Updated 19 October 2026
Cerakote is one of the most durable thin-film finishes available. The oven-cured H-Series is rated up to 9H pencil hardness and 260°C+ continuous service and resists fuel, oil, brake fluid, solvents and salt corrosion. The air-cured C-Series is the exhaust coating, with colours rated to around 930°C (1,700°F) while keeping their colour, and the oven-cured V-Series reaches about 980°C (1,800°F). The Elite Series adds abrasion and chemical resistance above the H-Series. Every finish we apply has its own page with the manufacturer's published figures for heat, hardness, thickness and cure.
The series at a glance
| Series | Cure | Built for | Typical parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-Series | Oven | Everyday hardness, colour, chemical and corrosion resistance | Brackets, covers, suspension, wheels, trim |
| Elite Series | Oven | Higher abrasion, chemical and corrosion resistance than H | Handled parts, high-wear surfaces |
| C-Series | Air | Continuous high temperature, parts that cannot go in an oven | Exhausts, headers, turbo housings, heat shields |
| V-Series | Oven | High-temperature oven-cured colours | Engine and exhaust-adjacent parts |
| MC-Series clears | Oven or air | Protective clear and tinted clears over bare metal or a base colour | Polished and raw-metal looks |
| FX effects | Oven | Metallic, pearl and colour-shift effects over a base | Show and dress parts |
Browse each series on all finishes; each finish page lists its own published heat, hardness and cure figures.
Heat
Heat is where the series matter most. Oven-cured H-Series colours are intended for parts that get warm, not parts that glow: they are rated for continuous service to 260°C and above, which covers engine bays, brake components away from the disc, and anything bolted to a hot part rather than carrying the heat itself. For exhausts, headers, turbo housings and anything that sees exhaust-gas temperature, the C-Series is the right range; its colours hold their colour and adhesion at around 700°C to 930°C depending on the colour. The oven-cured V-Series goes further still, with colours rated to about 980°C, for hot parts that can go in the oven. Choose by the hottest temperature the part will actually reach, and if in doubt tell us where it lives.
Chemicals and corrosion
Cured Cerakote is unaffected by petrol, diesel, engine oil, brake fluid, coolant and most workshop solvents, which is why it suits parts that get fuelled, bled and cleaned. Salt-spray corrosion resistance is one of its headline figures and is far beyond paint, so it suits road cars, marine and anything that lives outside. The coating is a barrier, so coverage matters: that is why we plug and mask rather than leave edges thin, and why every part is checked for coverage before it leaves.
Wear and impact
The H-Series is rated up to 9H on the pencil hardness scale and resists scuffing and abrasion far better than paint. Like every coating it can be chipped by a sharp impact, and no coating survives a grinding wheel. For parts that are handled constantly or rubbed by other parts, the Elite Series gives extra abrasion resistance. For parts that slide against each other, a dry film lubricant finish is designed for the job.
How we make the rating real
Published figures assume correct preparation and film thickness. We degrease, blast to a uniform profile, spray to the manufacturer's recommended thickness, cure to the manufacturer's schedule and inspect each part before it leaves. The finish pages show the published figures; our process is what turns them into a part that performs the same way.
Questions people ask
What temperature can Cerakote withstand?
It depends on the series. Oven-cured H-Series colours are for parts that get warm; the air-cured C-Series exhaust range has colours rated to around 930°C (1,700°F) and the oven-cured V-Series to about 980°C (1,800°F). Each finish page shows its own published figure.
Is Cerakote resistant to fuel and brake fluid?
Yes. Cured Cerakote is unaffected by petrol, diesel, oil, brake fluid, coolant and most solvents.
How hard is Cerakote?
The H-Series is rated up to 9H pencil hardness, the top of the scale used for coatings. It resists scuffs and abrasion far better than paint.
Does Cerakote rust or corrode?
Cerakote itself does not corrode and gives the metal underneath a corrosion barrier rated far beyond paint in salt-spray testing. Full coverage is what makes the barrier work, which is why preparation and inspection matter.
Will Cerakote scratch?
It can be scratched by something harder than the film or by a sharp impact, like any finish, but normal handling, bolting and cleaning do not mark it.