Joined dec 18 2001 1478 posts. In terms of durability and corrosion resistance stainless wins over mild steel headers that are coated only externally with ceramic.
2011 2020 Mustang Bbk 1 7 8 Ceramic Long Tube Headers
Stainless steel headers vs ceramic. Discussion starter 1 sep 22. The ceramic actually blocks alot of the heat if they are coated inside and out. Anywhere the coating is scratched will rust and the inside of the pipe will rust of course. Ceramic vs stainless headers stainless will discolor blue or gold depending on the temps but they will not rust. A full stainless header will not rust at all. Headers coated inside and out with ceramic should last just this side of forever or at least comparable to stainless.
Ceramic is cheaper and once it wears out you could always sand the old off and reapply a ceramic coating to the headers. I also like stainless because i think they look better and they will last a lot longer granted if you buy the 700 dollar ones. Stainless will radiate more heat into the engine compartment than ceramic coated headers will. Also since the heat is staying inside the headers the exhaust gases will be hotter and will flow more remember as air cools it becomes more dense. Jump to latest follow 1 15 of 15 posts. This is the reason a chikara steel header is so damn cheap and then the ceramic coated is more and so on to stainless.
A ceramic coated stainless header would be the ideal setup if money aint a thang. There will be substantial more radiant heat compared to coated. Ceramic coated headers vs. Ceramic coated headers are not stainless. That is why they rust. They are cheaper bc the steel in the header is not cheaper.
Gallery of Stainless Steel Headers Vs Ceramic
