Hey everyone, I've got a USDM 1.5L AT Fit Sport and I've had 2 headers installed in my car. the first was the Megan racing and now, I've got the DC Ceramic 4-1 header.
Megan Racing Header:
Obviously, or hopefully, everyone has heard that the O2 bung has leak, therefore, I had to re weld it. Really easy to install. Lots of room to work with underneath and on top of the engine. I had pics of the Megan Racing header compared to the OEM one, but i can't find the pics.
Definitely, felt a increase in power after 4500RPM. It was a noticeable power gain too. With a full load of ppl in the car, the performance level dropped off completely. No power gains at all. Again, at higher RPM, a good surge of power was defiantly felt
DC 4-1 Ceramic Header:
No problems with the header at all. Installed, did not feel a huge power increase at the higher RPM's, but felt it pull LOTS at mid-range RPM (3500 - 4500 RPM). 2nd gear is AWESOME!! Acceleration is definitely improved. With a full load of ppl, the performance gains were still there. I was VERY surprised!!
Of the two headers, you've gotta decide on where you want your power to improve. The Megan racing header has more power gains at higher RPM whereas the DC header has more power gains at the mid-range. Personally, i like the DC header more because i do a lot of driving during rush hour in the city and it's nice to not have to drive constantly at 4500 RPM. Although, the Megan Racing header did feel like more power was gained.
Anyway, please feel free to ask any questions and it'll try my best to answer them. If you are interested in the DC header, I'm sure i can get another one. They're around $300 + shipping.
i REALLY need 2 find time 2 install my dc header lol. ive had it chillen in my garage for like 2 months LOL. Thnx for the info tho im glad i made a good decision.
Out of curiosity (and partly newbishness), why is the DC header ceramic? what is the megan header made of? is there an advantage to making a ceramic header?
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For the price I see the DC for Id take a chance on the DME header. Stainless and looks really nice.
Quote:
Out of curiosity (and partly newbishness), why is the DC header ceramic? what is the megan header made of? is there an advantage to making a ceramic header?
My guess, its regular aluminized piping with a ceramic coating. The Megan is stainless steel.
People always tell me ceramic is known for cracking. Fit shouldnt have that problem unless the lower manifold mount is removed.
DC header is mild steel with a proprietary temperature- and corrosion-resistant ceramic coating.
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eh, everyone I know has had their ceramic headers rust within a yr. I had a DC ceramic header on my ep because I got it at a group discount. I swapped it after a year because of the corrosion. Then went with a comptech
eh, everyone I know has had their ceramic headers rust within a yr. I had a DC ceramic header on my ep because I got it at a group discount. I swapped it after a year because of the corrosion. Then went with a comptech
Headers made with REAL quality are mild steel construction with a ceramic coating that does not crack. SS headers are better than uncoated steel or poorly aluminized steel, because SS will not rust, but it WILL discolor with enough heat. Overheated SS headers develop bands of red and blue. Rust is BAD, variegated colors from heated SS is not bad as far as lifespan of the header. SS headers will last forever unless you heat them enough to warp the flanges where they mount to the cylinder heads. Properly alumiized steel headers will last forever unless you warp them by throwing cold water on heated headers.
I get my information from having sold, and trained the operators, at Hooker Headers in Pomona, CA, in the use of thermal spray equipment that applies the coatings of aluminum that make aluminized headers. If you don't spill oil on them, they look white forever (the aluminum that is applied to the steel forms an outer layer of aluminum oxide that appears white).
I did this kind of work for eight years, and I can apply any metal or ceramic onto any other metal. I sprayed aluminum coatings onto the steel hulls of naval ships, sprayed tungsten carbide onto the flap tracks on the wings of B-52's and F-111's, and trained the techs at Boeing to spray coatings of aluminum on the wing and fuselage panels made of structural plastic used on their modern day passenger aircraft. The plastic is stronger and lighter than parts made totally of aluminum, but the aluminum coating is necessary to conduct electricity from lightning strikes away from the computer controls of the aircraft.
I can't advise you which are the best headers for your Fit because I don't have any experience with them or their makers. But aluminized steel, ceramic coated steel, or SS, made, properly would be a good investment.
alright, so myself, and about 70% of the people on ephatch have/had the same problem. Plus even on older civic's people have the same problem with the dc ceramic headers. Plus if someone wraps the ceramic headers they will rust even faster.
I never had problems with the comptech header, the greddy header on my ek, and I just ran the ebay special on my eg
I am not talking down, just telling my experience and others experiences with dc
mmmmm tungsten carbide is good stuff! then again I'm speaking in terms of roller cone drill bits haha...I wonder if we can do PDC on headers, nothing would crack or break (PDC: Polycrystalline Diamond Compact; used primarily as disc cutters on PDC style drill bits )
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alright, so myself, and about 70% of the people on ephatch have/had the same problem. Plus even on older civic's people have the same problem with the dc ceramic headers. Plus if someone wraps the ceramic headers they will rust even faster.
I never had problems with the comptech header, the greddy header on my ek, and I just ran the ebay special on my eg
I am not talking down, just telling my experience and others experiences with dc
Your headers with cracked coatings were badly made. Another factor could be that they were subject to impact during shipping or installation. Ceramic is a coating made of metallic oxides, and those coatings are brittle. Any impact will crack them. Once cracked, expansion and contraction of the substrate (steel headers) will continue to shrug off the ceramic as cracks radiate away from the original crack.
P.s. One of the early producers of ceramic-coated headers was a company called something like "JetKote" or "JetCoat". From the name, I am guessing that they used a thermal spray process called Plasma Spray. Plasma systems generate temperatures above 30,000 degrees F. It takes such high temperatures to melt metallic oxides and propel them with enough velocity to evenly coat various substrates. The average jet engine has around 4000 parts, and about 3000 of them are made with Plasma applied coatings, and many of those are ceramic for insulation against high temperatures. When a jet engine is due for a rebuild, the coated parts are stripped, re-coated, and re-used.
The only advantage in performance of ceramic coatings vs. aluminizing or SS is that ceramic insulates heat to keep it INSIDE the header system, instead of radiating outward to heat up the engine bay.
Last edited by manxman; 07-20-2007 at 12:47 PM.
Reason: add comment
mmmmm tungsten carbide is good stuff! then again I'm speaking in terms of roller cone drill bits haha...I wonder if we can do PDC on headers, nothing would crack or break (PDC: Polycrystalline Diamond Compact; used primarily as disc cutters on PDC style drill bits )
Your headers would only cost around $5000. then, and they would still rust. but your headers would certainly be unique!
but it WILL discolor with enough heat. Overheated SS headers develop bands of red and blue.
I think that looks dead sexy!!!!! When the header turns all blue/red/green/allthoseothercolors.
I thought it had to do with the oils on yours hands? The oils and then the heat baking them into the SS.
I think that looks dead sexy!!!!! When the header turns all blue/red/green/allthoseothercolors.
I thought it had to do with the oils on yours hands? The oils and then the heat baking them into the SS.
The colors in heated SS are the behavior of the blend of iron, manganese, nickel and chromium that make up dozens of stainless steel alloys. Skin oils would burn away at lower temperatures than are required to bring out the colors inherent in the SS.
Thanks for the great description of your experience with both headers. I was waiting to hear someone tell their experience with the DC header. Personally that is the one that I am going to go with. I am also waiting for DC's cat-back exaust (still in development) for the FIT as I probably be adding that also.
I would be interested to hear what brand everyone else would install after reading Toy Yoda's post.
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