Topic: Temperature of exhaust?

[andy8190]

Wondering what the temperature of the exhaust can get bc I need to paint mine and wonder which temp paint to get 500, 900, or all the way up to 2000? What do you guys think

[brooze72]

Definitely not 2000!  Headers get much hotter than mufflers, whatcha painting?  Just a wild ass guess, never checked mine, but under 500 for headers & under 300 for exhaust is my bet, I could check it in about 3 months

[andy8190]

i was thinking the 500 would be enough, my exhaust is all rusty but the headers are in good shape so i prolly going to paint them gunmetal grey, use rustoleum engine enamel and see how it holds up

[camelman]

Engine enamel will probably not survive. Try header paint from your auto store. I did some 350twin headers with header paint from kragen and it held up great.

[TwoTired]

Exhaust gasses can be up in the 1200-1600 F range depending on mixture ratios and power settings.  I've seen some headers glow red (950-1400f) with really lean mixtures under loaded high power.

However, a header is always shedding accepted heat from the exhaust to the lower temp surrounding air, so it's almost always cooler than the actual exhaust gas temperature.

A thick coat of paint can interfere with the heat exchange process on the outside.

[andy8190]

i wont be painting the headers just the actual exhaust

[ekpent]

Really when your looking at the max temp a paint will do, why not just go the max unless the price,color,or finish does not meet the requirement for you. I will say do not get your arm or hand on a header when its hot or you will regret it real quick.Muffler you will at least keep some skin 

[andy8190]

that is the problem, the max temp paint does not have the color option I want :/

[Really?]

Get one of those infrared temp guns from HF and test it yourself.  It is good have anyway.  You can test each one to see if one or more are running lean.  I think HM has answered that in a thread or two on here somewhere.