Tell me about header coating
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 37
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
Tell me about header coating
I am looking for more info on header coating....is there really a big difference between types, or is ceramic heat coating pretty much the same?
Also when they are coated, do they do both the inside and outside, or just outside?
Also when they are coated, do they do both the inside and outside, or just outside?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
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From: Southampton NJ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 105
From: Northern Colorado
after using my Kooks stepped LS7 headers/x-pipe for 18 months, I removed them and sent them out to Jethot to be coated inside/out.
They looked incredible when new, but after one good heat cycle they became "frosty" or "dull" right at the output of the heads.
They have stayed that way ever since.... after several track days.
underhood temps are much lower, but I do not have a before & after pyro probe measurements to provide you because I didn't own my probe when the headers were not coated.
Hp increases....not measureable.
Tunnel heat is down a bit too. Between the insulated tunnel plate and interior mods I did early on, I didn't think I would notice a difference, but I can leave change in the cup holders on track days now.
They looked incredible when new, but after one good heat cycle they became "frosty" or "dull" right at the output of the heads.
They have stayed that way ever since.... after several track days.
underhood temps are much lower, but I do not have a before & after pyro probe measurements to provide you because I didn't own my probe when the headers were not coated.
Hp increases....not measureable.
Tunnel heat is down a bit too. Between the insulated tunnel plate and interior mods I did early on, I didn't think I would notice a difference, but I can leave change in the cup holders on track days now.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
I've never seen any proof of HP gain posted by someone who is not connected to a coating company.
I would coat them just for the tunnel heat issue and protection from salt if you drive the car in the winter.
I would coat them just for the tunnel heat issue and protection from salt if you drive the car in the winter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I'm sure some work better than others but all I've tried (3 different brands) do a FANTASTIC job of cutting down on under hood temperatures. On my Subaru STI you couldn't pop the hood open without searing your hand on the hood prop rod, and after I had all the pipes coated that stopped being a problem.
I've seen plenty of stuff melt around uncoated headers; plug wires, boots, wiring looms, wiring harnesses, etc. Honestly for what the coating costs I think it is a no-brainer. I'd never run uncoated headers in my car.
As far as power gains... Theoretically you'd get better scavenging. In practice I am sure it is negligible, but the drop in under hood temps helps prevent heat soak, which is something you can not measure on a dyno.
Here is what my Kooks looked like coated:
Here are my under hood temps after several hard pulls:
Last edited by PowerLabs; Feb 24, 2011 at 11:42 AM.
Race Director<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/7k-10k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,013
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From: HOME OF THE FREE. BECAUSE OF OUR BRAVE. Babylon NY
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '20
Swain coating. Drop me a pm if you want to see for yourself Craig.
