Maybe you have heard your next-door neighbor thinking about wrapping their exhaust header. You probably also heard him argue with another neighbor over which wrap to use and why.
Now you probably do not know what they are talking about or what exactly an exhaust actually is. Fear not, this article is here! We will walk you through what exhausts are, exhaust wraps, and also what does exhaust wrap do?
What Does Exhaust Wrap Do an Exhaust?
Before, you may have heard the term exhaust being used when discussing car engines. That is because exhausts play a big role in ensuring proper functioning and useful performance.
It is essentially the system through which gasses formed through chemical reactions within the car are allowed access to leave the vehicle. This ensures the engine is working properly.
In certain cases, you may encounter an exhaust header. This is essentially an exhaust system where all the cylinders meet at a certain point known as the ‘Collector.’ This allows the exhaust to flow out smoothly without compromising the engine performance.
Now that you are aware of the functioning of exhausts, let us discuss the benefits of wrapping them.
Wrapping Exhausts
In order to ensure the exhausts are working properly, the fumes must flow out without heating up the roof of the car. Wrapping often aids this process. The process of wrapping is taking either a titanium wrap or a fiberglass wrap and wrapping it around the pipes of the exhaust. This allows the heat to be trapped within the pipes, allowing the engine to release the fumes better.
Wrapping it may also increase the horsepower of your vehicle as well as fuel mileage. It is said that wrapping reduces the under-roof heat temperature by almost 70%!
But you cannot just wrap exhausts with any wrap; there are specialized wraps intended solely for this! Let us discuss those!
Types of Exhaust Wraps
It is vital to know the types in order to understand what exhaust wrap does a lot better. There are many out there, but generally, 2 types are highly regarded and within those 2 are also additional types that you may hear as well. Let us explain those!
i) Glass Fiber Wrap- As the name suggests, glass fiber wraps are essentially exhausted wraps made of glass fibers. They are used to trap heat within the pipes to ensure a proper manner of exhaust flow.
ii) Titanium Wrap- Just like the name of this wrap, it is essentially made out of titanium and performs similarly to glass fiber wraps. However, through usage, people have found out that titanium wraps perform far better than glass fiber wraps, making it a far better alternative.
Because titanium performs better than glass fiber, it is the most common choice for further variation manufacturing. This gets split off into 2 as well!
i) Inferno Wrap- As you would expect with anything labeled using ‘Inferno,’ this type of wrap traps heats within the exhaust. This type of wrap is amazing at maintaining the temperatures even when they reach an awfully high level, making it ideal for race cars and other vehicles with engines having to work overtime.
ii) Lava Exhaust Wrap- While its primary functions are similar to that of the Inferno Wrap, the Lava Exhaust Wrap is specially made from crushed volcanic rock As that may have already been explained, this essentially means it is highly durable in sky-high temperatures. It is much more durable than fiberglass wraps as well!
The Process of Wrapping
The process may often seem incredibly complex and difficult. But once you understand the basics of automotive work, exhausts, and wraps, it will not seem too difficult.
If you choose to work with glass fiber wraps, you will have to wet them first. Wetting makes it a lot more flexible and malleable, making it easier for installation. However, this step can be skipped if you are using titanium wrap.
After the wrap has been prepped, measure out the exact amount and prime it by loosely wrapping it around the pipes. After the priming has been completed, you may begin wrapping and securing with metal grip lock ties!
The Benefits of Wrapping
The general benefits have been briefly mentioned before; however, if you were looking for additional benefits, here they are!
i) Reduces Engine Temperature- Because the wraps are metallic (making them an excellent conductor of heat), they absorb the heat from other parts of the car and stop it from overheating.
ii) Ensures the Exhaust Tubes are Heated at All Times- Hot gas moves better and more efficiently. Due to this, the hotter the pipes, the better. The metallic wraps ensure the tubes are hot at all times, making it and the engine perform better
iii) Engine Durability- As the pipes ensure the exhaust fumes are flowing out properly, it ensures the engine is not overheating. This allows the engine to last much longer!
iv) Cost Efficient- The whole process is fairly simple, so you can do the whole thing on your own! As you do not need to visit a mechanic for this, the whole process is absolutely cost-efficient.
However, just like a lot of other things in life, there are a few cons to wrapping.
The Disadvantages of Wrapping
i) Traps Moisture- This may be a much bigger concern than you think. Moisture can wear out metals. If any liquid is trapped within the wrap, it will have negative consequences for your exhaust. You may have to check every once in a while to ensure this does not happen.
ii) Fire Hazards- While there are certainly many benefits to wrapping, you must ensure you use the right type of wrap.
Final Words
This is what does exhaust wrap do. Of course, before changing anything in your car, always ensure you are checking into everything. The type of wrap you choose or the way you wrap it will all have an effect on the final product.
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Hi, my name is Gabrielle. I have been into Automotive Industry for over 15 years. If you’re anything like me, then building, maintaining and improving your Automotive Industry/Projects is all part of the Automotive experience.
My goal with this blog is to share my experience with and help you discover new and exciting things about Automotive.
