General question on Stainless Headers

[caverman]

Do Stainless headers ever change color? I know they won't rust but do they change to a bronze color or anything like that? Do you think they'll look the same 10+ yrs from now as the day you put them on?

I'm wondering if it would be best to ceramic coat them before installation? I use ceramic coated headders on my Firt Gens but that's mostly to keep them looking the same over the years and not just the fact that they should keep the engine bay a little cooler.

(I was always told ceramic helps keep the heat from the exhaust gettin into the engine bay)

[toehead93]

My last set changed colors and I eventually had them coated. I just bought a used set with 50 miles on them for my 2010 SS and they already started to change.

[radz28]

I had a set of polished stainless QTPs on my last car and they changed to a golden-bronze color after the first drive. If you keep oil and other chemicals off them, they can look very good for a long time. I'm not too big a fan of coatings because all of the ones I've seen fail after a little while. Why pay a couple hundred bucks for coating when you could spend like $70 for sanding materials, high temp' primer and silicone-based header paint. I've had nothing but great luck with VHT and DFI, even on mild-steel. If money isn't a big issue, and you like it better, coat 'em; if not, save it and take some time and do it yourself, IMVHO