Terence Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 With the generous offer announced by Geoff Brown (https://www.lotus7.club/news/flame-barrier-high-temperature-exhaust-wrap-20) I searched on-line and on this site for information on the benefits or otherwise of exhaust wrapping. The internet seems ambivalent about these, and my search on the Club site gave me the following:Enter search term: Exhaust wrapDid you mean: Exhaust crapI don't know if that was an AI answer to my query, but I understand from my limited knowledge and research that there are benefits in using such tapes.What are your opinions, views, experiences?TIATerence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 12, 2018 Member Share Posted September 12, 2018 I'd try this search.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 Thanks, Jonathan. I shall read these now (and use that search in future!)I'll hope to have an answer wrapped up before too long!Terence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john milner Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 I use a relatively small amount of wrap to reduce the heat from the primaries near the alternator and starter on a 4-2-1 system. Personally I wouldn't get too heavy handed with the stuff as the heat it retains has to go somewhere (e.g. engine block, lambda sensor) and it is probably healthier for the engine in general to let it dissipate over as large an area as possible.The benefits are supposedly to keep the gases at a higher temperature so they flow better, protect some components and it's a bit safer when working on a hot engine. The supposed downsides are the overheating of components directly attached to the exhaust and the increased discolouration of the exposed parts of the exhaust system. I say "supposed" as I am by no means an expert and just have opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted September 13, 2018 Member Share Posted September 13, 2018 The benefits are supposedly...+ cooler footwells and crew. But I suppose that they are components. :-)Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted September 13, 2018 Leadership Team Share Posted September 13, 2018 I agree with John. I previously had mine wrapped and then noticed that the timing cover backplate had some signs of melting (VHPD) so I removed the wrap and I've had no further issues. I now have no exhaust wrap, no heat protection on the starter motor, and the only issue with heat from the exhaust primaries has been the label pealing off the battery.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted September 13, 2018 Area Representative Share Posted September 13, 2018 I also agree with John. Above all the heat has to go somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickh7 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Dave at Gemzoe Motorsport is a big advocate of wrapping. He’s done tests and says he always would After cooking alternator contacts and starter motor wires I wrapped and no worries since . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 My x/flow primaries were wrapped from headers to sideskin for around 37k miles/8 years and the Zetec for 20K/7years with no noticeable adverse effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 I could be wrong but imho a cast iron header stores more heat than a wrapped primary on a Caterham just because the cast iron header has a much bigger section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 I wrapped mine (K series, 4-1 race exhaust) some years ago while trying to cure the perennial starting/ 'K click' problem. The wires to the started were frazzled, stiff and burnt and the solenoid on the top of the starter was sticky. So I replaced all the cables, wrapped the starter and exhaust in heat wrap and Ive not had problems since. I also did the relay mod at the same time, so not conclusive, but reducing heat into the starter and wiring can only be positive. I have wrapped them to the inside of the side skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 Obviously it will depend on how fragile the engine is, K's being more fragile than Duratecs I would guess, but when I had a CSR 260, which are prone to VERY hot footwells, I wrapped my primaries from head to exit from the body, for the 7 years I owned the car, with no obvious ill affects, and it did keep the footwells cooler, as well as one of the main brake lines which are clipped under the top chassis tube immediately above the primaries. So, I would conclude the benefits are more than the downsides and would do it again if there were any delicate parts in the vicinity, including driver/passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sooty Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 I am a fan of exhaust wrapping ( lava rather than fibreglass). Heat is dissipated through the exhaust and this speeds up the gas flow, allegedly improving power output marginally but at least as importantly removing some of the heat, by confining it to the exhaust,that otherwise can cook wiring and conduct into the cockpit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john milner Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I would be cautious with applying too much wrap adjacent to a lambda sensor. I assume they are built to get very hot but there must be a limit. Wrapping in my opinion is highly effective as I could see that the exposed parts of my primaries had changed colour after one run. The trouble is how to quantify the effect and judging if it is all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 "The trouble is how to quantify the effect and judging if it is all good."It depends on what you are looking for. If it is a cooler underbonnet area, then that is easy to see and read with a suitable thermometer, if it is increased power through better gas flow, then it is a bit like fairy dust - hard to see and even more difficult to prove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john milner Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 It is not just about what you are looking for as you could end up with something having a shorter life. The trouble is that creating hotspots are a bit of an unknown without a few hundred thousand miles of testing under a variety of conditions. As an extra 1% of power would be of no use to me I would only use wrap for heat reduction and then only just enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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