To answer frequently asked questions regarding our coating technology, we have prepared the following information for our customers. Each coating is tailored to perform its job in an efficient manner, for a specific material and/or application. If this techsheet leaves you with additional questions, please feel free to call us at (08) 8265-1188 for a more detailed explanation.

Our DFLs become a part of the treated surface, forming a molecular bond in a .0005-.001" thick barrier that prevents wear, reduces friction, and promotes smooth operation. We have noted over 3% horsepower increases by applying only DFL coatings to race engine rotating assemblies. DryKote is an unique material applied in situations where the objects coated will not see additional lubricants - it's about twice as slippery as regular LubeKote  but works best in a basically "dry" environment. Powerkote does not regularly use Teflon(tm) in its coating blends, but can supply this material upon request for special projects.

NOTE: PolyKote(tm) is an exclusive blended coating material especially designed for high horsepower / racing applications, and for very high RPM or 2-stroke engine use by Powerkote. We offer several different lubricant densities and hardnesses, custom-tailored to your particular engine application.

The release of Formula 1 technology brought CerMet into the '90s... and inside your engine. PolyKoted(tm) pistons are shipped with a durable CerMet  "cap" over the piston dome. This provides two distinct benefits - CerMet evenly distributes combustion heat across the entire piston dome, allowing more efficient burning of fuel in the chamber, and helping to reduce expansion and metal fatigue in the piston. By reflecting heat back into the chamber and promoting more effective combustion, power is increased - and the reduction of thermal transfer through the piston dome reduces lubricant operating temperatures.

We have seen as much as 5% horsepower gains and 3.9degrees C drops in oil and water temperatures after installing only Koted(tm) pistons in an otherwise uncoated race engine. It is by far our most popular internal engine coating service.... the most economical and powerful performance service we provide for our customers.

CerMet is an extremely effective thermal barrier. That's why it is available as an option on the outside of virtually all exhaust headers produced in the US. Did you know it can also help alcohol engines make more power ? If you've ever watched and alky-fueled engine run, you'll notice that it operates VERY cold, sometimes icing up the intake manifold, and typically taking 2-3 times longer to warm up than a comparable gasoline-fueled engine.

Alcohol fuel in a race engine may act as a coolant, but it offers a significant performance increase over gasoline due to its' superior combustion characteristics. If an alky engine runs warmer, it will make a TONNE of extra power... thus Powerkote treats the exterior of alky engine blocks, heads, and oil pans with special coating materials to help retain combustion heat and produce more power.

The biggest enemy of an engine is uncontrolled heat. Pull heat out of a running assembly, and parts live longer; oil maintains viscosity better; fuel suspensions stay consistent and, therefore, allow more efficient power tuning. Powerkote has developed several different barriers to put heat where you want it. Our intake manifold TriKote(tm) is an effective isolation method for keeping fuel in suspension longer, and keeping it cooler.  By isolating the plenum and runners in a manifold from engine heat, and rejecting heat from the exterior surfaces of that manifold, air/fuel mixtures stay dense... and help you make more power legally !

Trans coolers, radiators, and turbo intercoolers have been made into far more effective heat exchangers after the application of our HeatRejectr(tm) layer - it's available in gloss and flat black - and it really works to extract heat from coated parts.  Our ValveKote(tm) barriers for intake and exhaust valve heads provide protection from high combustion temps, reflecting heat back into the chamber for better fuel burn. Heat transfer through the valve stem to the spring is reduced, resulting in greater valve guide and spring life, increased performance... and reduced maintenance and parts costs for you

LubeKote is the basic MicroCoat anti-friction weapon. Our newly developed Tungsten Disulfide (TD+(tm)) coating can be applied in .00002-5" layers onto critical moving or stationary surfaces. This material withstands extremely high pressures with superior lubricity - ideal for lifters and lifter bores, and as a cylinder wall surface coating. Don’t worry that "The rings won't seat !!". Not only do they seat, but rings exhibit excellent friction reduction characteristics, producing reduced cylinder bore wear, improved leakdown percentages, and increased power production potential.

We have recently released a modified LubeKote chemical blend (see the previous POLYKOTE(tm) information) initially developed for foreign car engine and high RPM motorcycle piston skirt applications. This combination has proven so effective in reducing friction and increasing power that we're using it for ALL applications ! If oil rejection is your goal, ask about our LubeAway(tm) coatings on cranks and connecting rods for reduced windage losses and more power from less drag

Powerkote has several colored heat barrier coatings for exhaust systems, including our latest Grey Ice Gloss, Hartmann-Finish(tm) Cerasilver(tm), and MCHHb(tm)Very High Heat header coatings for custom, foreign, and race applications. Each of our blends have been carefully designed to keep exhaust heat where it belongs - inside the pipe, and away from your engine compartment. We have noted 93.3+ degrees C under-hood temperature drops after "Powerkoteing", with a corresponding increase in overall engine performance and parts life.

Our internal exhaust FloKote(tm) protects the tubing from corrosion, while providing a smooth ceramic surface for exhaust pulses to travel over. Our newest thermal UnderGard+(tm) extends the heat range of our standard materials by as much as 176.7 degrees C. Need more ponies ? We have increased power and lowered elapsed times more than 3% simply by coating a set of headers !

All Powerkote header coatings are Ceramic-Metallic [CerMet]-based.  Some have critical heat retention characteristics, and a few are designed solely for specialized applications... but ALL Powerkote materials are designed to be the best thermal barrier materials currently available

• Polished CerMet – A “show” finish, can be polished to a brilliant surface.  Will retain that shine to about 760 degrees C internal exhaust temp before dulling, up to 871.1 degrees C with an additional UnderGard+? basecoat.  This CerMet finish can be cleaned with #0000 brass wool, any good metal polish, and a clean cloth.
• ColorCoat colored header finishes [Dark Blue, Cast Iron Grey, and Grey Ice Metallic] have been used successfully up to 982.2 degrees C .  All CC colors receive UnderGard as a standard basecoat to help prevent corrosion in street use.  We are working on a new line of custom Candy and Pearl exhaust system coatings – please call for more information.
• UltraBlack [MCUB Flat or Semi-gloss] is our “best” heat retainer, and can withstand sustained exposure to internally-generated temperatures of over 1260 degrees C.  This is the absolute best coating material for any extreme heat containment application.
• FloKote: comes in three different compounds – polishable [for polished CerMet jobs], grey-white and/or grey-black for all other applications.

• · ALL Cerasilver(tm), ColorKoted(tm) and IceKoted(tm) Headers are shipped ready for immediate installation.  They have been oven-baked at over 260 degrees C to cure our coatings for ease of handling.  Be sure to protect your investment during installation by covering the headers with a 4-6 mil thick plastic bag for protection, and handle them with care.  Keep your ColorKoted((tm) headers looking new by wiping them down occasionally with Silicone Spray on a clean towel AFTER they have completely cooled.  Cerasilver(tm) polished header coatings can be maintained with any good metal polish and a clean rag. It is advised that you clean polished headers with a good metal polish prior to engine startup - this helps to remove any fingerprint "burn it" that might occur.

• · Headers receive an interior FloKote(tm) during the proprietary coating process. The combination of FloKote and any of our Powerkote exterior coatings results in race-proven potential for increased exhaust port scavenging. Testing on our sponsored race cars and motorcycles has shown that timing and/or jetting changes may be needed to compensate for improved exhaust port flow. Please be prepared to re-jet your carb, fine-tune your injectors, and/or adjust your timing to reduce the possibility of lean burn damage, and to take full advantage of the improved exhaust flow characteristics.

• · Customers who order our Combustion Chamber Barrier coatings for aluminum cylinder heads and/or our PolyKote(tm) Piston barrier combinations may wish to consider retarding overall engine timing several degrees. Tests have proven our coatings so effective that more retard can be implemented for greater top end power without harming bottom-end horsepower and torque.  Powerkote's rule of thumb is "Better to sneak up on it" - please use your own discretion when tuning your engine for peak performance.

• Our application process requires that abrasive materials under high pressure and/or chemical etchant materials be used to safely prep surfaces before coating. Even though we clean your parts thoroughly before shipping them back to you, PLEASE remember to clean them again to remove residual abrasives and dust before assembly. We have had great success with putting pistons and small coated internal engine parts through a dishwasher cycle before assembly installation.

• Careful though we might be after parts prep, exhaust systems may have some abrasives or polishing media remaining in the pipes - exercise caution when starting to avoid external damage from blown dust or wayward polishing media. Aim the tailpipes away from people and things that you love to avoid possible injury.

• DO NOT use solvents or WD-40(tm) to clean cylinder walls or engine parts that have been treated with TD+(tm) lubricant ! Solvents can remove TD+(tm) coatings prior to burnishing-in during first start-up. If you get any dust or debris on a part coated w/ TD+(tm), use clean, low pressure compressed air to blow it clean before assembly.