Driving With Open Headers

[Sargonnas]

So.. I've seen this mentioned a lot, but always get varying answers. Some say its fine, others say it could damage the engine. Would it be instant damage, or would it take many miles? I'm going to be throwing on LTHs on my car at a shop a family member works at, but they can't do some exhaust work I need done (connecting pipes, h-pipe).. I'll have to drive down the street for that. Will I be fine driving up to 2-3 miles with open headers?


Thanks.

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[NoVaGT]

With no oxygen sensors? I'd think that could lead to fast damage.

Get a few friends and push it the 3 miles.

 

[F1scamp]

I drove mine 44 miles open headers to my shop. It is loud, the only thing you will hurt is your ear drums.

 

[Sargonnas]

The headers will accept the o2 sensors.. or are there some further down the line?

 

[NightmareMoon]

O2 sensors allow the engine to fine tune for emissions, the ECU should have safe defaults without them, similar to how it would behave if an O2 sensor fails, but I would expect it to throw a bunch of codes.

 

[Muff Muff]

You'll definitely rattle your interior to bits, and it won't be a fun drive at all.

 

[GTBOB]

You can run open headers just fine without engine damage. At a minimum, make sure you install the 1st set of o2 sensors though. The 2nd set (downstream) is only used for the ecu to measure the efficiency of cats.

BTW...it will be insanely loud. I started mine up with open headers in my attached garage. It shook the trim piece of a bathroom vent, on the opposite side of the house, UPSTAIRS!!!!

 

[Grimace427]

O2 sensors allow the engine to fine tune for emissions, the ECU should have safe defaults without them, similar to how it would behave if an O2 sensor fails, but I would expect it to throw a bunch of codes.

That is only true for the rear O2 sensors. The front O2 sensors are the widebands that the ECU uses to determine the a/f ratio and how the engine will operate. Without them the engine would not run very well at all. I doubt it would break anything however.

 

[Sargonnas]

I'm also assuming I should install my tune before driving with the headers?

 

[Sargonnas]

You'll definitely rattle your interior to bits, and it won't be a fun drive at all.

I've got dual 12s in the back.. I've already located many pieces that can't handle it. ;)

 

[beefcake]

it's better to have a little more pipe behind the headers, even our cut out setup has about 1.5 to 2 feet to give good 02 readings

 

[Sargonnas]

it's better to have a little more pipe behind the headers, even our cut out setup has about 1.5 to 2 feet to give good 02 readings

Im sure I could find some drier hose or something to strap onto it.. :lol:

 

[ScottsGT]

Fresh air will hit those O2's and throw off mixture. Yes, while running open header will suck air back into the header between firing sequences.
I never could get my '66 with EZEFI to idle correctly with bad leaks at the collector. Had to do a computer reset after new exhaust to get it to idle.

 

[whalesalad]

You might even be better off driving without the o2 sensors connected. The ECU will default to a preset map. It'll likely throw a code that you will need to reset, but at least you won't have clean air coming in and screwing up the readings.

Pretty sure that during cold start the engine is still in open loop mode, meaning it is just dumping a fixed amount of fuel into the engine and not considering the readings from the o2 sensor anyhow. They need to be hot to function.

So just unplug them and you should be fine on your short drive. I'd also leave the stock program on the engine.

 

[dubster99]

Just limp it there and you'll be fine. Or get a tow.

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