Acid Wash for header prior to Ceramic Coating

[Timmer]

Does anyone have experince doing this? I understand its an important step if the headers are used. Any input into the products and or methods of doing the wash would be great. Is it as easy as dipping the headers in a barrel of bleach and water?

[FSTFBDY]

meradic acid bath. You HAVE to get all the carbon out of the inside. Then rinse well. Blast with some Alum Oxide.

Its all in the prep. Just make sure they are spotless. Prebake em. then coat em inside and out.

[Timmer]

Do you have the formulae for the bath and where to get the acid from and any instruction for temp or length of bath or//?

[ShelbyCSXT]

Muriatic acid can be found in most grocery stores in the pool section, and of course at any pool supply place. It's a pretty weak acid as i used to use the stuff to put in 2liter bottles along with some aluminum foil (homemade noisemakers, but please don't try making any). I spilled quite a bit of it on my hands, but i'm fine. Only a few times did it start to hurt, which some water took care of in a jiffy.

I dont know what concentration of it you should use, but if i was to guess, i'd say try full strength on some scraps you have laying around. If you happen to have any exhaust pipe scraps, it would have similar effects with the carbon build-up, etc..

Good luck and I hope it turns out well!!

P.s. Make sure your ceramic coating material is capable/designed for coating the inside of your headers. For example, I was going to get the Black Satin (BHK) to coat my manifold, turbo housing, etc. But it's not meant for inside use. Techline makes a different coating (MCS) that is designed for internal usage that will withstand 2000+ fahrenheit.

[Timmer]

Im sure this post is going to really help alot of people. If anyone has more of an idea on how the "bathing" process works, it would be appreciated. Do you soak, if so, how long? Do you spray or ?? Does it need to be heated? How long will the dilution last? Can it go in a plastic barrel or metal or ?? If anyone has a procedure or something on how it works, that would be great. As well, if anyone recommends a phosphate bath and how that works.


p.s. Thanks for the tip on MCS...I was just about to coat the inside with the black satin...Yikes!!! Do you worry about getting any on the outside or is that OK?

[ShelbyCSXT]

Originally Posted by Timmer

p.s. Thanks for the tip on MCS...I was just about to coat the inside with the black satin...Yikes!!! Do you worry about getting any on the outside or is that OK?

Being that I have yet to use any of the stuff, you might wana ask/email the company and don't trust my word as being the ultimate decisive factor. But the MCS description says:
* Extreme temperature capable (2000f +)
* Water based coating, no VOC’s
* Use under any TECH LINE exhaust system coating to increase
* the temperature that the top coating can withstand
* Use in pipe I.D. as well as O.D.
* Improve exhaust gas velocity, increase H.P.
* Requires Baking. Cures at 500f. Must be oven cured
MCS runs $102 per quart(32oz), versus Black Satin's $55 per 1/3 quart(12oz). The MCS is sold only to people with a business license, etc.

Hope this helps

[Timmer]

Thanks Shelby! I was wondering about the internal coating and if it was the same...thanks for all the info!

Does anyone have info on the bathing process for Acid??

[FSTFBDY]

I have a 55g drum of muradic. I blast all my headers 1st to get rid of rust and as much of the carbon I can. Then just soak em and go do something else for a few. sometimes 5min. some times more.

[cdaeme]

Originally Posted by FSTFBDY

I have a 55g drum of muradic. I blast all my headers 1st to get rid of rust and as much of the carbon I can. Then just soak em and go do something else for a few. sometimes 5min. some times more.

What concentration do you use Chris?

Jason

[Timmer]

And...how long is the wash good for...is it by the numbers or length of time it sits?