HEADERS VS MANIFOLD DRIVER

The only tricky part with long tube headers is that they’re challenging to install. They’re the ideal choice for track cars and if you love the aggressive sound they bring with them. Long tube headers are exactly as they sound long! It varies from car to car, but generally they replace your OEM exhaust manifold, a downpipe and catalytic converter. Long tube headers build a lot of power in the mid to high rpm range. Shorty headers are great for turbos but are not as rev-happy as long tube headers. Where equal length headers provide consistently great performance, unequal ones provide a deeper rumbling sound and more low-end torque. Shorty headers are a direct swap with your exhaust manifold.Īnother choice to consider is equal or unequal length headers.

HEADERS VS MANIFOLD DRIVER

These headers perform their best in the idle to mid rpm range - perfect if you want your daily driver to get a boost in performance. If we take a 4 cylinder header as an example, these can reduce exhaust pipes down from 4-2-1, or simply 4-1.Īnother common way in which that can differ is in their length… Shorty Headers There are some different ways that headers can be made. Headers have a significant impact on your car’s performance so you need to make sure to get the right one. Compromised if collector pipe is restricted.Eliminates the manifold’s back pressure.Ceramic coated ones, on the other hand, are less prone to rust and corrosion. Uncoated or poorly finished headers will rust over time. You’ll find headers in chrome, painted, ceramic coated and uncoated. This is perfect if your intention is to increase the engine sound altogether. Uncoated steel headers are prone to rusting.Ī common issue you’ll experience with headers is that their thin walls don’t absorb the noise as well as manifolds do. If you connect everything properly, don’t be surprised to see a noticeable improvement in performance. Just make sure that your collector pipes are not constricted because that defeats their purpose. This ensures that the gases reach the collector separately from each cylinder along with the right exhaust scavenging characteristics. The tubes on a header connect to a collector pipe, which is equal in length and smooth. Headers are a popular aftermarket part, and they are constructed using stainless steel tubes for each cylinder which makes it highly effective for gases to exit. Thicker walls reduce efficiency and performance.Cast manifolds are heavy, and thick, meaning less room for exhaust gases to pass through. This could ultimately result in a loss in horsepower and efficiency to allow fresh air in. Because the gas flow slows down, a manifold can cause backpressure, and that prevents the exhaust from efficient clearing. The iron casting also makes the interior rough, which can result in the flow of exhaust gases slowing down. However, the downside of having thick walls is that they leave little space for exhaust gasses to pass through. They’re thicker, sturdier, and more durable. Most cars have manifolds installed from factory. The only problem with cast iron is that it is prone to cracking. ManifoldsĪn exhaust manifold is made from cast iron which makes it capable of withstanding high heat and pressure from exhaust gases. Which one you end up choosing depends on what you plan on doing with your car. The main difference lies in the way they sound and perform. Whether you are looking at an exhaust manifold or headers, they will always have one inlet per cylinder.Įven though both perform the same function, there are a few key differences between manifolds and headers. Its sole purpose is to transfer the exhaust gases from the engine to the rest of your exhaust system, where they can be expelled. In order to collect the exhaust gas from all eight cylinders into one single pipe, we need an exhaust manifold. The word manifold is derived from an Old English word, “ manigfeald” which refers to the folding together of multiple inlets and outlets.Ĭonsider that an eight-cylinder engine has eight outlets –– one for each cylinder. Exhaust Manifolds and Headers: What’s the Difference?Įxhaust manifolds are often confused with headers because both components serve the same purpose. In this guide, we’ll explain how exhaust manifolds and headers differ and which one suits your needs the most. When your engine expels exhaust gases, they are first sent to your manifold, and then to the rest of the exhaust system. If this cycle is interrupted, your engine will not work headers and manifolds come in at the last stage of this cycle. Induction, compression, combustion, and exhaust - the never-ending cycle that keeps the heart of all internal combustion engines running.

Headers vs manifold