Ceramic Coated Headers
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 1,029
From: Thomas Texas
Ceramic Coated Headers
When I got my ARH headers, I had them ceramic coated at a local shop. Here in central Texas, anything you can do to cut under hood temperatures helps.
They seem to reduce the amount of under-hood radiated heat by a bunch. When the car is fully warmed up, you can reach down and get close to the header and it feels no hotter than the engine coolant temp.
There are a post out there showing ceramic coated headers really bring the temps down.
Anyone else experience the same or am I just imagining it?
They seem to reduce the amount of under-hood radiated heat by a bunch. When the car is fully warmed up, you can reach down and get close to the header and it feels no hotter than the engine coolant temp.
There are a post out there showing ceramic coated headers really bring the temps down.
Anyone else experience the same or am I just imagining it?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 254
From: Folsom CA
Not only have ceramic coatings been consistently touted as temp reducing, because they are also coated on the inside they are supposed to "scavenge" exhaust better than uncoated. IMO they look better too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,943
From: Austin Texas
Just a note: coatings do what they are advertised to do, sometimes more than you bargain for.
If you are using mild steel tubing, then have the headers coated on both the inside and on the outside. If the headers are coated on the outside only, then the steel gets as hot (hotter actually by a significant amount) as uncoated steel. The engine compartment stays relatively cool, but the steel takes a beating.
If you are using a 304, I, personally, would still coat the headers on the inside. 304 transmit a lot less heat than mild steel, but is not as tolerant as the higher heat tolerant steels.
If your headers are using 321, 347 steel, the coating on the inside is not needed. If I remember correctly, these headers (uncoated) only transmit 1/3rd the energy as mild steel.
If you are using mild steel tubing, then have the headers coated on both the inside and on the outside. If the headers are coated on the outside only, then the steel gets as hot (hotter actually by a significant amount) as uncoated steel. The engine compartment stays relatively cool, but the steel takes a beating.
If you are using a 304, I, personally, would still coat the headers on the inside. 304 transmit a lot less heat than mild steel, but is not as tolerant as the higher heat tolerant steels.
If your headers are using 321, 347 steel, the coating on the inside is not needed. If I remember correctly, these headers (uncoated) only transmit 1/3rd the energy as mild steel.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,101
From: Fulshear, TX
I've used ceramic coatings in a few different turbo applications and have always had great experiences with it. When/if I do headers on the Vette it won't even be a question for me. I always do internal & external when possible, and generally a double external coating on turbine housings.
