Carrying Away Engine Exhaust Gases
As exiting engine exhaust gases flow through a set of headers, these exhaust gases are transported to the remaining components of a car's exhaust system. Headers, besides allowing exhaust gases to exit a car's engine faster and in greater quantities, serve to bridge the gap between the engine and its main exhaust system components. Normally, exhaust gases, after flowing through and exiting a set of headers, travel to a car's catalytic converter, where these exhaust gases are reignited and burned. After traveling through the catalytic converter, exhaust gases travel through a car's muffler and then out of the tail pipe. This leads to a reduction in engine backpressure and an increase in both engine horsepower and gas mileage.
Bolt Headers to Engine Exhaust Ports
Automotive headers, which take the place of factory-installed exhaust manifolds, simply bolt directly to an engine's exhaust ports, which are the openings in a car's engine through which exhaust gases flow out. Headers have flat areas (header flanges) on their exhaust tubing ends that align directly against the side of a car's engine exhaust ports. Header bolts attach directly through the header flanges and create an airtight seal, through which exiting engine exhaust gases travel directly into engine headers.
Funneling Exhaust to Remaining Exhaust Components
Headers are typically installed on cars by a vehicle owner seeking to access the horsepower of his van's engines. Headers are light exhaust tubes or exhaust pipes that avow for the faster exiting of burned engine exhaust gases. Traditional exhaust manifolds are somewhat restrictive to exiting engine exhaust gases and create a bit of engine backpressure, which reduces engine horsepower and restricts gas mileage. Headers, on the other hand, typically have larger exhaust tubing and special tubing designs that enable exhaust gases to exit a car's engine faster and in greater quantities.
