Ceramic coated pistons?

[AzCoupe]

Anyone have any experience running ceramic coated pistons? I talked with an engine shop in LA last week (they ordered a few parts) and he said he uses coated pistons all the time.

Here's the reasoning: Coating pistons tops with a ceramic coating protects the piston in two ways. First, the ceramic compound has a higher melting point than aluminum. Secondly, it conducts less heat (insulates). A silver coating, like Jet-Hot Steerling, reflects heat away from the piston. This helps keep heat in the combustion chamber, which makes more power. Other advantages are lowering the temperature of the piston, and reducing carbon build up on the piston.

According to him, an small inline six can run a 10.5 CR on pump gas with no additives. He claims its an ideal step between cast and forged pistons.

I have also read about coating the piston skirts, inside of the combustion chambers, and the exhaust ports in a tech article.

The most common applications for ceramic coatings are on the exhaust system, manifolds, and headers. When ceramic thermal barrier coatings are applied to exhaust manifolds or headers, they provide two advantages. They protect the headers from rust and corrosion and also reduce heat loss, which translates into high power output. If the headers are internally coated, they will create a higher velocity of the hot exhaust gases and less turbulence due to a smoother surface.

Pistons can also increase their performance characteristics with ceramic coatings. Coating the piston's top will cause heat reflectivity, driving a percentage of any detonation energy back into the fuel burn zone, to increase fuel burn efficiency. It will also lower carbon buildup, which reduces detonation quality. By protecting the piston surfaces, it will allow for a leaner fuel mixture.

Piston skirts can be coated to create an excellent dry sliding surface during engine start-up and will help eliminate skirt slap during initial engine run-in. Using a dry coating will fight against scuffing and abrasion of the piston skirt during its stroke travel inside the engine block cylinder. The inside of the piston can also be coated with an oil-shedding coating to cut parasitic drag and return oil to the sump faster. Ceramic coatings can also be applied over the piston ring contact face of OEM hard chromium, which provides lowering friction between the ring face and cylinder inner bore surface scuffing, and also improves wear resistance.

Ceramic-coating the cylinder head's combustion chamber and exhaust ports will create a faster, hotter burn and help scavenge gases at a faster rate. The coating of these passages also creates thermal transfer from hot gases to the heads themselves.

Anyway, if you guys like the idea, I will bring in some stock pistons (flat and dished), have them coated, and keep them as a stock item. Just looking for some feedback?

 

[CobraSix]

If you stock it...I'll buy it eventually...

Slade

 

[MustangSix]

The idea has merit, but a stronger Hypereutectics flattop piston would be nice to have.

 

[wsa111]

MIKE,THE CERAMIC COATING ON PISTONS & THE ANTI FRICTION MATERIALS ARE THEY WAY TO FLY,I'M SURE EVERY NEXTEL CUP ENGINE IS EQUIPED WITH THIS LATEST TECHNOLOGY.
ADVISE ON COST OF SUCH PISTONS IF YOU PLAN TO MARKET THEM?
IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL ESPECIALLY WITH THE FLAT TOP PISTONS BECAUSE OF THEY ARE MORE PROME TO DETONATION THAN THE DISHED PISTONS. V/R WILLIAM

 

[AzCoupe]

I am looking into Hypereutectics and Forged pistons, but this would be another option, and wouldn't be nearly as expensive.

I have one quote for forged pistons already. They would sell for about $650 for the set, which includes the wrist pins. But I think that may be a bit to pricey for those who really don't need them.

I think the coated pistons would be just the ticket for most mild performance rebuilds. They shouldn't be much more than stock cast pistons. I'll check and see what type of prices I can get on cast pistons and what the Jet-Hot would run, then post a price.

 

[J.R.]

Recently bought the heat-barrier coating product from Tech-Line(which manufactures/supplies most of the actual product anyway, regardless of the consumer-marketed name, I understand). They are close by in SoCal & sell wholesale & retail.

Will be coating piston tops, combustion chambers, valve faces, full exhaust ports & exhaust manifold interior, in search of longevity, detonation reduction & faster turbo spool-up.

J.R.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm....That would be a real treat....*sigh* but the car's a daily driver so i'd first have to buy a cheap new car first (for about the same price as those coated pistons) then i could do whatever i wanted to the engine (oh man that could be real fun ), the thought of coated pistons crosses my mind every now and then, so if they're available, then alright

 

[DaGr8Tim]

Anyway, if you guys like the idea, I will bring in some stock pistons (flat and dished), have them coated, and keep them as a stock item. Just looking for some feedback?

When you say "flat", you mean tempo pistons right? I may know afew people intrested. Now I just need somewhere to start building the HSO.

 

[66200i6]

One point that has not been raised yet is that this added coating to a stock dished piston might eliminate the need to deck the block to get that Zero deck height. How thick is this coating? For those of us that have the deck machined already will the coating be too much?

Sounds like an economical way to increase the HP and still use regular fuel.

I’m interested; I don’t have my pistons yet, Ric.

 

[AzCoupe]

I talked to Jet-Hot today and found out that they do not coat pistons. But they refered me to a company that can and does do them everyday.

This company manufactures their own product, and can coat the pistons, chambers, exhaust posts, valves and headers. They also coat piston skirts, valve springs, pushrods, oil pans and valve covers(inside), etc with product similar to teflon. According to the shop forman I spoke with, coating the pistons and skirts will add an approximate 6-8% gain in horsepower (proven on a dyno).

The coating is approximately 1 thousands (1 mill) thick, therefore decking the block is not a problem as the clearances won't be affected.

Selling price would be about $300-325, depending on how many I order at one time. The coatings (tops and skirts) actually cost more than the pistons.

 

[ASMART]

What is lighter, hypereutectic or stock. I think coated is good period. It would be interesting to know the cost difference between hypereutectic and stock.