Manifold coating, any good?
Discussion
Hi all! At the moment my manifold is off, had pre cats out and non reversal cones fitted. Just had a look at the job in Peninsula, looks great. One of the guys there was telling me about a silver coating (forgot the name) which looks good but more importantly keeps the heat in the pipe/exhaust gas and so stops the engine bay from turning into an oven.
Anyone had this done? Would it last? Would heat be transfered to the engine more as surely the pipes/manifold etc would get hotter as not losing heat by radiating it out?
Many thanks, Steve.
Anyone had this done? Would it last? Would heat be transfered to the engine more as surely the pipes/manifold etc would get hotter as not losing heat by radiating it out?
Many thanks, Steve.
Ceramic coating, helps the earlier cars more but does aid cooling in the engine bay.
More info here...
www.camcoat.u-net.com/
More info here...
www.camcoat.u-net.com/
Jem, it's the manifolds that tend to be insulated. There are no performance gains per se, but it will keep keep heat down in the engine bay.
Considering the oven effect that takes place under the bonnet, which can reduce starter motor and HT lead life etc, it may be a sensible investment in terms of protecting the more sensitive bits under the bonnet.
However, it seems to me that a balance has to be struck as if you take the heat out at the manifold stage, it's (presumably) going to make the pipes hotter further down. Not sure what the effect of increased cat/underbody heat is, but can't imagine it's great...
Considering the oven effect that takes place under the bonnet, which can reduce starter motor and HT lead life etc, it may be a sensible investment in terms of protecting the more sensitive bits under the bonnet.
However, it seems to me that a balance has to be struck as if you take the heat out at the manifold stage, it's (presumably) going to make the pipes hotter further down. Not sure what the effect of increased cat/underbody heat is, but can't imagine it's great...
Ceramic coating manifolds should have similar benefits to wrapping in exhaust wrap.
Keeping the manifolds hot should give more power as the gases move quicker. Coupled with lower underbonnet temperatures the induction charge should be cooler which also gives more power.
I've used the wrap before but it is difficult to apply and can be damaged easily. I think i will try the coating process out myself.
Keeping the manifolds hot should give more power as the gases move quicker. Coupled with lower underbonnet temperatures the induction charge should be cooler which also gives more power.
I've used the wrap before but it is difficult to apply and can be damaged easily. I think i will try the coating process out myself.
Wrap and coating is chalk & cheese IMHO. Removing the pre cats allows full internal coating - which prevents exhaust heat entering the metal of the manifold - then conducting back to the engine. When I investigated having this done it seemed external coating was mainly for show.
I had a pair of manifolds coated inside & out, a y piece with cat externally coated (and a decatted y piece coated in & out) for about £300 IIRC. I believe this to be excellent VFM since cost will be recouped in extended life of bushes / mounts / starters / alternator / dizzie... heat shield becomes cosmetic also. Year later still very happy & with hindsight would be one of first mods I'd do if I started again.
If you are interested just have a chat with the guys at Cam-u-coat, very helpful and good service.
Dave
I had a pair of manifolds coated inside & out, a y piece with cat externally coated (and a decatted y piece coated in & out) for about £300 IIRC. I believe this to be excellent VFM since cost will be recouped in extended life of bushes / mounts / starters / alternator / dizzie... heat shield becomes cosmetic also. Year later still very happy & with hindsight would be one of first mods I'd do if I started again.
If you are interested just have a chat with the guys at Cam-u-coat, very helpful and good service.
Dave
Yes this ounds more interesting as time goes on. I had wondered about the heat getting and staying in the metal and going back into the engine as it had nowhere to go, but internal coating would, I agree solve this.
I guess the next possible affect would be transfering too much heat via hot exhaust gasses further down to the main cat and hotter pipes next to the starter motor? Seen a few pics and in the chrome/silver effect it does look the dogs danglies!
I guess the next possible affect would be transfering too much heat via hot exhaust gasses further down to the main cat and hotter pipes next to the starter motor? Seen a few pics and in the chrome/silver effect it does look the dogs danglies!
Black coating has the best heat tolerance properties. Major hot spots are in the manifolds, at the bends close to the exhuast ports (I saw these down from 650c to 150c on my car). The cat doesnt get very hot at all, I only measure it around 100c and have had no problems with heat further down the exhaust system.
After much playing with IR thermometer I came to the conclusion: The big pronblem with heat is mainly at a dozen points in the manifolds where hot gasses are blasting the metal surface where it curves, with the bare metal here becoming very efficient radiators. The rest of the manifolds are at tolerable temperatures. The main thing coating did was to dramatically reduce these hot spots and in addition keep the overall system at a lower and more constant temperature.
Oh, and its very quite when you leave the car after a hot run now, no more snap, crack and pop whilst you walk away.
HTH, Dave
After much playing with IR thermometer I came to the conclusion: The big pronblem with heat is mainly at a dozen points in the manifolds where hot gasses are blasting the metal surface where it curves, with the bare metal here becoming very efficient radiators. The rest of the manifolds are at tolerable temperatures. The main thing coating did was to dramatically reduce these hot spots and in addition keep the overall system at a lower and more constant temperature.
Oh, and its very quite when you leave the car after a hot run now, no more snap, crack and pop whilst you walk away.
HTH, Dave
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