What Are Headers On A Car? Here’s What You Need To Know
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Once you dive straight into the world of car mods, you’ll see various terms, jargon, and acronyms thrown around – and you’ll likely feel lost. It’s one thing to know the basic components of your vehicle, but when it comes to aftermarket modifications, it becomes a whole new ball game. One of the many aftermarket parts you’ll encounter is the header.
What are headers on a car?
When you talk to enthusiasts about headers, they’ll likely respond that “it improves the flow,” which is not the most helpful answer. Thus, we’re going to fix that by highlighting the exhaust headers on cars and, hopefully, clear up some misconceptions around it – especially when compared to the exhaust manifold. Let’s get to it!
What Are Headers On A Car? What’s Their Purpose?
As mentioned, a car header is an aftermarket component that you can install in your car – which means it doesn’t come in stock with your new Honda Civic. Headers are generally made of long and thin steel tubes with smooth, gradual bends. Exhaust headers are relatively popular because they’re one of the most accessible bolt-on accessories you can buy to improve the performance of your engine.
The primary purpose of the header is to improve the exhaust flow by allowing the engine to push exhaust gasses out of the cylinder. Specifically, it routes the gasses away from the engine and to the exhaust system. If you’re familiar with the exhaust manifold, the header does the same thing as the manifold, only better and more complex (more on this later). In fact, the header will replace the manifold that’s already installed on your vehicle.
Stock manifolds can restrict the flow of exhaust gasses from the engine, plus their interior ports can be rough and uneven. This limitation can reduce the torque and horsepower of a vehicle through back pressure. However, enthusiasts and mod junkies aren’t about to let go of such potential performance gains. Most consumers either live with it or don’t even know such restrictions exist.
Therefore, the largest markets for exhaust headers are modding enthusiasts and people who want more power from their cars. Ultimately, having an exhaust header will improve the overall air circulation for your engine, which equals better performance.
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What Are Headers On A Car? The Pros and Cons
Putting headers on a car has its fair share of benefits and drawbacks. Keep the following pros and cons in mind if you’re looking to buy an exhaust header:
PRO: Reduced Back Pressure and Increased Performance
The header is a performance-oriented aftermarket part, and its main selling point is to reduce back pressure. This means exhaust gasses can flow freely without being interrupted as with a stock manifold. This improved flow will increase the torque and power of your engine, which are most noticeable while applying the throttle. You can gain as much as 50 horsepower with a performance engine plus high-quality headers.
CON: Headers are Expensive
The biggest con is definitely the price – headers aren’t cheap. The part may cost you about $200 to upwards of $900, with complete high-end sets that may cost more than a grand. With labor included, you may pay more or less $1,000 for the fabrication job. Alternatively, you can buy cheaper bolt-on headers, but you might run into fitting issues.
PRO: They Look and Sound Good
Another popular reason why enthusiasts use headers is their overall look. The stainless steel tubes are visually pleasing and tend to pop – a great boon if you frequently look at your engine bay or participate in car exhibits. Furthermore, the quality of the welding job can add another layer of coolness to your setup.
In addition, another attractive quality of headers is that they sound good. A beastly V8 engine paired with a header is ear candy to those who can appreciate it. And by improved sound, it doesn’t necessarily make your car louder. In fact, you’ll only notice a tonal difference between a header and an exhaust manifold.
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CON: Worse Fuel Economy and Bad Emissions
Another glaring drawback of headers is the increased emissions. The header’s added horsepower comes with many tradeoffs, including more fuel burned. As your car burns more fuel than stock manifolds, your emissions are worse – not ideal if you’re environmentally conscious. Plus, you’ll likely fail your emission test, which can be problematic if you live in a state with strict emission regulations.
Of course, burning more fuel means increased fuel consumption. When you use headers, you can trust your fuel economy will suffer significantly. Unless you want frequent visits to the pump, having a header on your daily driver may not be the best idea.
Headers vs. Exhaust Manifolds
There is quite a confusion between headers and exhaust manifolds, especially when both have similar functions. In addition, you’re probably wondering why stock components are referred to as manifolds while aftermarket parts are called headers. Although they have the same role, their main difference is structural.
The stock exhaust manifold is made of thick, solid cast iron connected to all cylinders, while a header is made of individual lighter and thinner steels that connect to all exhaust ports (think of a twisted metal fork). Car manufacturers use exhaust manifolds because not only are they cheaper, but they are also excellent in holding in heat. Some companies use factory-installed headers, which are usually reserved for high-performance models.
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Should You Get a Car Header?
What are headers on a car? Hopefully, this quick guide has answered your burning questions about headers. So should you buy a header for your vehicle?
If you’re driving a regular car with middling performance, you’re unlikely to benefit from the performance boost provided by headers. Plus, your vehicle will have less fuel efficiency.
On the other hand, if you own a high-performance vehicle or are into car modification, a car header is a worthy upgrade since the performance boost can be remarkable. Track or drag racers can really benefit from the extra horsepower an exhaust header can give.
FAQs: Car Headers
Q: How do headers work?
A: Headers help a car’s engine by giving each cylinder its own pipe to send exhaust out. This setup means that the exhaust from each part of the engine gets to leave through its own path. It’s like having a separate exit door for each room in a house, making it easier for everyone to get out quickly. This way, there’s less pressure holding the exhaust back, enabling the engine to run more smoothly.
Q: Do headers make a car louder?
A: Yes, installing headers can make a car’s exhaust system louder due to the more efficient flow and removal of restrictions found in factory exhaust manifolds.
Q: What are the benefits of installing headers?
A: The primary benefits of car headers include improved engine performance, increased horsepower and torque, better fuel efficiency under certain conditions, and a more aggressive exhaust sound. Headers can also reduce engine compartment temperature by efficiently expelling hot exhaust gasses.
Q: Are headers legal?
A: The legality of headers depends on local emissions laws. Headers that remove or bypass catalytic converters may not be street legal. Check local regulations before installation to ensure compliance.
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