Couldn't find anything about this topic in this
forum or in the technical info section so here
goes:
I added metallic/ceramic coatings to my '84's
rebuilt (stockers by Ken Bell) cylinder heads,
including the combustion chamber & runners. I
also intend to apply a coating to the piston
face/dish but some of the things I've been reading
lately give me pause.
I went to these coatings because I've read that
keeping heat in the cylinder and exhaust system
enhanced power & cooling but now I read that too
much heat in our turbo engine cylinders can cause
detonation.
Besides the fact that I let the engine builder
talk me into going with Hypereutectic slugs,
should I coat the combustion chamber? (incl. valve
& piston faces) Do I want to keep heat in the
combustion chamber or let it soak into the pistons
and cylinder heads?
This will be a 'warm' rebuild; no high-stall TC's,
radical cams, excessively high boost or huge
turbos. (but all the other 'mandatory' upgrades
like fuel, oil, elect., intake & exh. systems)
Thanks.
Was this a dumb question or is the answer so
obvious that no one wanted to embarrass me?
Please - someone embarrass me! (the silence is
deafening!) If anyone on this forum has used
metallic/ceramic coatings in their turbo engine,
please let me know what the results were. Thanks!
Nick
I do not know anything about metallic/ceramic coatings but building VW motors I have heard of guy polishing the tops of the pistons and chamber to accomplish the same thing (shiny surface reflects heat). I don’t personally know if this would do anything but it is logical
FYI ... If the coatings in question have been applied by someone that knows there stuff, they do a wonderful job of controlling heat. Several coaters out there are capable of helping you.
Personally I've had very good luck and good service with the people at Calico Coatings in Denver, NC. Jerry @ 704-483-2202 is the tech in the know. You will need to include a head gasket
if they don't have one. I did the setup you mentioned several years back and have had no problems to date, they have a special turbo formula which is reputed to be an improvement over the coating that was used on my engine.
I just had a set of JE's done for a S2 I'm putting together (piston tops and skirts) and plan on having the motorsports heads done also.
Coatings are very effective in any performance engine, turbo or whatever, the only problem is $$$
Good Luck.
pocketchange
PS . I was in the coating business for over 5 years. Thanks NASA for you help
Thanks for the reply Gary.
I figure coatings should help prevent hot spots in
the combustion chamber along with keeping heat out
of the cooling system & in the exhaust system
where it belongs. Your comment about a special
turbo formula caught my attention. I'm assuming
that translates into higher heat range.(?)
Anyway, there's a shop in my local area (Portland,
OR.) that's done the turbo for me plus a lot of
work for racers so I'll ask them about new/special
formulas. Thanks again for the reply and advice.
Nick