In the performance auto industry, header exhaust heat wraps are able to drop underhood temperatures, which offers significant improvements in engine performance. In fact, a good quality heat wrap is quite capable of reducing underhood temperatures by as much as fifty percent.
There are two basic kinds of exhaust heat wrap products on the market. The average heat wrap is made of glass fiber, while the most expensive wraps are made from finely crushed lava rock. As one would expect, the better exhaust wrap rolls do cost more but provide better performance and durability. The more expensive heat wrap rolls are also very simple to apply and don’t require a finished coat of high temp silicone spray.
Heat wraps made from glass fiber are usually made to handle up to 1,200 degrees of direct exposure, while the leading pulverized lava wraps are rated to handle 1,800 degrees. In many circumstances, shoppers typically conclude that the higher thermal protection ratings of pulverized lava heat wraps are worth the extra money.
Even though heat wraps are normally used in the automotive aftermarket, a wide variety of industries use such wraps to reduce heat exposure. Whether the goal is to decrease human exposure to heat, or increase the life of a heat sensitive part, heat wraps are extremely versatile and quite capable of reducing a major amount of heat for quite a few years.
Heat wraps are made in varied colors and sizes, which includes black, tan and gold. Glass fiber heat wraps require a high temp silicone spray coating finish to protect the installed wrap from road debris, grease, oil and other contaminates that could cause the wrap to fail. Heat wraps with a glass fiber base are typically more difficult to install and may require that the product be dipped in water before installation. This is especially true when headers or exhaust manifolds have tight turns or difficult bends. However, heat wraps made with pulverized lava conform to irregular shapes easier and do not require a finish silicone application.
Whether you are considering heat wraps for added performance, or increased engine component life, it is important that you weigh the advantages of each type of heat wrap. Although the cost of glass fiber heat wraps can be a good selling point, the better performance of finely crushed lava exhaust heat wraps and easier installation can be well worth the added expense.