Installing headers

[nyrfan]

So I’m thinking about doing headers as my next mod, but I’ve read on more then 1 occasion that a tune would be required.

Is this the case with all headers? I’m not looking to do a tune as I do not want void my warranty.

[Juiced1]

Most dealers will tell you headers will void your warranty. Depends on your dealer though. You can drive your car without a tune but its bad for a few reasons. You will eventually get a CEL (sometimes they pop up immediately), you will be running rich (wastes gas and eats plugs), and you'll be leaving power on the table. But, if you want you won't blow anything up if that's what you're asking. I'd keep a obd2 scanner handy to delete the codes as they pop up.
To answer your other question yes, thats with all headers. Even shorty headers will throw a code sooner or later, especially if you add high flow cats which we recomend (you'd gain more power from high flow cats then shorty headers).

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Juiced1

Most dealers will tell you headers will void your warranty. Depends on your dealer though. You can drive your car without a tune but its bad for a few reasons. You will eventually get a CEL (sometimes they pop up immediately), you will be running rich (wastes gas and eats plugs), and you'll be leaving power on the table. But, if you want you won't blow anything up if that's what you're asking. I'd keep a obd2 scanner handy to delete the codes as they pop up.

I'm not worried about my headers voiding the warranty (I have a good dealer), I am worried about the tune. My dealer said "bolt on's don't void a warranty, tunes do and we look for them"

[Juiced1]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

I'm not worried about my headers voiding the warranty (I have a good dealer), I am worried about the tune. My dealer said "bolt on's don't void a warranty, tunes do and we look for them"

I'd still run headers by them. Although headers are considered a bolt on, they are by far a bigger mod then an intake or axleback. How many miles left do you have on your warranty?

[metthem]

Doug Thorley shortie headers don't throw a code. At least that is my understanding and why I purchased them. No tune needed.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Juiced1

I'd still run headers by them. Although headers are considered a bolt on, they are by far a bigger mod then an intake or axleback. How many miles left do you have on your warranty?

Only 3,350 miles (12 weeks young) on my car, so a lot. Looks like headers may not be an option for me.

[Juiced1]

That's a lot of warranty to void and a long time with a cel. Wait it out a bit. Drive it a year or two and then go for it. Then when your warranty is up get it tuned.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Juiced1

That's a lot of warranty to void and a long time with a cel. Wait it out a bit. Drive it a year or two and then go for it. Then when your warranty is up get it tuned.

Thanks for the honest opinion.

[Ventmaster]

Originally Posted by Juiced1

Most dealers will tell you headers will void your warranty. Depends on your dealer though. You can drive your car without a tune but its bad for a few reasons. You will eventually get a CEL (sometimes they pop up immediately), you will be running rich (wastes gas and eats plugs), and you'll be leaving power on the table. But, if you want you won't blow anything up if that's what you're asking. I'd keep a obd2 scanner handy to delete the codes as they pop up.
To answer your other question yes, thats with all headers. Even shorty headers will throw a code sooner or later, especially if you add high flow cats which we recomend (you'd gain more power from high flow cats then shorty headers).

I've seen this "running rich" situation and still don't understand it. If you improve flow on the exhaust (evacuation) side, I always thought you'd see a leaner mixture. Does the ECM over compensate for the new flow its seeing or what? Thanks...

[BSR-1]

Originally Posted by Ventmaster

I've seen this "running rich" situation and still don't understand it. If you improve flow on the exhaust (evacuation) side, I always thought you'd see a leaner mixture. Does the ECM over compensate for the new flow its seeing or what? Thanks...

I don't know for sure but my car runs pig rich, the exhaust tips are always black with soot.

[bmorecam]

I already asked hypertech about this and I already tried to get every last drop of hp from vince so this is my take on this subject. I always thought that we leave hp on the table by not tuning for headers but from what I hear and I am talking about specifically our LLT in our camaro is that our ecm will adapt for the extra flow on the exhaust side or scavenging, and our 2 current tuners don't dial in anything special just because you have headers except if you want to call turning the cel light off tuning and 1 will not turn it off for you because of legal reasons. So yes, you will leave extra hp on the table if you don't get a tune but that extra power was not r&d'ed for headers. Hopefully I am not confusing you lol.

[bmorecam]

Originally Posted by BSR-1

I don't know for sure but my car runs pig rich, the exhaust tips are always black with soot.

You have no cats right? that will def blacken your exhaust. With your fuel trim at 0-2 LTFT you are not running rich. You are actually good

[BSR-1]

Originally Posted by bmorecam

You have no cats right? that will def blacken your exhaust. With your fuel trim at 0-2 LTFT you are not running rich. You are actually good

Correct, no cats.
The part I don't understand is that if it's not rich why is the exhaust full of soot? My motorcycle had no cats and was not sooty.