Driving Without Cat/Header Heatshield
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Pensacola
Originally Posted by jyeung528,Oct 24 2008, 03:40 PM
is it okay to not use the heatshield that covers the exhaust headers in the engine bay?
To answer your question honestly: I wouldn't do it in ambient temps over ~75-80F for street driving. I wouldn't do it for track events with ambient temps above ~65F - the rise in temps under hood will cancel any benefits from the tiny weight reduction.
Underhood temps will rise dramatically without the heat shields. I am still using the OEM heat shields with a ceramic coated Rick's header. Ceramic coating helps a lot - but the heat shields are very important.
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From: Temple City
Originally Posted by slipstream444,Oct 24 2008, 07:18 PM
I've done some underhood measurements in conjunction with my recent header change. I'm writing it up as we speak and will post it separately in the next 24 hrs.
To answer your question honestly: I wouldn't do it in ambient temps over ~75-80F for street driving. I wouldn't do it for track events with ambient temps above ~65F - the rise in temps under hood will cancel any benefits from the tiny weight reduction.
Underhood temps will rise dramatically without the heat shields. I am still using the OEM heat shields with a ceramic coated Rick's header. Ceramic coating helps a lot - but the heat shields are very important.
To answer your question honestly: I wouldn't do it in ambient temps over ~75-80F for street driving. I wouldn't do it for track events with ambient temps above ~65F - the rise in temps under hood will cancel any benefits from the tiny weight reduction.
Underhood temps will rise dramatically without the heat shields. I am still using the OEM heat shields with a ceramic coated Rick's header. Ceramic coating helps a lot - but the heat shields are very important.
the header shield appears to shield the battery - i don't see how it minimizes underhood temps as the hot air is still circulating in under the hood...
do we have evidence or just speculation with regards to only the header heatshield?
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From: Temple City
Originally Posted by Burgman,Oct 24 2008, 09:05 PM
The header shields help protect the battery and relay box from heat.
is it ok to remove the header shield, or in other words...
what would happen to the battery and relay box?
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Pensacola
Originally Posted by jyeung528,Oct 27 2008, 10:58 AM
what are we talking about with regards to the rise in underhood temp when removing the header shield only?
the header shield appears to shield the battery - i don't see how it minimizes underhood temps as the hot air is still circulating in under the hood...
do we have evidence or just speculation with regards to only the header heatshield?
the header shield appears to shield the battery - i don't see how it minimizes underhood temps as the hot air is still circulating in under the hood...
do we have evidence or just speculation with regards to only the header heatshield?
As you know, heat transfer occurs through radiation, conduction and convection. The heat shield type that's bolted to the header mainly blocks radiated heat (along with some convective). Any sort of airflow modifier shapes airflow to divert convective heat - so removing such a device (that weighs about a pound) would not be such a good idea in my opinion.
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From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by slipstream444,Oct 23 2008, 04:00 AM
Removing ALL of the heat shields on the OEM header will save around 3.9 lbs. The heaviest heat shield is the top header heat shield. I didn't weigh them individually, but the top header heat shield was probably just under 2 lbs.
A little off subject: I recently installed Rick's header that was ceramic coated (Jet Hot/HPC Extreme Sterling). I kept the OEM heat shields on the header. I'll post a writeup probably this weekend to include DIY install, initial impressions, some weight and temp info. I'm currently waiting on my Berk high flow CAT that is ceramic coated on the outside. I'll post info on that after it's installed.
A little off subject: I recently installed Rick's header that was ceramic coated (Jet Hot/HPC Extreme Sterling). I kept the OEM heat shields on the header. I'll post a writeup probably this weekend to include DIY install, initial impressions, some weight and temp info. I'm currently waiting on my Berk high flow CAT that is ceramic coated on the outside. I'll post info on that after it's installed.
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From: Pensacola
Originally Posted by Danknee,Oct 27 2008, 10:07 PM
Wow, only 3.9 pounds!? If you guys are ditching heat shields for the weight savings I hope you also have less than 6% body fat and always take a dump before a race.
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From: Oak Park, IL
Originally Posted by Burgman,Oct 24 2008, 09:05 PM
The header shields help protect the battery and relay box from heat.
Honda doesn't just randomly put stuff under the hood, it's engineered and installed for a reason.