To start, lets leave the whole debate of whether I should of wrapped it or not out of this.

Now to the real question, when I fired up my car the other day, and let it idle abit (was about 4k idle just so that we're on the same page), my header wrap started smoking. I then hooked up my EGT's on ther to see what temperatures I'm at, and I was floating around 1200*F. Well below the rated 2000*F they're meant for. Also the wrap has started to turn black. Now could this be just because of my thin wall tubing headers (SDJ), or is that just normal for the first few fire up?

 

Ive always found with header wrap it will "burn" for the first few runs (2nd gen, and karts). Stink horribly and smoke a dcecent amount. Ive never had it turn black, maybe a pic?

Ive heard that it is just kinda 'curing' kinda deal right. Thats been my experience but ive never had mine turn black. Get a bit darker but not burnt.

 

yeah +1 on what he said but it varies from product to product...Some will turn black other will not turn black...

 

I dont recommend you use exhaust wrap.
if your trying to keep heat out of the engine bay there are better solutions

 

It would help to a degree, maybe next year I'll go down the route of ceramic coating them.

 

coating is pretty expensive...header wrap is a quick fix...but over time will kill the header, rust it, and destroy it...but either way serve there purpose

 

Plus 1 on what djessence said.

Teddy, Can you please explain how it would ruin a header? I just don't get it.

 

I believe that what he is implying is that since the larger magority of these header wraps are some sort of cloth-like material that it would permit water seepage and thus cause rust to happen in a sealed enviroment. Which, following the logic would say that it promotes faster header death...

I have had few guys use some good quality header wrap without any issues, burning or heatwise... and I could touch his headers after he just turned the engine off.

 

header wrap smokes and stinks for the first few startups, especially if you put it in water the get it on the header

 

+1, i also would recommend to anyone who wants to wrap their exhaust to soak it in water first for multiple reasons. less fibers getting stuck in your skin causing an awsome itch, itll wrap much tighter, and it will form to the bends in the exhaust much better.

the main reason why a lot of people say not to use wrap is because it holds the heat into the header. the higher temps in the metal lead to faster metal fatigue and oxidation (rust) and may eventually lead to burning through the header. I personally dont care, which is why i wraped my headers (lower underhood temp plus i like how it looks). and yes, for a little while the header wrap will change color and smoke as random impurities burn away, but it will stop eventually, so no worries there...although i havent ever seen it turn black

 

Alright thanks guys, makes me feel alot better now. As for the rust issue I don't have to worry about that part as its all stainless, but I would be more worried about it cracking the welds from the high heat.

 

Just buy the black header wrap :P Problem solved

 

how did you apply the wrap? did you soak it in water or alcohol explain please this sometime makes them change colors

 

I applied it dry actually

 

yeah thats the issue, but it would be a problem anyways....

really wrapping it, is going to make the header last 20years instead of 100

 

well i did some searching for you... https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...t=exhaust+wrap
hope this helps =]

 

well with me not adressing things , it kept on melting my washer fluid bottle. I'll definatly be going Ceramic next year, but to hold me up for about a year I should be fine and keep engine temps a little lower.

 

Curious.. people are saying header wrap keeps the heat in the header (which is its purpose) and can ruin it. How is the ceramic coating any different. Or is it just because the ceramic coating doesnt get wet and rust the header?

 

^im not sure exactly, but logically ceramic coating the header will help keep the air from interacting w/ the metal, thus less oxidation

 

I've wrapped RB headers without any problems. Since they use such thick wall piping, it seems like it won't rust through. I wouldn't wrap pacesetter type or even stainless. I'd probably coat stainless.