Any advantages to using this stuff rather than heat shields or nothing at all? It says that it keeps the under hood temp. down. Also will this help to keep the engine oil temp down since the downpipe goes right under the oil pan? Any ideas or am I just waisting my time?

sicsolx

 

I expect to hear a lot of replies on how bad header wrap is because its prone to destroying headers. theres a lot of opinions and experiences on this. the basic thing is that header wrap works too well, traps too much heat and gets over the melting temp of the mild steel. eventually cracking at welds and accelerating corrosion.

that being said, it doesnt keep temps down in and around the engine bay that much in my experience. no empirical data, engines are just hot and will always be. but it obviously does make the exhaust gases remain hotter, and thus move faster through the piping. i cant say whether it really made a difference since i put it in when i installed a new engine. but i do believe the change in exhaust note is due to it.

i've not noticed any negative impacts yet.

 

I wrapped a dc for my civic ,after 6 months I had cracks where the 4 pipes merge into two...had it welded...1 month later cracks started to appear around the welds.

if you have the cash to go through headers then a to header wrap

if you don't have the cash to blow on headers then a to header wrap

 

You might try a good ceramic coating by Jet-hot or HTC. They claim a reduction in radiated heat. Also makes the header last longer.

When I went from the stock manifold to a coated header on my MG, it cooled things off enough to get rid of my vapor lock problems. Can't say for sure whether it was mainly due to the header or the coating, but the coating can't hurt.

 

"Also will this help to keep the engine oil temp down since the downpipe goes right under the oil pan?"

Sicsol, you can address this by covering the shallow portion of your oil pan, where the header passes by, with aluminized heat barrier cloth.


[Modified by Track rat, 1:11 PM 6/19/2002]

 

I wrapped my SS header on my CRX over 3years ago becasue then i had an under hood cone air filter and noticed that since two of us were running the car the underhood temps were pretty high. I could not touch the piping on the intake filter it was so warm. After wrapping the header, I could touch the piping no problem. It was stil warm, but it made a difference I could tell by touch. I did not notice any significant difference in performance.

I have not had any problem with cracks to date either. This is a daily driven car as well.

 

Wrapping my headers drasticly reduced my under hood temperatures. I have had a wrapped stainless steel header, a wrapped chrome plated header and a wrapped plain steel straight pipe and none have shown any problems.

According to DEI's instructions, headers get damaged when you overlap the wrap too much. You are supposed to only overlap 1/4" and are not supposed to get **** about it and overwrap spot A just to wrap spot B. If a spot can't be wrapped without overwrapping another spot, give up and leave the hard to get spot unwrapped.

To the guy above who posted about cracking his headers: Did you follow these instructions? (not accusing, just curious)

 

yup...followed the instructions and yes its almost impossible to get full covrage without major over lapping.

I would say if you have to use header wrap just use it on the small area of the down pipe that goes under the pan...I have had that area wrapped for a while now (on a CHEAP Genie header) with no probs but I wouldn't wrap around the welds.

But if works for you guys then use it as it does kill major under hood temps.

 

Well, I have a cheap Kami 4-1 chrome plated header on that I wrapped 200 miles ago. I'll be sure to post if it starts cracking. My last header, a stainless RSR 4-2-1, had been wrapped for about 5000 miles and was still in good condition when I traded it away.

In my case though, I'm willing to sacrifice headers in order to protect my motor.

I'm pushing 12psi (non-intercooled) into the manifold and the block and head are completely stock. I've done just about everything I can to lower under hood, engine and intake air temperatures to avoid detonating my stock engine into rubble.

 

I sent mine off to HPC Coatings after I had wrapped my last header...just too much of a pain in the butt, and less of a hastle with the coating.
Austin

P.S. I have pics if anyone is interested.

 

I put a vented hood on my car. Thought it might do some actual good. Vent sits right over turbo

 

Spoon sports sells that stuff that goes on your oil pan next to where the header sits to keep the oil temperature from rising as much. I thought about buying some but may think that it is a waste.