What is the best Thermal Coating for headers?
- Thread starter RyRy210
- Start date
I've used Jet Hot before with bad results. I'm not in it for cosmetics, no one can see the header anyway. I need it to resist corrosion and reduce heat.
If you want to reduce heat, something high temp and flat black. I haven't found a paint yet that lasts forever on my motorcycle headers, but it only really dulls in color right at the exhaust port. Find a BBQ flat black paint (rated to 1200F or higher) and use that. Shiny chrome pipes on my bike would stay hot for 1/2 an hour, with flat black, I can usually touch them in 5 minutes without being burned.
Fritz
Fritz
The coatings he mentioned are designed to reduce heat, and are much better at it than any color of simple paint. For what it's worth, I have heard great things about HPC but nothing at all about the other. But I think you are on the right track and I'm interested in your results.
Sorry for my misunderstanding on your goal for thermal coatings. If you want to keep the heat in the headers (i.e. out of the engine compartment) a nice white paint will reduce the radiative heat. You could then also wrap the pipes with fiberglass to add additional thermal insulation for conductive heat losses. But probably the best way to reduce the heat in the engine bay would be to improve the flow of fresh air into it.
Fritz
Fritz
Those HPC coatings look really nice. I'd love to coat my stainless tubular turbo manifold....I have nightmares about the thing cracking...it's just a matter of time for before stainless does. Looks like this could kill 2 birds with one stone...strengthen and reduce heat. I contemplated using header wrap to reduce underhood temps but decided against it because of the added stresses it creates.
Anyone know what the coatings cost? I couldn't find a thing about pricing on their webpage...im going to email them.
------------------
jack of all trades, master of some.
With a turbo the benefits are greater, but not for the reason some people first think of. Sure, it cuts down on heat in the engine compartment which is particularly high with a turbo, but just as importantly it improves the efficiency of the turbos themselves. All pipes ahead of the turbo should be coated or wrapped to retain the heat until the exhaust passes the turbine blades. Hotter air is "bigger" air and therefore spins the turbo up more quickly. The longer your "plumbing" between engine and turbo the more it is worth. I would prefer the coatings because they are lighter, cleaner, and less hassle, and from what I've heard nearly as good if done inside and out.
Similar threads
