FT86SF Catted Header and engine temps

[RToyo86]

The Forester oil cooler/regulator is an easy add that is relatively cheap depending on kit/where you order.

It uses warmer coolant to heat oil up to temp faster and then flips and uses colder coolant temps to regulate oil when it's hotter.

[czellers]

Originally Posted by jkamelo

Thanks for all the great responses.

I think I’ll roll with the header + DEI tape and call it a day. This car is my DD and I don’t plan to take it to the track enough to justify the “added failure points” of an oil cooler.

FWIW, I covered the whole oil pan except for right around the plug with one 12"x12" sheet from amazon.. it was like $12 and the wrap was 50' that came with the header. So if you buy wrap, get 50' with at least 10 steel zip ties. I used all 10 ties and about 48 feet of wrap. PS, it will smoke after driving for about 5 miles but will be brief.

Also, take your time wrapping.. I used a temp plastic zip tie to start a piece of wrap, make sure it was super tight, tight enough to basically hold itself, then go back with a steel zip tie and cut the plastic on off after I got the metal one on good. The best way I found to get the metal ties tech was grabbing the loose end if the tie once it was through the female part of the tie and twisting the needle nose pliers basically rolling it, then cutting the excess and folding the remaining half inch into a tab back on itself.. whole thing took me like 6 hours to just take my time and do it right.

This is what it ended up looking like..

[Ultramaroon]

I suggest that, in terms of minimizing radiated heat transfer, polish up nicely and call it good. If I had it my way I'd ceramic coat the inside and keep the outside polished.

[Z06ZN6]

If you consider wrapping the header, I recommend fit checking it to the engine first to see how much clearance you actually have to the underside of the oil pan before going through the trouble. My ft86 header tube is so close to the pan that literally I doubt two or more layers of wrapping tape created by overlapping layers would even fit without contacting the pan, and I'd rather not create a direct conductive heat path to the oil this way. The air gap will be a better insulator.

[czellers]

Originally Posted by Z06ZN6

If you consider wrapping the header, I recommend fit checking it to the engine first to see how much clearance you actually have to the underside of the oil pan before going through the trouble. My ft86 header tube is so close to the pan that literally I doubt two or more layers of wrapping tape created by overlapping layers would even fit without contacting the pan, and I'd rather not create a direct conductive heat path to the oil this way. The air gap will be a better insulator.

100% on this.. The Tomei UEL has lots of space but I replaced a cheap knock off EL header that was actually touching the oil pan.. which might have been why the old one wasnt wrapped.

[KMA KiCKz]

Originally Posted by jkamelo

Dumb question, but I plan on swapping my stock header with the ceramic-coated FT86SF catted header and was wondering: Has anyone noticed an overall increase in engine temps while running this?

I’m worried that if I add this, it will create a cascading effect of needing to buy an oil cooler, etc. to keep temps down. Or maybe I’m overthinking things. Let me know!

Based on my experience, been running the FT86SF header 6+ years with no issues. Also used as my daily with spirited driving every other weekend or so.

Got mine before they offered it with any coating at all and haven't seen any significant temp changes.

So far so good I suppose