Effects of Ceramic Coating

[deejay-2k]

I know it reduces the heat on the inside of the rider's legs, and it looks good between the heat
shields....but....are there any real HP/TQ gains having true dual headers ceramic coated?
I see many places that ceramic coat my headers for around $110.
Just looking for reasons to justify the cost.


Doug Connors

Life is not the number of breaths you take, but finding what takes your breath away.....
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1993 Electra Glide Sport FLHS
81" Evo w/ SE Baisley Heads
SE Forged Pistons w/ 10.5:1 CR
Woods W6H cam & Rivera PR's
SE Single Fire Adj Ign Mod & SE Coil
Mikuni HSR42 w 150 MJ, SE Air Filter
SuperTrapp TD's w/ Fishtail SO's

[Mike]

Ceramic coating does a couple of things. As you noted, outside heat may be reduced, has a clean look and retains heat inside the primary head pipes. The horsepower eliment is the heat retention inside. In theory, keeping the exh gas temps high inside the pipe helps scavenge the cylinders because hot air travels faster/easier than cold air and there is not the problem of hot air hitting cold as it exits the exh port and travels down the pipe. Realisticly, it has proved difficult to measure any effect on the dyno but we like to wrap or coat pipes on race bikes just in case. Another noted benefit has been the reduction of decel pop with coated pipes (doing both the outside and the inside). There is no negative affect of doing so. Better, is to coat the exh port in the head and piston crown. This transfers much of the heat to the exhaust gases rather than into the head and exhaust valve thus lowering oil temps and reducing possibility of burned valves/guides plus better flow.
Thanks, Mike