Thermal Coatings
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 428
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From: Dallas Tx
Thermal Coatings
Does anyone have experience with Thermal Coating of the Piston and Combustion Chamber? The literature suggests 6 to 10% power gains and better fuel efficiency as well. Presumably from less heat rejection to the water jacket and piston. What does this mod do to spark advance requirements and octane requirement at a given Compression Ratio?
Also, what about coating the exhaust ports to reduce heat transfer to the water jacket and increase exhaust velocity, llike with header coating and wrapping?
Finally, what about coating the intake ports to reduce heat transfer to the incoming charge of fuel/air?
Anybody with any practical experience in this area?
Also, what about coating the exhaust ports to reduce heat transfer to the water jacket and increase exhaust velocity, llike with header coating and wrapping?
Finally, what about coating the intake ports to reduce heat transfer to the incoming charge of fuel/air?
Anybody with any practical experience in this area?
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,466
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Re: Thermal Coatings (tkrussell)
unfortunately, i don't have any practical experience either. i have been considering the same coatings for the engine i'm building. in my research what i've heard is probably similar to what you've heard. chamber and piston coatings will allow an increase of .5-1.0 in C/R without increasing detonation. i was also told that total advance could be increased and brought in faster due to detonation resistance. coating exhaust ports helps keep heat in exhaust gas instead of saturating water. i have been advised against coating the intake ports, instead i was advised to recommend coating the bottom of the intake with a heat reflective coating. don't know what would be cheaper, coating an existing manifold or just buying an air-gap. sorry i don't have any practical experience with this, working on it!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: Thermal Coatings (tkrussell)
I didn't do enough! In the last 4-5 years ever race motor is coated. I had the crank on the bottom of pistons done with oil repelant. The piston sides were moly coated. My piston tops, chambers, and exhaust valves were thermal coated.
I didn't know where my future porting might lead so i left the ports alone. I also had some questions about coating my titanium intake valves so i left them alone. They say you can go up @ 1 point in compression. But i settled in on only 10.84. I wish that i had opted for low to mid 11's because i can't get it to ping with 91 octane and my cam.
All of the higher end aluminum heads these days use less advance. they suggest 32 max.
I didn't know where my future porting might lead so i left the ports alone. I also had some questions about coating my titanium intake valves so i left them alone. They say you can go up @ 1 point in compression. But i settled in on only 10.84. I wish that i had opted for low to mid 11's because i can't get it to ping with 91 octane and my cam.
All of the higher end aluminum heads these days use less advance. they suggest 32 max.
