exhaust wrap - interesting results

[lindermant]

I installed my Thermo-Tec exhaust wrap this afternoon:

before pic:


getting ready:


my helper (who was too busy working on his ride to offer me any assistance):


end result:


The hope with the wrap is that I can cool the exhaust pipe enough so that I can put a coroplast belly pan and have it cover the exhaust with no worries of burning it to the ground.

I used an IR thermometer and recorded temps that hovered around 190F on the bare exhaust (previous mention of temps in the 160'sF was actually oil pan temp).

After installing the wrap, I took an approx 40 mile r/t drive to get a reading (and to get out of house for a bit). Two interesting things came from my drive...

1. the exhaust wrap puts out a very unique smell - almost like warm apple pie

2. the exhaust temp reading after installing the wrap ~265F
*NOTE: temp reading was taken at little red block on pics above

What? I thought the wrap would provide a lower temp, looks like I was wrong... Guess I'm gonna have to rethink this.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

I think exhaust wrap have a lower specific heat than the metal.

[ZugyNA]

Are you talking about temps on the surface of the wrap or the pipe after it?

[JanGeo]

aaaahh yeahhha the wrap insulates the pipe keeps the car cool around the wrap and increases the temperature for the 02 sensors and cat - may help to increase FE . . .

[zpiloto]

I think this would help FE. Keep us posted of results.

[lindermant]

ZugyNA - I'm talking a temp reading on the wrap itself. I've only ever taken temp readings on the part of the exhaust that I wrapped as it's the lowest point on the front of my car and would potentially come into contact with the coroplast belly pan when I install it.

I'm a bit surprised at the temp delta as I thought this product was supposed to reduce temps. I'll leave it on for this tank - unless I get a subtantial FE gain I'll remove it and think of another option for protecting the belly pan.

JanGeo - on my civic, the cat is mounted directly on the exhaust manifold, and the portion of exhaust tubing that I wrapped is aft of the cat; so I'm not exactly sure if this wrap job has any effect on the cat/02

[JanGeo]

Maybe it is retaining heat after you slow down and take your reading - is the materal heavy or light?

[lindermant]

JG - the material is pretty light and flexible... the product literature says "fiberglass like"

[JanGeo]

Hummm sounds like it is allowing the pipe to get really hot and retains the heat better - it may actually reduce heat in the area but not when you stop - sort of a delayed heating cooling effect. If anything you should have a nice clean rust free pipe and a quick heating cat - maybe too hot if it doesn't get cooled enough. Carbon Fiber that I have I heated with a butane torch 2000 degrees and when it cooled off it was unaffected by the glowing red heating cooling.

[GasSavers_Ryland]

I assume you are useing an infared thermetor? would it be "seeing" thru the fabric wrap, and telling you the temp of the metel under it? I know that to get an acurite reading on some things you need something like a spot of flat black paint, or wrap it with electrical tape, personaly I would check it with my hand, you should be able to tell the difference of 100F with your hand, if/when I doan exaust wrap I would be temped to wrap the fabric insulation with something to reflect radiant heat, like aluminum foil with the shinny side facing the heat source.