hosrom_951

As the title says, the headers glow red after a boost run. However, here is the issue....

The exhaust factory heat shield is off, and exhaust wrap is on. I could not get the exhaust wrap covering all the headers, the merge collector for runners 1-4 and 2-3 have some exposed metal. It is only those exposed parts that glow red, everything else from flanges, x-over pipe and so on are fine.

i removed plugs 4,3 and 2 and they are all coffee brown, i could not remove #1 plug since it is still hot. But running dangerously lean is eliminated, thus fuel problem is not an issue, neither is ignition.

Now, it could be timing related, such as the belt is backed off a couple of degrees, or maybe it is because of the extinguisher power residue left on those exposed parts?? i could not remove all the powder, but 90% of it is gone.

Or does this mean that the headers are going south soon?

anders44

if cam is off it will glow and be all funny even on idle.

and get a foam or halon unit! the powder is most effective.. but the damage...

hosrom_951

What are the effects of extinguisher power on bare metal headers? could it cause it to glow? getting really hot and all?

It's like that powder in a frying pan.....

anders44

no powder should not cause the glow. it will just cause rust and bad wires

hosrom_951

I will be checking the timing belt tomorrow, i will also try to squeeze my hands on those exposed spots and give them a good scrubbing cleaning, just incase.

Chris White

If you have removed the heat sheild then glowing headers is not a big deal - fairly normal. Lots of heat when under full load.
Why did you remove the heat sheilds? They help quite a bit in keeping the heat energy in the system and not in the engine compartment

xsboost90

mine glow slightly after running it hard. You can see it very well at night. The turbo tends to make alittle backpressure on the headers.

Geneqco

I was going to ask the same question... I would think a much better solution than the wrap and without the risk of cracking and warping.

hosrom_951

The local shop said that they can remove the spot welds and reweld them back on, there was a minor crack that needed to be welded. After that, they would not spot weld it back on (welcome to local shops), so i opted to wrap them i was going to get them ceramic coated, but didn't find someone who could.

But why are those small exposed spots glow red, they never did before, only after i used the extinguisher they glow.

hosrom_951

Cam belt is spot on TDC

special tool

car is okay Hosrom - go drve it.

put the 8 on or advance a lttle at torque and egt wll subside.

hosrom_951

Tool,
Well the car runs and drives just fine....

Sorry, but what do you mean "put the 8 on or advance"? what 8 are you referring to? also you mean slightly advance the belt a tad, like 1/2 a tooth or something?

The car is 100% stock, even chips are stock, only running a MBC instead of the cycling valve.

special tool

I know - your car is fine.
The #8 turbine side will lower your egts if the red color bothers you.

hosrom_951

Happy 4th of July you guys in the US

Okay, while driving off boost, the headers are fine, no colors at all. At 5-6psi, they start glowing orange/red, but as i said only the exposed parts of the headers that are not wrapped.

While they are still glowing, on idle, it takes about 5 minutes for the color to turn into deep red, you can barely see it.

Still sounds normal? i never got this before, i have driven without the factory shields and exhaust wrap for over 2 years, this is the first time i encounter this.

I have been working and driving the car for about 6 years now, you get this gut feeling saying something is just not right. Maybe the turbo is dieing causing back pressure???

torseilertsen

Hi hosrom_951
Did you ever find out about this issue? It seems i have a similar situation with my 951, after swapping to a bigger turbo, and VEMS, it get red/orange wrapped headers while idling..