Exhaust Insulating Wrap

[frankh]

Just an interesting experiment to observe. As you rightly say Dan, the $800 exhaust IS the low cost component...

Yikes!

Frank

[AlexPeterson]

Best thing for exhaust systems is to never use them. They stay nice and shiny.

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by frankh

Just an interesting experiment to observe. As you rightly say Dan, the $800 exhaust IS the low cost component...

Yikes! Frank

I'm a little more concerned about pipe failure and the subsequent possible inflight fire (double Yikes!! ), more than accessory heat.

Exhaust failures in flight have caused fire, burn thru cowl, wires and hoses, nothing really important and Oh yea, CO poisoning.

One Cirrus burned to the ground from a pipe failure. They where in the pattern and had time to land. By the time they stopped and got out, the plane became fully engulfed.

With a wrap you can't see cracks and most people, not all, think wrap will cause premature pipe failure and warping. I am one of those people think it will hurt the pipe long term. Why would you risk it? Also the wrap is a maintenance item, it does not last for ever, not withstanding the previous post about 1900 hours of service. Most find it becomes trashed in much shorter service than that.

I'm not sure what you are trying to save: alternator, mech fuel pump, magneto, prop gov, oil cooler............ Everything likes cooler temps for sure; that's why we have "scrub air" or dedicated air blast tubes on the alternator, fuel pump and mags.

I think ceramic coating is a more elegant solution and has proven to be reliable on race cars. Planes? It's a somewhat new application, but so far it looks reliable because it lowers the pipe temp not increases it.

Hey its called EXPERIMENTAL for a reason, do what floats your boat, just keep an eye on your pipes, wrapped or not.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

I'm a little more concerned about pipe failure and the subsequent possible inflight fire

George is right, I have a buddy who wrapped his exhaust, to keep heat up in a turbo installation, and the pipes cracked-------actually broke off---------damage was hidden under the wrap, so he did not catch it at the "Crack" stage.

The local AC certified welder guy wouldnt even try to fix, due to the wrap induced degradation of the metal.

Luckly, no fire, he noticed things in a hurry when the boost dropped off, (Murphy Rebal on floats thus lots of drag) which really affected his flight perf.

Mike

[cytoxin]

burns up steel auto headers rather quickly. hate to see them get fuel/ oil soaked as george mentioned.