{"id":23572,"date":"2021-02-25T04:55:22","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T12:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=23572"},"modified":"2026-01-06T23:51:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T07:51:57","slug":"exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Exhaust Manifolds vs. Headers: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column23572_2ce282-e0 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-e926aa  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-53061b\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23572_2e9e15-dc\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Exhaust manifolds and headers do the same job but are separate and different parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An exhaust manifold is a stock part made from thick cast iron, and it collects exhaust gases from the engine to send to the exhaust system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A header is an aftermarket upgrade part made from thin stainless steel and generates less engine backpressure than an exhaust manifold.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generally, headers mainly benefit high-performance engines that receive heavy customization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Although the terms exhaust manifold and header are often used interchangeably, these two components are not identical, though they do serve the same basic purpose. Exhaust manifolds are typically used on regular production vehicles (e.g., your commuter car), while headers are often found on high-performance applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there&rsquo;s more to it than that, so let&rsquo;s dig a little deeper into the differences between exhaust manifolds and headers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"automotive exhaust manifold\" class=\"wp-image-23584\" style=\"width:1024px;height:682px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-manifold-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The exhaust manifolds collect exhaust gases from the ports in the engine&rsquo;s cylinder heads, then route those gases to the rest of the exhaust system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an Exhaust Manifold?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most production vehicles have exhaust manifolds, rather than headers. The manifolds collect exhaust gases from the ports in the engine&rsquo;s cylinder heads, then route those gases to the rest of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/exhaust-system-parts-101-the-basics-diagram-included\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"exhaust system\">exhaust system<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Exhaust manifolds are typically made from thick cast iron. The manifolds feature short inlets, which may be of varying lengths, that come together in a single collector. Engines with a &lsquo;V&rsquo; or flat configuration have two exhaust manifolds (one for each bank of cylinders), whereas inline or straight engines have just one manifold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vehicle manufacturers almost always use exhaust manifolds as original equipment because the design is durable and relatively inexpensive to produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"rsi-card\">\n  <div class=\"rsi-thumb\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/d_noimage.jpg\/b_white\/e_sharpen,e_auto_brightness,e_auto_contrast\/f_auto\/q_auto:eco,dpr_auto\/w_873,h_873,c_pad\/images\/set-rb674152_1\">\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"rsi-info\">\n    <span class=\"rsi-title\">The Best Exhaust Manifold Brands: Quality Replacements for Your Car<\/span>\n    <span class=\"rsi-desc\">See which exhaust manifold brands are best for your vehicle. Learn about application, configuration, and kit contents, and find budget-friendly replacement brands.<\/span>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-best-exhaust-manifold-brands-quality-replacements-for-your-car-quickref\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Discover Your Options\">Discover Your Options<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Check out this video for tips on how to replace your exhaust manifold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to replace the Exhaust Manifold 2009-2014 4.6 Ford F150 &#128663;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/meTOsrBL5Hk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are Headers on a Car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we&rsquo;ve covered exhaust manifolds, we&rsquo;re left with the question&mdash;what is the purpose of headers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like exhaust manifolds, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/headers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"headers\">headers<\/a> are designed to route exhaust gases from the engine to the exhaust system. The primary difference is that headers create less exhaust backpressure than exhaust manifolds, thereby allowing the engine to breathe more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Headers are usually made from thin-walled stainless steel tubing. Each header features long, equal-length primary tubes that allow the exhaust gases to flow more freely than they would through an exhaust manifold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although some high-performance vehicles come from the factory with headers, most are added on as an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/best-headers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"aftermarket upgrade\">aftermarket upgrade<\/a> to give the car more power. You&rsquo;ll usually find headers on race cars, hot rods, and other custom applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"exhaust header\" class=\"wp-image-23583\" style=\"width:1024px;height:684px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-header-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Headers are designed to route exhaust gases from the engine to the exhaust system but they create less exhaust backpressure than exhaust manifolds, thereby allowing the engine to breathe more easily.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recap: The Differences Between Exhaust Manifolds and Headers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though exhaust manifolds and headers both serve the same basic purpose&mdash;routing exhaust gases from the engine to the exhaust system&mdash;they have some key differences. Here&rsquo;s a recap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Exhaust manifolds are typically used on regular production vehicles; headers are normally found on high-performance cars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exhaust manifolds are typically made from thick cast-iron; headers are usually made from thin-walled stainless steel tubing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exhaust manifolds feature short inlets (which may be of varying lengths); headers have long primary tubes of equal length<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exhaust manifolds usually have heat shields; headers do not<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headers create less backpressure than exhaust manifolds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-headers-1024x625.jpeg\" alt=\"automotive exhaust headers\" class=\"wp-image-23601\" style=\"width:1024px;height:625px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-headers-1024x625.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-headers-300x183.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-headers-768x469.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-headers-150x92.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-exhaust-headers.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Headers are usually made from thin-walled stainless steel tubing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Headers Worth it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On paper, headers sound like a great idea. You just bolt a set onto your vehicle and&mdash;voila!&mdash;you have an engine that breathes better and performs better, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, it&rsquo;s not that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Headers usually only provide a noteworthy power gain on souped-up, high-performance engines. You&rsquo;re unlikely to notice any benefit from installing a set on your unmodified daily driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, adding a set of headers to a late-model, computer-controlled car can cause problems, such as an illuminated check engine light. Also, because most headers don&rsquo;t come with heat shields, they can cause the engine compartment to become abnormally hot, creating a variety of issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another factor to take into consideration is that, in some states, most aftermarket headers are illegal. You&rsquo;ll definitely want to do your homework before installing a set of headers on your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Exhaust Manifold for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Exhaust manifolds are a key part of your vehicle&rsquo;s exhaust system. If your exhaust manifold has a leak, then exhaust gases can easily escape the system. A leak can cause strange smells emanating from your vehicle and abnormal noises. Thankfully, getting a replacement part is easy here at CarParts.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> offers a wide range of quality replacement parts at different price points, all to suit your preferred budget. These parts are also sourced from trusted aftermarket manufacturers. Click through our easy-to-navigate website and use the built-in vehicle selector to find an exhaust manifold that&rsquo;s guaranteed to fit your vehicle. Our parts come with a 60-day return policy to allow you to make purchases online with confidence. We even offer fast shipping and will deliver your parts to your door in as fast as two working days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Place your order for a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/exhaust-manifold\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"exhaust manifold\">exhaust manifold<\/a> on CarParts.com today<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Although the terms exhaust manifold and header are often used interchangeably, these two components are not identical, though they do&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1643,"featured_media":23600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3750],"tags":[1238,2029],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-23572","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-exhaust-system","9":"tag-exhaust-manifold-2","10":"tag-headers","11":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Exhaust Manifolds vs. Headers: What You Need to Know - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Exhaust manifolds and headers do have a similar purpose, but these two components are not the same. Learn their differences in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Exhaust Manifolds vs. Headers: What You Need to Know - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Exhaust manifolds and headers do have a similar purpose, but these two components are not the same. Learn their differences in this article.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-25T12:55:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-07T07:51:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/exhaust-manifolds-vs-headers-what-you-need-to-know\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"1643\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. 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