Ceramic header coating

mr le frog SIR...

a freind of mine who runs a tuning centre had a R6 motor done . don't know if it was by the same company .

but it looked the part , and on the race track it took off like a scalded cat .

Hi LeFrog,

there are several companies offering "ceramic coating", just google them and read some of their testimonials.
I´ve used coating (Piston skirts) in my street-racing 125ccm 2-Stroke with very good results:
piston-lifetime was twice as high as with no coating
?
I´m not sure what you want to coat and or use it for?

I totally agree that I wouldn´t apply coating by myself - let the specialists do it.

Friend of mine is using coated headers on his Street-bike, there was a minimal increase in hp (about 1,5%, but gaining hp was not the goal, engine runs now cooler (especially in stop & go and track-racing)

So here is my conclusion: Coatings do work, but is it worth your money??



I´also agree that I

I go back and forth with myself on the topic of ceramic coatings. I've done some reading and other amateur research, and I believe that from a performance perspective, Swaintech is absolutely the best. It is different from other coatings though...it's semi-rough in texture, thick, and white...at least for the exhaust coatings.

A while back I got them to send me a pic, this of an automotoive header...

I have thought about the coating myself to decrease the radiant heat from the exhaust to surrounding objects, especially the carb, and to a lesser, but, close second, the shock.

I believe their big claim to fame is the following: Lower radiant heat, and for a car, lower under hood temps. The exhaust gasses remain hotter longer, IE less dense, in the exhaust system which promotes better flow and scavenging.

I have seen claims by some coating compaines that claim a reduction in the skin temp of headers of 50%.

However, further word of mouth research has indicated that the coating, when hot, is suseptible to staining, or blemishing. Which is highly possible in dirt bike application where contact with different types of bushes etc.... Might cause them to get ugly over time.

As an experiment, recently I bought some DEI header wrap. It comes in a lighter color and a dark grey color. The grey color has the highest heat rating so that's what I used. I originally just wrapped the 2 into 1 collector as it is in close proximity to the carb. After warming the bike up it is readily apparent that this stuff works. After riding for a long while the carb is noticably cooler to the touch. I did not use a heat gun on it for exact readings, but, the difference is obvious.

I went ahead and wrapped the rest of the exhaust up to the head pipes, short of where the wrap would get shredded by debris coming off the front tire. Do I notice a difference in power? NO. Don't care either, but, the radiant heat is greatly reduced and that's what I was after.

It's definitely not very pretty, as you have to hold this stuff on with safety wire. The up shot is that I can take it off if I don't like it.

I have all my bikes done by http://www.hpcoatings.com/am/default.aspx

froggy

you need to get some perspective on this: if you haven't set your ignition timing with a strobe or checked your valve timinmg: if you haven't checked to do the rad cap mod: then you haven't done the cheap and free stuff and that should come first.

good luck but i'd save my hard earnt money and get these things done first.

regards

Taffy

Taffy said:

froggy

you need to get some perspective on this: if you haven't set your ignition timing with a strobe or checked your valve timinmg: if you haven't checked to do the rad cap mod: then you haven't done the cheap and free stuff and that should come first.

good luck but i'd save my hard earnt money and get these things done first.

regards

Taffy

Click to expand...

Hi Taffy,

I know about the first two, but, what is the Radiator cap mod?

Thanks,

DaleEO said:

I believe their big claim to fame is the following: Lower radiant heat, and for a car, lower under hood temps. The exhaust gasses remain hotter longer, IE less dense, in the exhaust system which promotes better flow and scavenging.

Click to expand...

Hey there DaleEO,

Unfortunately nothing ever seems to come for free because these "higher" temp. exhaust gases, even if they are less dense, will produce more drag between the gas layers travelling at different speeds in the pipe, thus the better flow and better scavenging claims depend as always on a number of other variables.

Cheers,
Simon

Taffy said:

froggy

you need to get some perspective on this: if you haven't set your ignition timing with a strobe or checked your valve timinmg: if you haven't checked to do the rad cap mod: then you haven't done the cheap and free stuff and that should come first.

good luck but i'd save my hard earnt money and get these things done first.

regards

Taffy

Click to expand...

As always, Taffy needs to drink the last snort of Jamison's Irish and bring us back down to Earth with is scant British humor, :lol: . Bringing back Memories, I'm crying.

:lol:. hey! be happy! imagine a website full of them!

sacre bleu!

regards

Taffy

Simon said:

DaleEO said:

I believe their big claim to fame is the following: Lower radiant heat, and for a car, lower under hood temps. The exhaust gasses remain hotter longer, IE less dense, in the exhaust system which promotes better flow and scavenging.

Click to expand...

Hey there DaleEO,

Unfortunately nothing ever seems to come for free because these "higher" temp. exhaust gases, even if they are less dense, will produce more drag between the gas layers travelling at different speeds in the pipe, thus the better flow and better scavenging claims depend as always on a number of other variables.

Cheers,
Simon

Click to expand...

HI Simon,

Great to see you about!!

Yes, nothing comes for free does it?? Especially that lunch everyone talks about!

What you say makes perfect sense, but, perhaps less temp differential boundary, or thickness with the coating?

Like I had said in my post, I'm just trying to keep the heat away from other components which has been sucessful. To that end the wrap has worked well, it's just ugly as sin!!

jet hot is probably the worlds best looking & best quality ,check them out they even have a polished aluminum color. We have had some exhaust done on our aircraft over the years @ near 300 kts & 1000 degree plus temps its has held up for 6 plus years & still looks new !

drgnrydr said:

jet hot is probably the worlds best looking & best quality ,check them out they even have a polished aluminum color... !

Click to expand...

Depends on your goal. Jet Hot doesn't do the thicker coats that provide significiant insulation.

DaleEO said:

HI Simon,

Great to see you about!!

Yes, nothing comes for free does it?? Especially that lunch everyone talks about!

What you say makes perfect sense, but, perhaps less temp differential boundary, or thickness with the coating?

Like I had said in my post, I'm just trying to keep the heat away from other components which has been sucessful. To that end the wrap has worked well, it's just ugly as sin!!

Click to expand...

Hey DaleEO,

I totally agree with you on the looks side of things and heat radiation. I am seriously considering ceramic coating on the pipes I'm playing about with too. I think it would be a great finish!

Cheers,
Simon

On the intake valves then? To transfer less heat from combustion to them and to transfer less heat to the air/fuel mixture. The cooler mixture the more power.
?