DIY Heat Wrap DownPipe
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tools
-Spray Bottle- fill with water makes it easier than a bowl.
-Bowl of water-room temp
-Heat wrap-
-Heavy-Duty spray adhesive (optional)
-High Heat Paint(optional)-seals the pores and protects from moisture.
-GLOVES!(very important!)-the wrap is a fiberglass-like material, and can irritate your hands as you are installing it.
-Snap Straps- these straps will help secure the beginning and the end pieces of the wrap.
-needle-nose pliers handy for twisting the ends back of the snap straps. (like a can of spam)
1.ok First off, your going to need to take off your downpipe. Very easy 4 bolts.( use release oil a few times as bolts will be tight )
2. Give your DP a bath. When you are driving your DP collects so much crap from the road.. its grease.. oil and what not grime. The heat wrap needs to stick to the DP and not this Grime and Oil.
3. Spray your heay wrap with a water bottle. Do NOT SOAK!!! A nice quick spray does it nicely, or do it the hardway and dip it in water. Start wraping at the Flange that bolts up to the turbo. Overlap 1.4 of each layer in a very tight spiral. Make sure You are pulling the Heat wrap to make it tight. you can actually use painters tape along the way down to help secure it or Heavy-Duty spray adhesive (optional) used to stick heat wrap DP. Like every 10 times i wraped down the DP I would put a tight ring of Painters tape around just for a tight fit. **Make sure the only metal showing is the flanges on the beginning and ending of the DP. Cover the whole thing**
4. Once you have wraped your DP Get your Needle Nose Pliers and the Snap Straps and put one on the beginning of your heat wrap. One In the Middle(just for mental security reasons) and one where the DP connects to the end of the DP.
5. If it feels tight, then you did it right. Then Lightly Spray the DP again with a water bottle so the Fibers of the heat wrap stick to the DP. Let it sit in the sun or a heat lamp,warm room.
6. Once the DP is Completly Dry!, spray with Hi-Heat paint, which seals the pores and protects from moisture. This is optional but i Highly reccomend it! Dont over spray, just make sure its enough to do the job. Let this also sit for an hour-to hour and a half. Two or three coats required
7. Reinstall your DP!
Since more heat is staying inside the exhaust manifold gas it will have more heat energy and move out of the exhaust system much faster. Remember heat=energy, the hotter the exhaust gas the faster it will try to leave the system so it also can reduce some pumping losses and possible gain some power (though thats not its purpose). Turbocharged cars often pick up 500rpm of spool up with properly wrapped manifolds/turbine housings/downpipes since more heat stays in the exhaust it spools the turbo faster .
From what I understand, wrapping a cast iron manifold is not a good idea, but a manifold made from quality tube or stainless steel is fine.
Advantages. underhood temps will be reduced,
heat energy stays in the exhaust keeping it flowing instead of radiating away,
intake temps will be lower with lower engine bay temps,
more horsepower.
If fuel, for whatever reason, sprays on the manifold it far less likely to ignite
Disadvantages:Cost and time to fit it.
Looks.
The header will only last about 15 years before it rots away as opposed to lasting 20 years without the wrap...
