Lou L

Finally getting around to putting headers on my car - What is the general consenus on say ceramic coating them. Now would be the time to do it - any comments? Thanks! This is for my 968.

Tim

Are the headers your installing stainless?

any pros:

Many...keeping the heat in the header, higher gas velocity, better scavenging... corrosion protection ( if mild steel)

con:

cost?

I have used jet-hot on a bunch of engines... good with a good warranty

Have used Swaintech on my recent builds...

Many recipes to chose from.... Perfromance Coatings,Calico, Swain, Jet-Hot..

Having babbled on... I think the only minus, is that is an extra cost in time and money..

Gary R.

I can't imagine any CON to having them ceramic coated inside/outside. Not sure if it will stick to SS but i'm sure the platers will know. Ceramic should keep the heat in and keep the engine cooler, both good things.

Larry Herman

I used the premium high temp black jet-hot coating on a set of mild steel headers for my Carrera in 1996. To my knowledge, they are still on that car and in excellent condition.

Lou L

Thanks - I was told if you coat them - you can never repair them if they need it - not sure if that's common or not - that's why I was asking. I wanted to see what you all thought - thanks for the feeback so far!!!

SFreeman

Lou, I have Swaintech's White Lightening coating on my 944 header. I broke the collector a few weeks ago and it was no problem to repair/weld the collector.

If you crack a tube I can see having to grind off some of the coating to repair, which would leave an uncoated area.

amso3

My headers are stainless and coated. They are about 5 years old and no issues with the coating.

333pg333

I 'heard' that the only possible downside is that by holding the heat inside the pipes you increase the chances of the s/s or welds cracking. Don't know how true that is. I'm going to get mine coated if / when I ever get my motor back....

Gator_86_951

No downside to my knowledge and I agree if you have to fix a crack you just grind off the coating to get a clean surface to re-weld. All my performance cars have had coated exhaust parts since my uncle has a shop.

stownsen914

I've had a couple sets of headers coated with Jet Hot over the years, and have been happy. Not all that expensive either.

As for damage to the headers, at least for Jet Hot if anything I'd say there's less potential for damage to the metal/welds. Because they coat the headers on the inside too, more of the heat stays in the exhaust gases (not in the headers themselves).

One thing about stainless ... from what I've heard, you can coat stainless but there's not as much advantage because of it is less likely to retain heat than steel. And at least with the 3xx stainless alloys you don't need to worry about rusting.

Scott

rlm328

I have a turbo and the ceramic coating didn't last half a session.

bb993tt

^^ Ooooops. Well there goes that idea.

Larry Herman

Not all coatings are the same. I think that the ceramic coating put on relatively non-flexible small surface area items like pistons and valves are not appropriate for large surface area flexible things like tubular exhaust headers.

The JetHot coatings are good for 2000 degrees, and I don't think that your turbo EGT would run that hot.

Just trying to keep the info straight. http://www.jet-hot.com/headercoatings.html

rlm328

The coating used was specific for use on exterior parts, especially headers, and had their highest heat rating which was in the 2000 F range.

Larry Herman

Interesting. I am not an authority in this area, so I can't add anything more than my feeling that it had to be a mis-application of that particular product. What did the vendor say?