When you receive your ceramic-coated item, the coating will be in a partial cure state. A full cure occurs only after the component is installed and operated at normal operating temperatures.
To achieve a complete cure, ceramic-coated components must be run at operating temperature for a minimum of one (1) hour, either at idle or by driving normally.
Important Break-In Guidelines
During the break-in period, it is critical to avoid excessive exhaust heat. Poor engine tuning or aggressive operation during this phase can permanently damage the ceramic coating.
- Allow the engine to idle or drive gently for approximately one hour
- Continue until no visible vapor or smoke is emitted from the coating
- Maintain adequate ventilation during the curing process
⚠️ CAUTION – Read Carefully
Excessive exhaust heat during the break-in period can damage ceramic coatings. Do not install ceramic-coated components on a new engine until all adjustments have been completed, including:
- Camshaft setup
- Valve and spring adjustments
- Ignition timing
- Fuel and jetting calibration
Breaking in a new engine using freshly ceramic-coated headers will result in coating damage. Ceramic-coated headers require several heat cycles or a controlled one-hour run before they can withstand extreme operating temperatures.
Bonehead Performance Coatings strongly recommends using uncoated cast-iron exhaust manifolds or old uncoated headers when breaking in a new engine to avoid coating failure.
Header Wrap Warning
The use of header wraps is not recommended. Header wraps can trap excessive heat and moisture, increasing the risk of cracking, corrosion, and coating failure.
Customer Responsibility
The customer is responsible for the final break-in process. Ceramic-coated components must not be installed on engines that require aggressive break-in procedures due to the extreme temperatures involved.
Bonehead Performance Coatings is not liable for damage resulting from improper installation, break-in, tuning, or operating conditions.
If you have questions about the ceramic coating break-in process, please contact us before installation.