for you help. I was thinking of welding the top half of the cats with a aluminum shield and leave a 1/4'' space between the cat & the aluminum.
Last edited by chazc6; Jul 11, 2008 at 12:35 PM.