Anyone using exhaust wrap?

[Ribol]

As per title really, has anyone got any real life experience of using this stuff, positives and negatives? I will be using it on my RV8 but any feedback would be useful.

I am only coming at this from the direction of wanting to reduce under bonnet temperatures for the summer(?) ahead. I don’t want to go the ceramic coating route so I am only interested in feedback on the wrap.

Ideally I would prefer black as opposed to fawn colour and would rather not have to spray it afterwards if possible. I assume stainless clips or tie wire would be the way to go to to secure it? I have already done Google/Ebay searches but really would prefer to go with personal recommendations rather than pot luck.

Anyone found a sensible supplier (preferably trade) that does this in various widths lengths? Don’t want to pay through the nose for it because if I don’t like what it does when the job is finished it will be coming straight off and going into the bin.

Many thanks for any info

[Bluebottle]

I used it once...9 months later I had 2no. cracked manifolds


ETA. can't say for certian it was the fault of the wrap, but I havent used the stuff since having to replace both manifiolds.

Edited by Bluebottle on Thursday 4th June 11:24

[Ribol]

Bluebottle said:

I used it once...12 months later I had 2no. cracked manifolds

Heard about that before. Where abouts did yours crack?

Ok, what about only covering from the precats to the main cat/exhaust.

I know where all the surface area with the most heat is etc but I am thinking something is better than nothing. I can't help feel the fans/airflow blowing all the heat off the pre cat/main cat area can't be helping matters under there.

Every little helps as Tescos always tell us

[RichardD]

There is always a coating, rather more of an investment though!

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=exhaust...

[rev-erend]

Ribol

I got a few replies to the same question here :

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[Meatball]

I wrapped mine a few months back and has defiantly reduced engine temps. Its also a bugger to do with the manifolds on

[Kwacker]

I did it years back when I first got the TVR. Looks really good at first then starts to look tacky. After year or so it then started breaking up. Also caused an exhaust leak near the Y piece. Took the stuff off and all was fine. Now I don't care if the headers are ugly. One day when I win the lottery I might have them ceramic coated.

Kwacker

[Bluebottle]

Ribol said:

Bluebottle said:

I used it once...12 months later I had 2no. cracked manifolds

Heard about that before. Where abouts did yours crack?

Ok, what about only covering from the precats to the main cat/exhaust.

I know where all the surface area with the most heat is etc but I am thinking something is better than nothing. I can't help feel the fans/airflow blowing all the heat off the pre cat/main cat area can't be helping matters under there.

Every little helps as Tescos always tell us

They both cracked at the 4 into 1 collector. From what I have been told, the wrap can trap moisture in which may be the cause of the cracking.
Of the links above, Zircotec would be the best route and I'll be doing that over the winter, the other link to RaceStuff Exhuast Coat looks like a good budget option tho .

Edited by Bluebottle on Thursday 4th June 13:44

[Aowhs102]

Meatball said:

I wrapped mine a few months back and has defiantly reduced engine temps. Its also a bugger to do with the manifolds on

what 'e said!

[2Munkys]

I've had ceramic coatings and I've used bandage; I'd say the latter was more effective with the downside that it doesn't look too pretty.

As for the bandage, I've used stuff of astronomic cost to that from ebay, which I currently have. Despite it being thinner than some of the more expensive options it seems to have remained more flexible and hasn't broken away as some of the others have done. It's coloured black but this fades/rubs off on your hands; I have a can of Sperex to restore the colour. Also those with colour will smell to high heaven for a long long time.

Use some stainless steel locking wire to secure the bandage; much neater than the bands/clips.

[Ribol]

2Munkys said:

from ebay, which I currently have. Despite it being thinner than some of the more expensive options it seems to have remained more flexible and hasn't broken away as some of the others have done. It's coloured black...................Use some stainless steel locking wire to secure the bandage; much neater than the bands/clips.

Sounds good - I don't suppose you still have the item numbers for the wrap and locking wire about anywhere?

[Ribol]

rev-erend said:

Ribol

I got a few replies to the same question here :

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[Ribol]

RichardD said:

There is always a coating, rather more of an investment though!

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=exhaust...

I have already looked into that and I think that really is the best solution overall.

However, the reason I don't want to do this is that my car/manifolds are 8 years old, they don't last forever, it would be a bit of a st to do all the work, have the car off the road, pay the money only to have one die not long after, then do it and pay again to coat the replacement.
That would mean buying two new manifolds and getting them coated, great idea but without even looking into exact numbers I can see the costs getting out of hand for any potential gain. If one manifold died tomorrow, that would be a different matter.

[2Munkys]

Ribol said:

2Munkys said:

from ebay, which I currently have. Despite it being thinner than some of the more expensive options it seems to have remained more flexible and hasn't broken away as some of the others have done. It's coloured black...................Use some stainless steel locking wire to secure the bandage; much neater than the bands/clips.

Sounds good - I don't suppose you still have the item numbers for the wrap and locking wire about anywhere?

If you PM me you're address I'll send some wire on to you; I'll pick some up Monday.

'30m x 1.5mm x 50mm GRAPHITE IMPREGNATED EXHAUST WRAP' Item: 300241829192 £30.50 inc Del' and came with clips.

Also meant to add that though fitting the stuff is a bit of a faff, it aint that bad a job. Also I've never experienced any issues with corrosion or cracking . . . . after 5 years.

[Ribol]

Bruce - YHM

[aquatix]

FWIW I used it on the tubular manifolds of my Mk1 Escort Mexico. It looked excellent and kept the heat down, but did crack 2 of the welded joints. May have been because I wrapped it so tight though, for a neat look.

[jammy_basturd]

Has anyone thought of using the DIY ceramic coating AND wrap?

[JR]

aquatix said:

but did crack 2 of the welded joints. May have been because I wrapped it so tight though, for a neat look.

Maybe all of these cracks are related to the pressure increase.

[GreenV8S]

JR said:

Maybe all of these cracks are related to the pressure increase.

My guess is that for the TVR manifolds they're caused by stress from thermal expansion causing fatigue failure (welds being slightly more brittle than the base metal would be especially vulnerable). Long twisty manifolds would be far less prone to that since they are more flexible.

[JR]

GreenV8S said:

JR said:

Maybe all of these cracks are related to the pressure increase.

My guess is that for the TVR manifolds they're caused by stress from thermal expansion causing fatigue failure (welds being slightly more brittle than the base metal would be especially vulnerable). Long twisty manifolds would be far less prone to that since they are more flexible.

Yes, I think that there are probably weak points in the welding which whilst OK for normal use are exposed as not strong enough for wrapping. Really the exhaust manifolds should be a slightly larger diameter when wrapped.