Everyone knows that installing an aftermarket exhaust system can significantly improve your vehicle’s performance and mileage. What many people don’t know, however, is that you don’t need to spend all that money on an entirely new exhaust system to get more out of your vehicle. Exhaust wraps are an affordable alternative that can give your exhaust system greater exhaust pressure and flow by keeping the internal heat in the header pipes and prevent heat from radiating through them. This can result in greater engine efficiency, more horsepower and reduction in temperatures throughout the entire exhaust system. For an even greater boost, you can combine the heat wrap with a performance muffler and high-flow cat.
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On average, the temperature of your cylinder heads will drop by 60 to 90 degrees Celsius when you wrap them with a heat wrap. Performing this task is pretty simple, all you need is a kit to get to wrapping. The job won’t take more than an hour, and you’ll have an exhaust system that looks as good as new. The exhaust header heat wrap can be made of titanium, which is superior to any other material as it’s capable of withstanding 1200 degrees Celsius, and it’s probably the only exhaust heat wrap that’s suitable for turbo engines.
How to Use Heat Wrap?
In order to wrap your headers with heat wrap tape, you’ll need water, a squirt bottle, gloves, scissors, metal clippers and a flathead screwdriver. It’s recommended that you wet the wrap before installing it. However, don’t overdo it. All you have to do is run the roll under a small water stream. Don’t submerge it or soak it completely in a bucket. Most wraps have a special coating that you don’t want to remove, and you don’t want to make a wet mess when you’re trying to install it.
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When you run it through water, squeeze it until it feels soft and there aren’t any hard spots on the wrap roll. Have a squirt bottle filled with water while you’re installing it, so that if it begins to dry before you’re done – spray a little bit of water on the dry area. When installing a wrap you should normally apply the silicone coating last. However, if your headers are made of mild steel, you should apply the silicone coating before you start wrapping in order to seal the headers from moisture, as it can rust them.
How Can an Exhaust Heat Wrap Improve Your System?
A car exhaust wrap provides just the right insulation so that the hot gases are kept at just the right temperature to move more efficiently and quickly through the system while retaining low intake temperatures. Just like honey flows more slowly when kept at a cooler temperature, so does cool exhaust. Once you put the honey in warm water, it will run quickly, dissipating over a bigger area at a quicker rate. By spreading the metal’s heat, the wrap keeps the exhaust flowing quicker just by lowering its density.
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The faster flow of exhaust gases can dramatically improve engine performance by reducing the pumping loss and increasing the rate at which exhaust gases move through the exhaust system. Keeping the exhaust warm allows the cylinder to pump with less resistance. A healthy pump works more efficiently than an unhealthy one, similar to how our hearts pump blood in our system, improving energy output with less wear and effort. This also results in improved air to fuel ratios, ultimately resulting in more power for your vehicle.
Further, exhaust wrap reduces surface temperature, protecting the components of your engine compartment. Red hot exhaust can pose a real threat to your engine, and parts like rubber lines that contain coolant and brake fluid can erode. In extreme heat, even steel-braided cables can get damaged. When you rev your engine, you may find yourself with a broken line and fluid leaking to the engine, resulting in a fire. The wrap acts as an extra layer of protection in these scenarios, without compromising your engine’s performance even in extreme conditions.
Lastly, it can help reduce the overall temperature under your hood. The intake that goes into the engine needs to be cold, but if you’re driving aggressively, the heat will go up significantly. The heat from the engine’s header/manifold can warm the air going to the intake, reducing the power. Exhaust wrap will help keep the entire engine bay, including your intake, much cooler.
Is It Worth It?
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Ultimately, whether you want to wrap your exhaust or not is up to personal preference. Given the fact that exhaust wrap is so affordable, yet helps your engine and entire exhaust system flow more efficiently makes a strong case as to why many people do it. Even if you don’t get a noticeable performance boost, your engine’s and exhaust system’s life will get prolonged and the chances of overheating will be reduced.