Non coated or wrapped HKS downpipe
 

Yes I know majority recommended to wrap or coat my HKS downpipe. I have plans to send it out next week but just wondering how many people used it in its factory condition? No wrap or coating. At worst case used off the shelf exhaust paint?

As it is it will be fine. The only reason for doing heat wrap or ceramic coating is to reduce under hood temps. Going from a precat to a downpipe already makes a huge difference, the coating goes the next step.

That's a very well made downpipe that will fit well and last forever so you don't have to worry about that.

Don't bother with exhaust paint, it will burn off in short order, not worth the effort. Also it's VERY hard to see the downpipe on the car so if it looks "used" you won't be noticing it.

It's worth getting coated now because once it's on the car you'll never get around to doing it. I recommend Jet-Hot 2000 coating, I've done a number of downpipes with that and the stuff is literally bulletproof. Buddy's car was wrecked and the downpipe was hit in the wreck, denting the downpipe. Coating didn't flake, chip, or distort at all. Also makes a VERY nice difference in heat radiation, I've had my car on a lift and you could feel the difference between the downpipe and the uncoated mid pipe just putting your hands near it.

But, if it isn't in the time or budget to get done, that's OK. You'll get 90% of the benefit.

Dale

Thanks, yeah I understand the benefits. I guess my main thing is how many people have used it as is and have been satisfied with it not causing any extra heat damage to items on that side of the car without the ceramic coating, wrap and or heat shield vs the factory setup. Not really concerned about the aesthetics of it over time. I had wrap on my motorbike when I purchased it and I did not like it :) but I like that I can wrap this for $30 vs $160 (coated+shipping). I guess I will just wrap and call it a day. Allow me to put funds toward other toys :).

The HKS coating is very durable, we install them without anything additional all the time. They recently changed the coating from Silver to Black
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...65f89c8508.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...216ce06b60.jpg

Yep I purchased one from you guys a few months ago and I have the bottom black one. Do you know why the change...just wondering?

no idea, seems to be the same coating they use on the catbacks

Ok

FYI all in with buying wrap, the spray, and the ties and everything you can easily be in for $75 or so. Ceramic coating is about $125 or so and is WAY better quality. Only downside is having to plan ahead and ship it out to get done.

Also, no itchy wrap that falls off, no pain in the ass of wrapping it, etc.

Also, the coating on those HKS downpipes I think is just an anti-corrosion paint, it ends up baking off to some extent. It's definitely not a ceramic coating that keeps heat in.

Dale

Thanks and the wrap/spray and ties was not that much for me $39 before tax for DEI Titanium at advance with online discount and yes I compared to coating. I did not check local but for Jet plus shipping was not worth it. I was going to check local today. Not worried about aesthetics so it could rust and I would not really worry..

So $80 with a local place. Lot better than sending to jet coat and out of $80 dollars on shipping.

I know from running mild steel exhaust pipes way back when on my racecars (I use SS pipes now) that wrapping them was a sure route to killing them due to holding in the heat. They'd fatigue in short order. And the FD's exhaust is at least as hot.

Does the thicker wall on the mild steel HKS DP alleviate that issue?

I have seen post with a lot of people wrapping the HKS so I doubt it has any negative affect on the HKS.

My experience from running wrap for the last 15 years on a mild steel Bonez DP is that it has no negative effects. Use that DEI sealant paint, then wrap, then sealant. If it's a decent dp to begin with it'll outlast a few engines. I think mild steel with wrap might sound a little better but it's hard to really compare.
Heat coating is nice, but when I first wrapped my dp it was already on the car. Removing it for coating didn't seem to make sense. IIRC at the time there was no one close to me that did coating anyway and it was more expensive, especially with shipping. Wrapping is as effective, just isn't as pretty. But you have to try to see it anyway.