Exhaust Wraps - The Truth About Wraps
Wrapping exhaust tubing, particularly headers, is a crucial and important step when controlling exhaust temperatures and reducing radiant under-hood heat by up to 50%. Keeping exhaust gases hotter within the exhaust system helps in decreasing density and as a result increases the flow of exhaust gases. This improves exhaust scavenging, which, in turn, reduces intake temperatures for increased horsepower gains. Also, limiting the radiant heat trapped inside the engine bay decreases heat absorption through the fire wall, which keeps dash components and cabin temperatures to a an absolute minimum.
Oftentimes, people are interested in exhaust wraps, but are afraid that the wrap may damage their pipes. No one is sure who started the rumor, but for some people this inaccuracy has become common knowledge. However, the truth is that wrapping your pipes will not damage them! It will not make the metal brittle or promote any enhanced corrosion. In rare instances, rust and corrosion may occur on lower grade metals. This can be avoided by using a silicone coating to repel water and debris.
Basically, every time you start up an engine, the exhaust system pipes heat up and undergo an aging process that is so nominal it would take 50+ years to actually see any kind of change in the composition of the metal. Exhaust wraps do accelerate the aging process, but even so, it could take up to 30+ years to see any real change in composition, and even that would be nominal at best. The same applies to ceramic jet coatings. So, you can wrap with confidence!
