Painting Exhaust & Insulation.

[gus]

I used the thick wet blanket insulation from EHP. It just about stops all heat if coverage is complete. The wet wrap is then covered with Al foil tape to keep the insulation clean and for better looks.

My guess is that it will make the exhaust system last longer because all the heat gets blasted out the exhaust instead of radiating into the engine compartment.

My experience with a bunch of different kinds of exhaust pipe paints is that none of them work for very long. I gave up on them long ago. Al paint will last one engine run on the exhaust pipe and probably less on the exh manifold.

[Cary and Don]

That wet wrap insulation is the best $300 we ever spent.  The differance in the compartment temperature is amazing.  The foil wrap keeps it all nice and clean.  Almost looks like chrome.

Cary
GMC4107

[gus]

Cary,

The first time I ordered it I was very reluctant to spend that much money and was not completely convinced it would work.

Was I amazed, I reallly couldn't believe the difference. I used it on my first generator and then again on the exhaust on my second one plus the dry type to line the inside of the gen box. It is the only thing I will use from now on.

I haven't used it on my 671 because we stay in a bunch of cooler places and the extra bedroom heat is kind of nice. The 671 probably doesn't get nearly as hot as the larger engines.

[JohnEd]

Guys,

I read recently, I don't remember where, that "you can wrap stainless but you can't wrap the standard exhaust piping cause the regular will deteriorate but the wrapping has no ill effect on the stainless".  Now that is exactly the opposite of what I have read on other posts.  Those guys made a point of not going stainless so that they COULD wrap their pipes.

HELP!

John

[JackConrad]

My concern would be any wrap may trap moisture fron condensation as the exhaust cools, leading to premature failure due to rust?  Jack

[gus]

Jack,

If that were true the exh system would most likely rust from the inside out-in fact they used to do just that before exh pipe alloys were improved. I have  '86 and '88 minivans that have never had any exhaust system components replaced, both with almost 200k mi each.

Any moisture between the blanket and metal will quickly evaporate with engine use.

If that were a real concern one could simply drill a few drain holes. Mufflers used to have them, haven't really paid any attention lately to see if they still do but I doubt it.

This EHP wet blanket wrap solidifies once it dries so it is like a heat proof cast on the system. It won't unwrap but is a bit brittle if something hits it. The Al tape wrap is to protect it from damage as well as dirt or oil.

[JackConrad]

Gus, thanks for the information.  I thinks it also depends on how much the vehicle is used.  Many years ago (late 60's), I worked as a mechanic for a Chrysler-Dogde-Plymouth dealer. It seemed like the cars that were driven daily needed fewer exhaust repairs than those that were only driven occasionally. I always thought it was the daily driving kept the system dried out out.  Jack

[H3Jim]

and for cars, exhaust systems last many times longer since the switch to unleaded fuel. 

[JohnEd]

Jim,

Lived in Alpine and El Cajon and Poway and Binita.  Hi!

Combustion equals water generated.  In the winter our muffler fills with water till the thing gets hot enuf to evap it and blow it out the ex pipe.  Always see water running out the pipe in the cold winter.

The ex on my Cressida was stainless OEM.  My Lexus is also stainless.  I have even noticed stainless parts of domestic cars.  I think that has a lot to do with the ex sys on newer cars lasting longet.  Cressida went twenty years and I junked it with a flawless ex sys. 

The old gas had more sulpher in it and that leads to sulphuric acid but I am only guessing that that made a significant difference. Stainless I am sure of cause I can polish that stuff.

John

[pvcces]

Our 1995 ex-police car Crown Victoria has stainless exhaust, also. Good as new, as far as I can tell.

Tom Caffrey

[muddog16]

I guess this is as good a place to start as any!   Has anyone tried JetHot coatings yet?  I managed to go to a car show this Labor Day Weekend, and I noticed that a lot of the car nuts are going to JetHot for their headers, they look great and don't rust and dissipate heat quickly!  I used JetHot on racecar headers a few years back, we had to wash the cars after every race, and the headers after a while looked pretty bad from repeated washings!  JetHot stopped that! I'm sure its not cheap, but if your dressing it up, why not give it a try! I was considering using it on some of my exhaust lines to the muffler! You can even get it in different colors!   

Pat

[JohnEd]

If you dyno an engine before and after wrapping the ex and headers you will see a LOT more power after wrapping the system.  Only us nuts ever mention that the engine bay stays cooler.  Everybody else is doing this to get more ponies and MPG.

Want a pretty ex?  Do what M Benz does and sent the thing out to get porcelan coated.  50 years old and still has a shiny glass look. 

John

[H3Jim]

johnEd -how long ago did you move?  there does not seem to be all that many bus nuts in this area sorry to loose one.  HOw do you  like Eugene?  Say hi to Dick Wright, good guy

[JohnEd]

Jim,

I left in 90 when I retired.  I took care of my Dad for 6 years in both Pa. and Or.  Or. has superior services for the elderly and he enjoyed his last years very much.  I consider SD the finest place on earth and I would have stayed were it not for the fact that I couldn't afford to live there on a disability pension.  I am a long way from busted but the costs there vs here are dramatic.  My last house in Poway sold for $800K and I paid 24K for it new in 75.  Perspective.

I still don't have my bus but it will be purchased in 2008.  Leaning towards a 102C3 but a partially completed MCI 9 might turn my head.

Hope you are well and thanks for the input.

John