Problem - black ceramic coating rubbing off headers

DanEC · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2013, 06:43 PM

I had my headers ceramic coated by Nitroplate last year in satin black. This is an ERA car with undercar exhaust. I've only started the engine up and run it in the driveway so far to get it tuned and to heat the oil so I could change out the break-in stuff. I noticed that the coating is rubbing off one of the primary pipes right off the head. I had my hand down there doing some work around the engine and when I pulled it out, the backside of my hand was covered in black powder. I took a paper towel and rubbed the area and it took the coating off right down to bare metal. So far it's only affected one pipe but I noticed at least one other one now has a rough feel to the surface. It's a dyno broken in and tuned engine by Keith Craft and just idling in the driveway so far for tuning and sorting out - I'm pretty sure extreme exhaust temperatures are not the issue. Anyone else had this problem with a black ceramic coating? Not looking forward to removing those things and sending them back to Nitroplate.

Rick Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2013, 09:14 PM

May have had some oil on the tube before it was coated ?

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-28-2013, 03:38 AM

I agree with Rick. There must have been some contamination on the pipes that wasn't properly cleaned before the coating process. We have people here running ceramic coated and they seem to last forever. However white and black seem to the the most popular colors.

Ron

DanEC · #4 (**permalink**) 08-28-2013, 08:46 AM

Just got off the phone with Nitroplate. As soon as I said the word Satin Black finish he said "I know where this is going". Apparently they discontinued this product virtually on the date they completed my work after discovering problems with a material manufactured in CA (allegedly due to some environmental excuses). So . . . they have now devleoped their own material and offer a flat black for high-temp exhaust. They will honor it as a warranty issue.

Looks like I will have to strip the entire exhaust system out from under the car

and send back to them to strip and re-coat. What a bummer!. I'm beginning to think this thing if going to be into year 4 of the build before it ever hits the road.

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 08-28-2013, 10:41 AM

Jeez, just ask them if you can send the pipes during the dead of winter. Get that thing running and enjoy it a bit, then pull the pipes off and send it to them.

cscobra · #6 (**permalink**) 08-28-2013, 06:20 PM

There is no "dead of winter" in Arkansas or Texas (possibly other places, as well!), so we get to drive our "Cobras" year 'round. As hot as it is now, I think Dan would be wise to take care of this problem ASAP and enjoy cooler driving weather with the problem solved.

"Jeez," it is his car.

DanEC · #7 (**permalink**) 08-28-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscobra

There is no "dead of winter" in Arkansas or Texas (possibly other places, as well!), so we get to drive our "Cobras" year 'round. As hot as it is now, I think Dan would be wise to take care of this problem ASAP and enjoy cooler driving weather with the problem solved.

"Jeez," it is his car.

Cscobra - you actually took the words out of my mouth. Very little dead of winter here a lot of years. I think I might as well get them off and sent back. I'm trying to decide whether to send the mufflers back also or if they are far enough away from the engine that they won't get hot enough for the coating to fail. I have plenty of other stuff remaining I can do in the meantime.

But I do agree with Patrick - Jeeez - give me a break for a change.

cscobra · #8 (**permalink**) 08-30-2013, 02:53 PM

As long as Nitroplate is refinishing your parts under warranty, you might consider sending back everything that they worked on and getting it all done at one time. Doing so might reduce the risk of further unwelcome surprises down the road (so to speak!).

DanEC · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2013, 05:08 PM

I'm mulling it over - the Spin Tek mufflers are fairly heavy and bulking to ship. I'm not sure what temp the mufflers may get up to - 350 to 400 deg max??? NitroPlate said they still use the satin black coating for non-exhaust parts with moderate temperatures.

He asked if I might consider going to silver - which made me wonder if they still don't have much confidence in the new black ceramic coating. I'm considering having the header pipes done in silver and the collectors in black. Only the collectors and mufflers show from the side of the car and from the engine bay only the header pipes are visible so going two-tone might not be a bad idea.

patrickt · #10 (**permalink**) 09-02-2013, 06:46 AM

I had forgotten, but when I was outlining my overall build with Peter P., I had originally spec'd black ceramic coated primary pipes to match my side pipes. Peter was pretty adamant that I change them to silver, which I did. He said the black primary pipes just didn't hold up.

kevins2 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-02-2013, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanEC

...the Spin Tek mufflers are fairly heavy and bulking to ship.

Sounds like they're standing behind their product and handling this for you. I'd ask them to schedule a pick-up once you have everything boxed. You shouldn't have to pay for shipping. I assume the rep you're dealing with is aware of how much work this is causing you. That should be the extent of your "cost". My 2 cents...

Regards,

Kevin

DanEC · #12 (**permalink**) 09-02-2013, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevins2

Sounds like they're standing behind their product and handling this for you. I'd ask them to schedule a pick-up once you have everything boxed. You shouldn't have to pay for shipping. I assume the rep you're dealing with is aware of how much work this is causing you. That should be the extent of your "cost". My 2 cents...

Regards,

Kevin

I guess my mind wasn't thinking that fast when I had him on the phone. I may call them when I have them packed and give that a try.

Thanks

Dan

DanEC · #13 (**permalink**) 09-02-2013, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

I had forgotten, but when I was outlining my overall build with Peter P., I had originally spec'd black ceramic coated primary pipes to match my side pipes. Peter was pretty adamant that I change them to silver, which I did. He said the black primary pipes just didn't hold up.

I'm thinking more and more about silver for the header pipes (primaries). I don't think it will be that noticeable if the collector is black. This was my first experience with ceramic coating and my first impression of that black was that it wasn't nearly as tough as I had expected. It would scratch real easily. I hear of guys taking steel wool and stuff to their ceramic pipes as if they are nearly impervious to anything. The black was more like an epoxy finish.

Dan