Anyone heard of coating cylinder heads with a fine coat of platinum?

The idea is that the platinum helps fully burn the petrol, therefore you'd hopefully get more power. I can't find much on the internet about it, however I've got a friend that wants to coat his old XD cylinder heads.

Anyone heard of coating cylinder heads with a fine coat of platinum?

The idea is that the platinum helps fully burn the petrol, therefore you'd hopefully get more power. I can't find much on the internet about it, however I've got a friend that wants to coat his old XD cylinder heads.

Platinum is a catalyst in cat convertors. I can see it possibly acting as a catalyst and converting noxious gases into more pleasant ones, but not particularly increase the bang.

Also everything is optimised for a known burn rate of fuel to air, so chucking in a catalyst which speeds up the conversion would most likely have ignition timing consequences.

Sounds like an expensive exercise for nothing really. Also has the stinky smell of a mythical performance and economy con.

The platinum in the cat converts carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO2), therefore using up oxygen in the exhaust. It also converts some nitrogen **** too but that's irrelavent.

Having platinum on the inside of the head might work either way, you could argue that it does this conversion, lowering the density of the gas in the cylinder making it easier to burn more fuel. On the other hand you could be using up precious oxygen that could be burnt, and also by lowering the pressure inside the cylinder you're decreasing the force on the piston, ie less power.

Dynos before and after would be good, would be an interesting mod.

Anyone heard of coating cylinder heads with a fine coat of platinum?

The idea is that the platinum helps fully burn the petrol, therefore you'd hopefully get more power. I can't find much on the internet about it, however I've got a friend that wants to coat his old XD cylinder heads.

Mate,what is the cost of doing this?I would say a lot of money.Would be interesting to see how it go;)

platinium is used alot in chemistry as a catalyst to start or speed up chemical reations. so it could possibly work. platinium is very expensive tho so it wouldn't be cheap.

Mate,what is the cost of doing this?I would say a lot of money.Would be interesting to see how it go;)

Platinum is $1400 an Oz. We might try 1-2grams (~$100) via electroplating. I don't know how well this stuff will electroplate too.

Platinum is $1400 an Oz. We might try 1-2grams (~$100) via electroplating. I don't know how well this stuff will electroplate too.

How about getting it from a cat converter somehow, may work out a good deal cheaper.

Platinum is $1400 an Oz. We might try 1-2grams (~$100) via electroplating. I don't know how well this stuff will electroplate too.

Would it be too hot for platinum to be inside the engine while running?

Would it be too hot for platinum to be inside the engine while running?


It melts at 1768°C .... cast iron melts around 1500°C from memory. It can survive in there .... platinum coated spark plugs survive.

It melts at 1768°C .... cast iron melts around 1500°C from memory. It can survive in there .... platinum coated spark plugs survive.

Forgot about platinum plugs:doh:

Platinum works as a catalyst only at very high temps and a constant stream of the gases it catalyses- the combustion chamber doesn't get that hot.

Is this someones idea or is it something that you have seen being done to race cars?

What if the catalyst reaction causes a burning of the cylinder wall and the elevated temp from the better combustion melts gaskets?

Me thinks the money spent on such head work need better be spent on other mods.

Unless you are running a racing team and can afford to wreck an engine in a test.

Is this someones idea or is it something that you have seen being done to race cars?

What if the catalyst reaction causes a burning of the cylinder wall and the elevated temp from the better combustion melts gaskets?

Me thinks the money spent on such head work need better be spent on other mods.

Unless you are running a racing team and can afford to wreck an engine in a test.

Combustion is pretty thorough as is, platinum coating might just give that extra little benefit like a port and polish.