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

????