Drain headers after every use?
 

Just curious what everyones oppinon is on draining tubular stainless headers after every use? I gather it can only help if nothing else. I always drain for winter storage but many drain after runs for cheap insurence. My only concern would be starting up the engines with the distribution tubes being dry. With water immediatly entering upon start up would this be a non issue? Just concerned with over heating upon startup. Just looking to see what everyone thinks. Thanks

I have drains but leave the full, they have salt-away or dawn fill fresh water in them and I have had some mechanical engineers say less likely to rust.
IDK
I would and did over winter but not since living in FL. I would think if you do develop a leak but they are drained how would you know? I get filling a cyl up with water isn't good but I don't know if a starter has enough power to bend anything. Most threads like this say drain.

Full disclosure, mine are E tops and original. Not leaks no issues. I do know stagger motors put a lot more strain on the joint and did see one rigging where they supported the header/ tail pipe joint with a bracket off of the belhousing.

LOL!! Drain IMO. It will make you cry what that starter can do if there is water trying to be compressed in the cylinder!!
Your seawater pump will fill your headers back up no problem.

Yes, starters can bend connecting rods.

It's surprising how many times an engine that is torn down for other reasons, have a bent rod or two, and usually have had them for years.

Well maybe I'll start draining, but as I am on a lift then I'll have to suck the water out of the bilge every time. That's a bit of a pain.

SB,

Amazing that they could run with a bent rod considering how close some of the rods come to the bore sides. That is crazy. I am lucky never bent a rod but I have busted more then a few.

So to the OP DRAIN.

thank you for the responses, just wanted to see what you guys thought on the matter. Many have said drain them, being it can only help if nothing else (cheap and easy insurence). headers are not cheap, just want to do whatever i can to keep them alive as long as possible

Running non ethanol fuel will help also

????

Ethanol will eat, de laminate stainless over a period of time

When I had CMI's, I always drained them. It was very easy to do, just two thumbscrews. After hearing all the bad press about 525's and CMI's, I figured it couldn't hurt.

Dave M, totally agree. spent $12K for 2 sets of CMI headers, in 8 months I had a pinhole in one of the tubes. I am extremely anal about flushing after every use. CMI said it was from salt. I boat in the north part of the Chesapeake, it's way more fresh than salt in my area.
Bottom line.....CMI headers are garbage and, they don't stand behind their junk, cost me $400 in shipping to get it repaired 8 months after purchase

A few years ago I pulled the drain plugs on mine and made 1/8 inch weeper tubes so they empty when off .

Do you have picture of that?

I do not have a pic , I have underwater exh routed from R&L header to a tee then put a nipple to the cast elbow which exits the transom .