• To celebrate the 4th of July, starting today (07/01/2025) all User Upgrades will be reduced by 10% (thru 07/08/2025) To use this special coupon use the code 2025-4th-10percent at check out. If you are already a supporter your existing package will be extended.
    Thank you for your support!
  • Hello Guest, we are proud to now have our Wiki online that is completely compiled and written by our members. Feel free to browse our Jeep-CJ Wiki or click on any orange keyword when looking at posts in the forum.

Installed New Headers.....is smoke normal

Installed New Headers.....is smoke normal

Joel21

Jeeper
Posts
18
Thanks
0
Location
Enterprise, AL
Vehicle(s)
1981 CJ7 AMC 304 5.0L with a Borg Warner T-5 on 31's
I installed brand new headers on my CJ7 and once I got it started white smoke started coming out from under the hood. Is this normal? Or should I be worried? Any help would be amazing.
 
It might just be the paint burning off the headers.
 
Most headers come with cheap coatings that will burn off on first use. Black Hi-temp paint or clear anti-oxidation coatings both smell and create a little smoke/vapor.

Do make sure you are seeing header smoke, and not coolant or oil dripping from somewhere onto the header.
 
I installed brand new headers on my CJ7 and once I got it started white smoke started coming out from under the hood. Is this normal? Or should I be worried? Any help would be amazing.

How long did you run it for/was it smoking for?
 
In my experience, yes it's normal. First your paint is curing or actually burning off, secondly I imagine they are sprayed with some sort of oil type coating to keep them from rusting in the warehouse. Oil and glue and other things tend to gather down in the collector where 4 pipes or 6 pipe turn into one. I had headers on my Jeep, when I put in the 360 the headers were pulled, cleaned and painted, during the install some old and new oil was spilled on the pipes along with a few pieces of wire loom plastic. When the 360 fired up the headers smoked for quite a while before everything turned into ash. If you don't see fire you are likely in good shape.
 
it is recommended that a new engine be "run in" before installing a new set of headers due to the way the headers need to be "run in". Basically they are in direct opposites of each other.
The headers need to be run just until they get hot, then cooled by shutting the engine down and letting them cool naturally. then run again, cooled again, ect. until they stop smoking. then the coating will be cured enough to not burn off and let the headers start rusting.
 

Jeep-CJ Donation Drive

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.
Goal
$200.00
Earned
$0.00
This donation drive ends in
0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
  0.0%
Back
Top Bottom