Has anybody wrapped their exhaust manifold? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LUVMBDiesels · #1 06-28-2007, 03:14 PM

I am thinking of buying some of that heat wrap available at Summit Racing for headers and wrapping the exhaust manifold on the 300SD. I am trying to get the under hood temps down as much as possible plus I figured that hotter exhaust would give more energy to the turbo. Has anybody done this in the past?

I do not want to pay a couple bucks for the wrap and blow a perfectly good turbocharger...

Thanks!

Dewhite2485 · #2 06-28-2007, 04:57 PM

I havent ever done it on a turbo car but I do have header wrap on my Saturn with a header so it wont melt the cooling fan, works great keeps the thing nice an cool you can touch the stuff and its not even warm so its does quite a good job

Dubyagee · #3 06-28-2007, 05:09 PM

I use heat wrap from NAPA at work to keep the equipment from starting fires (paper mill). Non-metallic, dropped engine temps on most equipment and lasts a long time.

It reduced the heat from the exhaust being pushed through the radiator. Most equipment here pushes the air through the radiator and out the back.

I double layered the Benz from the manifold back to the muffler to reduce floor temps in the car. Worked good.

I think it would work great on a turbocharged engine.

Cervan · #4 06-28-2007, 06:56 PM

i dont think i would wrap it around the turbo itself... you want to keep EGT's down... not up..

winmutt · #5 06-28-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervan

i dont think i would wrap it around the turbo itself... you want to keep EGT's down... not up..

Thats what I was thinking.

#6 06-28-2007, 08:02 PM

I also wound not wrap the turbo, but wrapping the manifold shouldn't hurt anything. It may reduce the under-hood temperature a bit, but I don't believe it will help performance measurably. Let us know how it works.

LUVMBDiesels · #7 06-28-2007, 08:32 PM

I was never thinking of wrapping the turbo, just the manifold around the cylinder head exhaust port and around the "log"

Thanks for all the replies!

nota · #8 06-28-2007, 09:32 PM

I have seen it done on small shrimp boats [bay boats 26 to 35 ft]
they work all nite every nite with 6-71 4-71 and cats ect
they also wrap the turbos with a thick blanket looking bit of fiber glass
with al foil out side
so far [years] no problems and a little extra free power
and a cooler runing boat too

rwthomas1 · #9 06-28-2007, 09:58 PM

They make header wrap and turbo blanket kits. Wrapping the manifold and also the turbine section of the turbo will keep heat in and actually increase exhaust gas velocity. This will decrease turbo lag, reduce turbo compressor section heat soaking, reduce underhood temps, etc. This wrapping is very common on boats and trucks. RT

winmutt · #10 06-28-2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

They make header wrap and turbo blanket kits. Wrapping the manifold and also the turbine section of the turbo will keep heat in and actually increase exhaust gas velocity. This will decrease turbo lag, reduce turbo compressor section heat soaking, reduce underhood temps, etc. This wrapping is very common on boats and trucks. RT

It is always a delicate dance between EGT and boost.

#11 06-28-2007, 10:42 PM

Don't wrap the manifold or the turbo. Wrapping it will keep the heat in and bake the strength out of the iron. That can lead to cracking and warping.

Wrap the exhaust after the turbo down to the flex section.

rwthomas1 · #12 06-29-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Don't wrap the manifold or the turbo. Wrapping it will keep the heat in and bake the strength out of the iron. That can lead to cracking and warping.

Wrap the exhaust after the turbo down to the flex section.

Since the wrapping of components like this is a common thing I would like to see you defend your position with some facts. "Baking the strength out of iron" Pure BS. RT

#13 06-29-2007, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

Since the wrapping of components like this is a common thing I would like to see you defend your position with some facts. "Baking the strength out of iron" Pure BS. RT

Ask ANYONE who has wrapped a set of headers.

http://www.stahlheaders.com/faq.htm#wrap

Quote:

Should I use a Header Wrap?
NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT. There is nothing that will damage a header faster than the use of a header wrap, other than attacking it with a hammer or shot gun. As advertised, these wraps do keep the majority of exhaust gas temperatures within the header. The result is the wraps will prohibit the header tubing from cooling properly. If you reduce the ability for headers to dissipate adequate heat properly, the result will be premature failure of the metal. Depending upon the application use and temperatures involved, the life can be reduced to only a few hours. We consider exhaust wraps to be the header manufacturer's best friend.

If engine compartment temperatures are an issue, the best solution is to use insulation materials on the sheet metal. One alternative in some applications is to build a box around the headers and actually duct outside air into the box. In some applications ceramic coatings have been known to help (see notes on coatings above). Insulating any components that may be sensitive to heat, such as wiring, fuel & oil lines, etc., are a better option.

IMPORTANT: Use of header wraps will void any warranty.

http://www.thermotec.com/technology/faq/faq.html

Quote:

Q: Why do you use only a 1/4 inch overlap and nothing more?
A: Using only 1/4 inch overlap draws the heat from the motor but still allows the heat to evenly dissipate through out the system. If you use more than 1/4 inch overlap you may cause fatiguing due to hot spots in your tubes.

The heat cycle generated could cause the cast iron to become brittle eventually causing cracking to occur.

http://www.cooltek.co.uk/exhaust_heat_wrap.htm

Quote:

Not recommended for use on cast iron manifolds as retained heat could cause cracks!

rwthomas1 · #14 06-29-2007, 11:25 PM

Fair enough, I retract the BS statement. I do find it interesting that the info you posted is from wrap manufacturers, which is basically CYA and a header manufacturer. I am not surprised that the thin pipes of headers can be damaged. At the same time I would also like someone to explain why I have seen the manifolds, turbos, etc. all wrapped on various pieces of equipment and every boat I have seen? How come there are no problems for them?

Besides the disclaimers on products, etc. does anyone have any metallurgical pros and cons? There are enough engineers on this board, someone will know.... RT

captainmonk · #15 06-30-2007, 04:17 AM

every fishing boat in the world i have ever seen has a complete wrap from turbo out thru the deck on a dry exhaust. This has nothing to do with power gains strictly a heat issue not to cause fires. And yes all our turbos are iron too only one I have ever seen cracked was when bearing let go in the turbo itself Every engine manufacturer i know sells heat blankets especially fitted for the turbo