the highest temp i get is around 550...but it stays there for a long time...with the ceramic it would shoot up to 650,but then would drop down kind of fast....you can definitely feel a big difference..the ceramic throws off more heat..unless i have a bad one..woodstock says i should be getting higher temps...and it does not appear to be bypassing the combustor..anybody have the new stainless and still getting the same high temps as before.