Ceramic Coating for Exhaust Headers

[iflights]

Need opinions from the braintrust represented here. I'm thinking about getting the DMCH Stage 1 exhaust system. There is an option for another $400 to get the headers covered with a ceramic coating. I realize without it my beautiful stainless headers will at some point given the heat, no longer be nice & shiny. Sure, this is a personal decision, but is that treatment something that most owners who went down this decision path added?

[DMCVegas]

Need opinions from the braintrust represented here...

http://www.morethings.com/fan/o_brother_where_art_thou/o_brother_pardoned-204.jpg



Ceramic will keep the engine bay temperatures lower, and I should last allot longer. I've heard that Esprits can have an issue with their exhausts systems damaging the fiberglass underbodies. But it is an in area with less airflow. I've asked DMCH about this before with the headers being much closer to the pontoons if that might damage them, but they assure me it's not a problem. Though a some extra protection against heat doesn't hurt IMO.

If you are going for a performance exhaust system, ceramic coating isn't a bad idea at all. But if you're just going to have the stock cast iron manifolds coated, I wouldn't waste my time on those. I've read that the extra heat on those can cause them to stress and crack. For those you'd be better off blasting and just painting them. As for ceramic coating, yes, it's something that I plan on doing too.

Here's a decent video that can help explain things for painted vs. ceramic.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDwahD0Fk4w

[Delorean Industries]

Our superior exhaust offering ceramic coated. Includes everything required for installation etc.

http://www.deloreanindustries.com/spec-i-exhaust-ceramic-coated-system/

If shipping to Michigan we will cover the cost of this as well.

[David T]

S/S will turn blue eventually where it gets the hottest. Ceramic coating will look nice but eventually it will fail. It is very sensitive to chipping so you have to be VERY careful near it and if it gets wet when hot the ceramic can pop off, especially if it isn't done right. There are paints that can look very good and can be touched up in the future if necessary. Look up Eastwood. Nothing will stick well to S/S though, most coatings are meant for cast iron or mild steel to prevent them from rusting. Since the exhaust manifolds are not that easy to see from the top, I would not spend $400 to make them pretty.

[Delorean Industries]

David this is poor advice to give owners as almost no one is equipped properly to prep metal components for an aerosol based finish. The ability to touch up any header regardless of vendor is near impossible on car without causing an over spray mess. Ceramic coatings fail due to the improper prep of surfaces the coating is applied to. If coating a used set of headers the need to properly prep is even greater. I think we should all stick to providing proven solutions and insight on subjects that we have experience with. Hypothetical speculations on finishing solutions causes confusion on things that are very simple if properly explained/applied.

[David T]

David this is poor advice to give owners as almost no one is equipped properly to prep metal components for an aerosol based finish. The ability to touch up any header regardless of vendor is near impossible on car without causing an over spray mess. Ceramic coatings fail due to the improper prep of surfaces the coating is applied to. If coating a used set of headers the need to properly prep is even greater. I think we should all stick to providing proven solutions and insight on subjects that we have experience with. Hypothetical speculations on finishing solutions causes confusion on things that are very simple if properly explained/applied.


I would agree with your comments but you don't know what and how much experience I have. I have worked on a lot of old Jags and they had their exhaust manifolds ceramic coated. I have rebuilt many cars and painted headers, exhaust manifolds, downpipes, etc. Ceramic coatings are not all they are supposed to be but back in the day it was the very best they could do. Right now I tend to think the best thing to do is to just leave them natural. For headers and downpipes I would wrap them with heattape after painting them with high temp paint. As in every instance when you put a coating on something proper prep is going to determine how it comes out and how long it will last. In the case of ceramic coatings it is even more important. I am not knocking your product or service, I am talking about this generally. Ceramic headers are VERY delicate, in effect they are covered in glass and easily damaged.

[Delorean Industries]

Your experience is widely posted across the board. I am politely addressing a continued concern on misinformation. Coating technology has significantly advanced and natural is by no means the best solution. We are immersed in this daily and not from an enthusiast stand point. Extensive trial and testing of solutions is implemented prior to posting it as the best way to go here.

[David T]

Your experience is widely posted across the board. I am politely addressing a continued concern on misinformation. Coating technology has significantly advanced and natural is by no means the best solution. We are immersed in this daily and not from an enthusiast stand point. Extensive trial and testing of solutions is implemented prior to posting it as the best way to go here.

Even with the best coating, it will come down to aesthetics and how much a customer wants to spend. IMHO spending the money on ceramic coatings is better spent elsewhere but as long as a customer desires and is willing to spend for it, yours is probably the way to go. I saw some of your parts at a Spring Tech and they did look very nice.

[Mark D]

Josh, does the company that manufactures your stainless exhaust components (Stainless works?) passivate the welds after assembly? Welding introduces free iron and other contaminates that reduce the overall corrosion resistance of stainless parts. Passivation can make a huge difference in outward appearance and may be another finishing alternative you may find worth investigating if you're not already using this process.

Typically on smaller parts (like an exhaust header assembly) passivation would involve an acid dip to remove all the weld contaminates and a heating cycle to build up a protective oxide layer.

For larger parts like the muffler that you wouldn't want to fully submerge there are brush on gels that accomplish the same goal.

Can you please comment if this is something you are already are doing, or would consider having your supplier start doing to improve the appearance of the stainless exhaust parts?


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