Ceramic Coating exhaust

[bkthomps]

Why is it that you rarely see someone with a ceramic coated exhaust setup? Is there some huge downside to this I'm not aware of? I love the results of doing this on my motorcycle, but it seems to be something people avoid in aviation

[rocketbob]

There are lots of people here that will tell you "don't do it.", including Larry. I have several friends that have had their pipes coated and have had zero problems. So I'd say go for it, and if you have problems, let us know. I will be having mine coated soon.

[DonFromTX]

I too have far back in my memory banks somewhere a notice that they are less flexible and crack if coated. Could well be old wives tales.
I have a friend who just had his RV12 pipes and muffler coated, trying to keep some heat out of the cowling.

[Auburntsts]

I'll ask the flip-side question--What's the upside and cost? Is this a solution in search of a problem?

[bkthomps]

Originally Posted by Auburntsts

I'll ask the flip-side question--What's the upside and cost? Is this a solution in search of a problem?

heat, you can turn the engine off and grab the exhaust with your hand less than 5 mins later, it's quite incredible

[Auburntsts]

OK, heat. I get that on a bike where the exhaust can be right next to my leg. What's the tangible benefit on a plane? I'm not trying to be obtuse, I'm really interested in what I would get as a return on the cost?

[Sig600]

Talk to Larry, he'll tell you all the reasons why not to wrap/coat your pipes.

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by bkthomps

heat, you can turn the engine off and grab the exhaust with your hand less than 5 mins later, it's quite incredible

OK, I can do the same thing with my bare Vetterman exhaust. My thought is that it has more to do with the thin stainless tubing's lack of mass and ability to retain heat than a coating.

John Clark ATP, CFI
FAAST Team Representative
EAA Flight Advisor
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

[DonFromTX]

To answer two questions, the cost is about $200 for a complete Rotax exhaust system, that is the Highest quality of the several degrees of coatings. I understand you can grab the exhaust WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING after coating. When you are having vapor lock problems from auto fuel boiling, moving heat out of the engine area gets real important..
We had installed temp probes on this installation prior to the coating, the same probes in the same locations will soon tell us if it worthwhile or not.

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by DonFromTX

When you are having vapor lock problems from auto fuel boiling, moving heat out of the engine area gets real important..

Don't disagree about heat, but I fail to see how coating the exahust will help with hot starts due to vapor lock because the surface area of the pipes is so small compared to the rest of the engine. IOW coating the exhaust will only remove a fraction of the heat radiating off the engine after shut-down.

So what other benefits are worthy of 200 clams? I ask because the OP's question was why was it not used more in aviation.