Aftermarket Header throws a lot of heat in the engine bay, is exhaust wrap street legal?

 

I couldn't think of a reason as to why it wouldn't be... can you? I say go for it... btw way what kind of header are you running if it's some ceramic POS don't wrap it, the wrap will cause the welds to crack. But if you're running a JDM 4-1 or stainless you'll be fine.

 

It's a ceramic POS..... Sigh, DC Sports 4-2-1 ceramic.

Anyone wanna trade for a stainless?

 

Wrap will cause the welds to crack? Is this true? Why? I have my DC ceramic wrapped right now. I always heard that stainless tends to crack, that's why I went with ceramic. Now you've got me worried.

 

How long have you had the header with the wrap?

I will be researching this this afternoon.

 

Heat wrap retains a lot of heat inside the wrappings. More heat will stress the headers more. I believe ceramic coated headers use mild steel which will corrode with out the coatings. Stainless steel is more heat and corrosion resistant but more expensive and more ideal for heat wrapping. http://www.burnsstainless.com/TechAr...materials.html

 

My Stillen Header (first batch run) was wrapped before installing. I've had it for 3 years/50,000 miles now without problems.

 

is yer stillen a stainless or ceramic.

 

I betcha haven't taken the wrap off to see what your header looks like - wrapping can also trap moisture which can lead to rust - even on stainless steel headers - I would look into getting it coated - by Jethot or Swains - BTW is your engine producing that much heat (it could be a 'lil beneficial with a short-ram air intake though) - like you would get running laps at racetrack - I doubt it, performance gains would prob. be slim to none - just my opinion

 

It's pretty damn warm under the hood after a drive so the more heat i get out of there the better.

 

what would warpping your entire exhaust do? I'm not trying to be stupid (i just am ).. just curious.

 

slow down the flow.....the one thing you don't want and what you waste all your money trying to avoid.

 

I doubt it would slow it down. The exhaust gases become denser as they cool. So keeping the exhaust hotter would let the gases move a little easier, but I doubt the difference would be significant. And I would use the coatings instead of the wrap.

 

Yes I have checked it, no damage at all. They are ceramic coated.
BTW Stainless headers don't rust, PERIOD!

The wrap helps keep the heat in the header to maintain exhaust gas velocity.
The REAL reason I did it was so O2 sensor would be warm enough. This was before I found out it had a heated sensor.


[Modified by Mista Bone, 7:38 AM 12/9/2001]

 

LMAO! No offense, but is that E-Bonics?

 

Mind faster than fingers.

 

Oh, I thought he said warping.....you know if the heat get's too high and the pipes bent.....

 

I've seen a header with Jethot coating and it insulates well and looks really nice, but I don't think any kind of coating can come close to the insulative properties of header tape. I was amazed at the amount of heat that was kept out of the engine bay. I can put my hand down between the primaries and even touch the headers briefly after driving around (I mean *real quick-like* ;-). I have a remote thermometer that I did some experimenting with. Underhood temps were 20 degrees cooler than they were with the bare header. IMO, there are more practical alternatives to the wheel-well style CAI's and this is a step in that direction...

 

Good to go, and damn, I have four projects all at once.....oil cooler, tranny cooler, transmission and the exhaust wrap.

 

Just make a big scoop on the hood that brings air under the hood...

 

ROFL, yeah and get flamed every other second. I don't have an engine big enough for a hood scoop.

 

Yeah, maybe not a good idea really...