Are ceramic headers worth the extra money? What do they help with besides keeping the pipes cooler?

 

If I were to do it over again i would get the ceramic coated. The reason is the heat that the uncoated radiates through out your engine compartment were as the coated type are supposed to run cooler. It doesn't help with HP or TQ that I know of, but less heat in the enige compartment means less "weathering" of your rubber hoses, electrical circuits and so on. Heat is your enemy in the engine compartment. I have never seen or read anything on how much it reduces engine compartment temps, but the difference between my stock manifolds and the headers (heat wise) is dramatic.

 

Not to mention that the coated headers will saty looking good, while non coated headers start to rust and discolor.

Richard

 

The more heat you keep in the pipe, the less gases in the pipes cool. Cool gases move slower than hot gases. Slow gas = more backpressure. Theoretically, you may see a HP or 2 difference between them on an NA. Mostly, those coatings were developed for Turbo guys, who need every bit of heat they got to spool. However, in reality, the biggest benefit is what Simon1 and 06GT4RAD said, plus it helps keep your intake temps lower by lowering underhood heat.