Coated headers

[brantley847]

Is it really necessary? My main concern is engine bay heat especially with a CAI without a scoop....

I am crunching numbers here to afford the Kooks, and the coating is a hefty price...

Anyone with experience have any input?

[danhr]

Coatings are just for looks imho, unless your setup really suffers from high IAT's.

unless your have something really hot under your hood (i.e. a supercharger sitting on top of your engine), they aren't really necessary.

I'd save the money and put it towards something else.

I'm sure some internet know-it-alls are going to chime in and say otherwise though.

[brantley847]

Yea it is just going to be bolt ons for me, no SC.

I am just looking into LTs, Exhaust, and CAI. They do look good coated, no doubt about that. However, that is a good 200 I could save towards something else like you said...

[caverman]

Nothing you have to have. I definately like my headers coated but I was willing to speend the extra $275 to keep them looking good. If you aren't as worried about looks and it doesn't fit the budget.....then pass on it.

After all, it's not like you can't take them off and have them coated later down the road if you just had to.

[2010 2-Tone]

Mine are coated and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the clean look.

[radz28]

I've read many articles that claim they've shown more power in the dyno cell when going from uncoated to coated headers. If you aren't worried about corrosion, and just about heat, then it just seems to me that coatings are going to add more material to the header tube thickness, so it should insulate it more. I've run stainless coated shorties, painted mild-steel mids', and raw and primered/painted LTs, and it seemed the primered/painted LTs were a little cooler under the hood. I cannot substantiate that though, as my temp' gun didn't go high enough under load. Wrapping would probably be best, but I've read some possible bad corrosion problems with that.

I say, that you try to find the money for the best coating you can find. I read about some coating that was in GMHTP (http://www.swaintech.com/) that was super thick and looked pretty good. They didn't do any testing regarding temperatures or anything, but this was an alternative I've seen. Just continue your research and draw your own conclusions. Coatings seem to help in many other parts of the engine, so I imagine the have quantifiable potential on headers, too.

JMVHO.

[brantley847]

It is a daily driver, not a show car. I don't care what it looks like underneath. However, Corrosion and heat issues are a concern. Seems to be split 50/50 across the board with opinions....I would like to keep this car for a very, VERY long time. So corrosion could be a main reason to purchase...

I have noticed some sites offer to have connection pipes coated as well, I can see headers but don't know if I see a point in connections...

[Tantalizer43]

Don't mean to jack the thread Brantley, but your dog is beautiful! I have a 1 year old GSD at home, he's my buddy!

I prefer the look of coated headers, simply because I like a nice clean engine bay.

[St33lsinger]

LOL we asked about the same question. LOL

I think I'm going with with coated headers just to keep the temps down. IMHO

[brantley847]

Originally Posted by Steelsinger

LOL we asked about the same question. LOL

I think I'm going with with coated headers just to keep the temps down. IMHO

Yea I saw your thread right at the same time, I was hoping some more venders would chime in...

Originally Posted by Tantalizer43

Don't mean to jack the thread Brantley, but your dog is beautiful! I have a 1 year old GSD at home, he's my buddy!

I prefer the look of coated headers, simply because I like a nice clean engine bay.

Yup, she is 11 months as of yesterday so not far behind yours! She is finally getting past the chewing and nipping stages...thank God because she was wired so high and crazy as a puppy. GS are no joke, you have to keep up with the exercise. I look outside and she is doing laps around the yard at about 100 mph. I am a little shocked she hasn't tried to dig her way out though...my last GSD was a male and always wanted out of the yard......then we took away his manhood.

[MarylandSpeed]

It is a 50/50 thing. I personally like coating and about half our customers go with it. It keeps the heat down, and the header looking great. We dynoed a car recently with coated headers, and you could touch the header 5 mins after the dyno. It had cooled down that much. Not so with uncoated stainless. That being said, I don't think anything is hotter than the cast iron under the hood..so I don't think not coating your headers is the end of the world.

[JANNETTYRACING]

I really Like the Ceramic Metallic Coating on the headers.

We have Seen Clutch line fluid boil with LT headers in high temp climates and long periods of Idle time in traffic.

Coating the Headers Eliminated it in 2 Cars that we seen this on.

It does significantly reduce underhood Temps.

We offer it as an Option on any of the headers we sell.

We can do a Set of BFEs coated for less than Most.

[St33lsinger]

Thanks!! Now my mind is made up....now if I can get my wallet pried out of my wifes hands. LOL

[radz28]

I wouldn't worry about coating the rest of the exhaust. Stay with stainless steel, and you won't have a problem. I see perhaps you get some salt, so that's the safest bet. T304 doesn't rust and will stay together longer than the car will. After seeing your later posts - I think you're on the right track. Distract the wifey and get the wallet They're smart to keep our wallets, lol