Is this the photo your are referring to ??
Looks to be for cooling the exhaust pipe area----maybe a muffler, turbo, or ?? in that area.
I am thinking turbo------only one exhaust pipe on the plane.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011

Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."