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Re: head coatings - thermal barrier

To: aribert neumann <aribert@c3net.net>
Subject: Re: head coatings - thermal barrier
From: "Michael D. Porter" <mporter@zianet.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 13:58:31 -0700
Cc: triumphs <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Delivered-to: alias-outgoing-triumphs@autox.team.net@outgoing
Organization: Barely enough
References: <3ABC96B9.1F578954@c3net.net>
aribert neumann wrote:
> 
> Suffering a bit from potential shipwrights disease.  I just removed the
> intake and exhaust in order to have my exhaust header ceramic coated.
> Since it is such a pain in the butt to remove and install the header I
> got to thinking about having the combustion chambers coated with a
> thermal barrier. The engine is a '73 TR6 with about a 9.3:1 CR, S2 cam
> grind and triple Webers.  Engine has about 20K miles on it since a
> complete rebuild and otherwise there is no reason to open it up
> internally.

Don't bother. The dieseling is due to accumulated carbon. With the
engine hot and at high idle, spray a little water into each throat (keep
the idle boosted up by hand if need be to keep it from stalling).
Alternatively, a small spray of carburetor cleaner will do the job more
quickly. Don't overdo the carb cleaner, though, since enough of it can
eat some of the seals.

I don't advise the ceramic coating for anything used daily on the
street--fine if someone needs that small edge in racing, but not for a
street car. 

We had a customer order buses in 1992 with engines equipped with
ceramic-coated pistons and combustion chambers. These were 6V92s which
were ordinarily reasonably trouble-free engines, and our service rep for
that area said they have had nothing but trouble with them, mostly
because the coating eventually sheds. Not a problem for engines which
are regularly torn down, but a big problem for ones which are supposed
to run a half-million miles before major overhaul.

Try the water first. <smile>

Cheers.

-- 
Michael D. Porter
Roswell, NM (yes, _that_ Roswell)
[mailto:mporter@zianet.com]

`70 GT6+ (being refurbished, slowly)
`71 GT6 Mk. III (organ donor)
`72 GT6 Mk. III (daily driver)
`64 TR4 (awaiting intensive care)
`80 TR7 (3.8 liter Buick-powered)
`86 Nissan 300ZX (the minimal-maintenance road car)
`68 VW Type II Camper (Lancia twin-cam powered, but feeling its age....)

Remember:  Math and alcohol do not mix... do not drink and derive.

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