Header ceramic coat or heat shield wrap?

[Phuviano]

I'm buying a uel this weekend. I've dome some research, and it seems like it's a good idea to ceramic coat headers. I found a local place that does it, using cerakote. I've also seen the heat wrap thing that you place on your oil plan. Not sure if I need this or not.

My car will be street driven, no track usage. Are either of these necessary? I know lowering the amount of heat will be a good thing. However, in your opinion, is ceramic coating necessary for a street driven car? Would an after market header produce more heat than the stock header?

[mistople]

I'd highly recommend coating it. Without all the heat shields that the stock header has, things get quite hot in there even in DD conditions.

I've never used wrap so I can't comment on it's effectiveness by comparison.

[JCW 86]

In my opinion there are only pros when it comes to ceramic coating headers, it's just whether or not you want to spend the money. Just got to make sure that the place doing it is doing both the outside and the inside of the header.

As you mentioned, it helps keep heat down in the engine bay, but it also has other benefits. It helps protect the header material from dirt/oil/road salt that may it may come into contact with, and it also aids in the performance of the header. Keeping the exhaust gases hot within the exhaust allows the gas to maintain its speed and flow out of the exhaust. If you have the money, I say go for it.

[EAGLE5]

It's unnecessary for a street car. Not even necessary for a track car. At some point, when you're really good at driving, it may become necessary. It's just another way to remove heat.

[Grady]

Both. Keep the heat in the exhaust were it belongs and out of the engine bay.

[Westen86]

Ceramic Coating



Ceramic Coating



Know the difference.

[86MLR]

Wrapping is much more efficient than ceramic coating.

In saying that we don't use salt on the road here, so IRT wrap and contamination for your area, I have no idea.

Lagging a header on a street car is a really good idea, the added temps from an unlagged header when you are sitting in traffic is huge.

Ceramic coating should be inside and outside.

Ceramic coating only the outside will not have a large effect, it will negate some corrosion though, but minimal heat.

Painting a header with high temp paint (protects against corrosion) and then wrapping (heat retention) gives the best of both worlds.

I have had headers ceramic coated and wrapped before, but, I feel the additional cost of the ceramic coating was unjustified when some high temp paint could have been used, with simular results in heat control.

I am currently waiting for a time to put my car up on a lift or over a pit to wrap the AVO turbo manifold and dump, they are coated, and the coating seems to be holding up well, but, not really what I would call efficient at heat control in comparison to a wrapped header.

The best place to get ceramic coating done is at an industrial flame coating place.

Ceramic coating to control temps isn't just a case of spraying on a coat, sadly this is what all alot of places do, and they charge alot of coin for it.

Quality of base materials, thickness of coating and longevity are also things to concider.

[chaoskaze]

Warping is simple, effective & easy + you can do it yourself.


As long as your car isn't leaking lots oil...

[CraftyObeseCrunchyKitty]

As others have mentioned, coat first then wrap. The ceramic coating will provide some thermal protection, but wrapping it is a much better thermal barrier. The ceramic coating, or high temp paint, works best as a corrosion barrier. Keeping it from flaking off over time is going to come down to how well you prep the surface prior to application of whatever coating you go with.

Originally Posted by 86MLR

...
I am currently waiting for a time to put my car up on a lift or over a pit to wrap the AVO turbo manifold and dump, they are coated, and the coating seems to be holding up well, but, not really what I would call efficient at heat control in comparison to a wrapped header.

...

You can easily notice the improvement after wrapping that manifold. After I wrapped mine I put my hand close to the wrapped header and then the joint between the manifold and the turbo and noticed a substantial difference in temperature while the engine was running.



If your able to, I'd recommend installing a turbo blanket as well.

[86MLR]

Originally Posted by CraftyObeseCrunchyKitty

As others have mentioned, coat first then wrap. The ceramic coating will provide some thermal protection, but wrapping it is a much better thermal barrier. The ceramic coating, or high temp paint, works best as a corrosion barrier. Keeping it from flaking off over time is going to come down to how well you prep the surface prior to application of whatever coating you go with.






You can easily notice the improvement after wrapping that manifold. After I wrapped mine I put my hand close to the wrapped header and then the joint between the manifold and the turbo and noticed a substantial difference in temperature while the engine was running.



If your able to, I'd recommend installing a turbo blanket as well.

That's my plan, just need to work out which beanie I want/need, I want to retain the AVO heat sheilding as well.

Meh, shopping adventures abound.

I'm actually not looking forward to wrapping the headers, wrapping installed headers is a PITA.

Everytime I wrap a header on a car I say I will never do it again.....until I do.....then I say I'll never do it on the car again, again.....

[Clutch Dog]

I never liked wrapping even though its cheap and makes bad welds look good.

the idea of wet wrap sitting agianst the metal makes me shutter..

i just keep it clear or if i can hit it with the engine enamel paint before paying for ceramic coating

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by chaoskaze

Warping is simple, effective & easy + you can do it yourself.


As long as your car isn't leaking lots oil...

????????

[Stomachbuzz]

Originally Posted by Clutch Dog

I never liked wrapping even though its cheap and makes bad welds look good.

the idea of wet wrap sitting agianst the metal makes me shutter..

i just keep it clear or if i can hit it with the engine enamel paint before paying for ceramic coating

The wrap will dry out quickly sitting against a hot manifold. Odd for the wrap to be soaking wet if the pipe isn't hot...

[Clutch Dog]

Originally Posted by Stomachbuzz

The wrap will dry out quickly sitting against a hot manifold. Odd for the wrap to be soaking wet if the pipe isn't hot...

welcome to washington state and being in the navy and deployed while the car soaks.. XD