Ceramic coating or heat wrap?

[Number 23]

Just wondering would ceramic dual layer coating be worth the extra 199.99 on aftermarket header and up pipe or should I just go get the heat wrap kit for like 50.00 and be done?

This is on a 04 WRX.

[06WRBScoob]

Idk i think that may be a personal opinion. Personaly i would heat wrap it and save the $150 bucks for somthing that might actually make a difference. I dont think there is any 20whp diffrerence between the two. Just my 2cents

[JET02WRX]

Wrap is better if done right imho.

[phate1229]

Have it coated, it's worth the extra money. The heat wrap is a bitch to get on, will wear out after a while and begin to break apart, I've gone through 2 sets of heat wrap first installed myself then by agile because I thought I did something wrong when it started to break apart. The only reason I haven't had them coated is I can't afford the down time.

[Number 23]

Originally Posted by phate1229

Have it coated, it's worth the extra money. The heat wrap is a bitch to get on, will wear out after a while and begin to break apart, I've gone through 2 sets of heat wrap first installed myself then by agile because I thought I did something wrong when it started to break apart. The only reason I haven't had them coated is I can't afford the down time.

How long did the heat wrap take to start breaking down?(days,months,year)

[Buster]

Ive had heat wrap last 2 years no problem, CC last much longer. If you got the cash its worth doing it the right way once instead of pulling it off and doing it over.

[350 INCH 95]

It might not be an issue if your header is a high grade stainless like 304, but heat wraps will rust steel out quick. Do it right the first time and get it coated.

[06WRBScoob]

Is there any dyno graphs proving that Ceramic coating or heat wrap is even worth it? Or is it just as effective performance wise as taking off your windsheild wipers?

[Buster]

its not an issue of performance but an issue of practicality, they both serve the same purpose. Keep the heat in the pipes and away from everything else. How its done is a term of how much you want to spend... or how many times you want to spend it. Heat wrap does the job, but a year later take a look at it.

[phate1229]

after 8 months my first one started to break apart. In regards to which holds the most heat in, even if you do a damn good job at wrapping it there will still be little bits and pieces that can not be covered, this is not so with ceramic coating.

[NickRSwrx]

Well I am not going to give an argument for wrapping as I dont have this done...yet!

However, I have a Zilla series super 16g from Deadbolt. Their zilla series is ceramic coated on one and heat coated on the other side. I can say that even with their special heat coating, this thing gets SO hot. It has gotten so bad that in fact, I am having paint peel from my hood! (now mind you the paint wasnt great but you can see where the heat is escaping out the scoop and vents is coming off) But I am considering in the spring to get the downpipe wrapped and the turbo wrapped or blanketed as well. It is just KILLING my under hood temps.

So I would say, think out how long you want it on and your current financial situation. I know wrapping is cheaper so thats what im going with for now.

[deadbeatdude]

this is just an opinion but i ceramic coated my headers and up-pipe i thought of heat wrapping but i went with grimmspeed p'n'p manifolds and up-pipe i love it. wasnt cheap but i wanted it done right

[JET02WRX]

Originally Posted by 06WRBScoob

Is there any dyno graphs proving that Ceramic coating or heat wrap is even worth it? Or is it just as effective performance wise as taking off your windsheild wipers?

I'm sure if you look around someone may have done a comparo.. maybe not on a subaru....but i'm sure someone has.... The idea isn't that coating or wrapping gives you some great gain....its that it improves exhaust velocity which helps scavaging which can give a small increase. Also by keeping the heat in the pipe, it can help reduce heat soak, which will help to prevent instances of retarded timing.

[06WRBScoob]

Originally Posted by JET02WRX

I'm sure if you look around someone may have done a comparo.. maybe not on a subaru....but i'm sure someone has.... The idea isn't that coating or wrapping gives you some great gain....its that it improves exhaust velocity which helps scavaging which can give a small increase. Also by keeping the heat in the pipe, it can help reduce heat soak, which will help to prevent instances of retarded timing.

From what i have found it looks like ceramic coating maybe helpful in an NA car like a mustang where its running off the air under the hood. Idk i havent found any benifit to a turbo car yet. If you keep the heat in the pipe you just bake the turbo with heat? Our cars seem to have a nice place for the header to be (away from everything else). The air temps after the intercooler is what is important. So with most front mounts heat soak isent much of a problem. I could see the argument with a topmount maybe. When the cars moving the engine bay is alot cooler reguardless if parts are ceramic coated. I would save the $200 and get a C02 setup (thats my plan)

[Buster]

Originally Posted by NickRSwrx

Well I am not going to give an argument for wrapping as I dont have this done...yet!

However, I have a Zilla series super 16g from Deadbolt. Their zilla series is ceramic coated on one and heat coated on the other side. I can say that even with their special heat coating, this thing gets SO hot. It has gotten so bad that in fact, I am having paint peel from my hood! (now mind you the paint wasnt great but you can see where the heat is escaping out the scoop and vents is coming off) But I am considering in the spring to get the downpipe wrapped and the turbo wrapped or blanketed as well. It is just KILLING my under hood temps.

So I would say, think out how long you want it on and your current financial situation. I know wrapping is cheaper so thats what im going with for now.

Most people wrap the up pipe and down pipe. I double wrapped both before. Currently because of a coolant problem I am running none lol.

[DaveSTi]

keeping the heat in the header improves spool up and transient boost response. ceramic coating does this. reducing underhood temps helps keep the rubber hoses, plastic fan shrouds, etc. happy over the longterm.

[JET02WRX]

Originally Posted by 06WRBScoob

Our cars seem to have a nice place for the header to be (away from everything else).

The headers are UNDER the block.... at a stop heat rises....straight into the block increasing your coolant temps which then increases engine temps. Not really the best place for headers really.

As far as the turbo getting too hot... The turbo is already seeing huge exhaust temps. Some guys even run a 'turbo bag' on the exhaust side of the turbo. By keeping the heat within the turbine the hot and expanding gasses will increase thermal efficiency of the turbine design. What is bad for a turbo is rapid heating a cooling. It can ruin the turbine. Also, the faster the turbo spins...the more cool air it draws in from the intake, helping to cool the charge temps and the quicker the hot air is pushed out the exhaust.