Engine Performance This section is for discussion on all engine building related questions.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: KPower

Manifold turning blue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-03-2011, 03:37 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
dgmorr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,446
Total Cats: 6
Default Manifold turning blue

Hey guys,

Did a lot of searching and can't find enough info. Why is my manifold turning blue? I know turning colours is part of the tempering process, but everyone else seems to have a gold-ish manifold. Not sure which grade, but it is stainless steel. I'll confirm the grade with Abe.

It turned this colour while sitting and idling for the first time. I've taken it for a quick drive, but haven't driving it hard yet.

dgmorr is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 03:52 PM
  #2  
VladiTuned
iTrader: (76)
 
18psi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 35,821
Total Cats: 3,481
Default

did you have any oil or solvents on it?
18psi is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 04:12 PM
  #3  
Ben
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
 
Ben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
Default

Stainless can turn blue. Has something to do with high heat and reactions to the environment. If it happens to high end pots and pans, you wash them with lemon juice, and they turn shiny again. Not sure how practical that is in an automotive environmental however.
__________________
Chief of Floor Sweeping, DIYAutoTune.com & AMP EFI
Crew Chief, Car Owner & Least Valuable Driver, HongNorrthRacing

91 Turbo | 10AE Turbo | 01 Track Rat | #323 Mazda Champcar

Originally Posted by concealer404
Buy an MSPNP Pro, you'll feel better.
Ben is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 04:35 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
dgmorr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,446
Total Cats: 6
Default

I actually didn't clean it before mounting it, so it is possible there is some sort of residue. I should have wire brushed it like everyone says to do.
dgmorr is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 05:36 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
baron340's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lompoc, CA
Posts: 577
Total Cats: 13
Default

If you haven't driven it hard, it's possible that it just hasn't gotten hot enough to turn golden yet. SS turns a sort of blue at a certain temperature, then violet and then gold. Even if it does stay gold-ish, does it really matter?
baron340 is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 07:12 PM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Faeflora's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,682
Total Cats: 130
Default

I would be more concerned about how that valve cover looks.
Faeflora is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 07:36 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
wittyworks's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 983
Total Cats: 23
Default

Here you go. This is the stages that steel goes through for heat treating. It simply got to only a certain temp while idling. 320 c is like 600 something f. It will turn the gold color after it gets hotter.

http://www.westyorkssteel.com/Heat_T...t/tmpchart.htm
wittyworks is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 09:12 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
dgmorr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,446
Total Cats: 6
Default

Alright, as long as blue is nothing to be worried about.

Yes, the valve cover was a big mistake. It'll be getting powder coated eventually.
dgmorr is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 10:35 PM
  #9  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

Get a bigger hose to the wastegate, thank me later.

In regards to color:

Gold at the head, then a little blue, then that brown/gray color. You haven't put any heat through it yet, so it hasn't changed color. I mean hell, look at your wastegate, mine was that color once.
hustler is offline  
Old 04-03-2011, 11:16 PM
  #10  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Faeflora's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,682
Total Cats: 130
Default

I've seen a few powdercoated valve covers for sale here recently.

Unless you have a hookup you'll have to pay for blasting and then PC.
Faeflora is offline  
Old 04-04-2011, 12:21 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
dgmorr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 1,446
Total Cats: 6
Default

It's probably going to cost about the same to get done here as it will be to get one shipped from the US.

The WG hose is temporary, I wanted to run just base boost for a bit and not mess with my MBC.
dgmorr is offline  
Old 04-04-2011, 12:55 AM
  #12  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Faeflora's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,682
Total Cats: 130
Default

Braided AN vacuum hoses FTW

You just need a

1.0x10mm - AN-4 adapter

Or just ******* slide the damn hose over the tial bung and clamp that bitch on. The rubber hoses can crack. They can also come off if you get oil on the bung. Ask me how I know!
Faeflora is offline  
Old 04-11-2011, 10:09 AM
  #13  
Junior Member
 
Dlaitini's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Cedar City, UT
Posts: 239
Total Cats: 5
Default

blue color on SS means you have gotten it to roughly 600 degrees.. it will change colors as it goes up in temp
Dlaitini is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Full_Tilt_Boogie
Build Threads
84
04-12-2021 04:21 PM
JxPhan
Meet and Greet
3
10-02-2015 02:17 AM
cale saurage
DIY Turbo Discussion
16
10-01-2015 11:25 AM
lsc224
Miata parts for sale/trade
2
10-01-2015 09:17 AM



Quick Reply: Manifold turning blue



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:56 PM.