Exhaust wrap or zicotech coating
Discussion
There has been much written on this so a precise as I see it.
It is said the wrap can cause the headers to crack. Don't quite know how this works as it does not gel with me.
Wrap looks a mess after its been on a while.
Both work well to reduce engine bay temp. (important on my Ultima with the engine in the back and out of direct air flow).
Both work well to keep exhaust gas temp high which improves flow and air speed (or should that be gas speed).
Ceramic coatings (inside and out) look and stay very pretty.
My choice cermachrome on the out side and black on the inside.
Steve
It is said the wrap can cause the headers to crack. Don't quite know how this works as it does not gel with me.
Wrap looks a mess after its been on a while.
Both work well to reduce engine bay temp. (important on my Ultima with the engine in the back and out of direct air flow).
Both work well to keep exhaust gas temp high which improves flow and air speed (or should that be gas speed).
Ceramic coatings (inside and out) look and stay very pretty.
My choice cermachrome on the out side and black on the inside.
Steve
I used exhaust wrap on my headers and exhaust system (all the way to the back). I bought it from an industrial supplier at a fraction of the cost of the motorsport suppliers. It really kept the heat in the pipes but would only last about 2,000 miles right next to the engine before breaking up. On the rest of the system it is fine after 5,000 miles.
I always thought about ceramic coating but was worried about my home built manifold cracking with an expensive coating. So I thought I would run it for 4,000 miles with exhaust wrap to let it "settle down" and any cracks develop. Anyway all was fine with no cracks.
So many hundreds ££££ later I have a beautiful Zircotec covered manifold. The guy there was very friendly and gave me a tour of the place showing me all the processes they do.... very interesting.
After less than 1,000 miles I had 6 cracks in my manifold!!! I wasnt happy.
However I am impressed with the coating. I carefully ground the coating off the cracks and Tig welded them up. The ceramic coating did not burn off 5mm from the weld!
As to why my stainless manifold cracked.... ??? My only guess is the ceramic is stiff and doesnt allow the pipes to expand so they get stressed and crack.
I also had my piston crowns covered.
I always thought about ceramic coating but was worried about my home built manifold cracking with an expensive coating. So I thought I would run it for 4,000 miles with exhaust wrap to let it "settle down" and any cracks develop. Anyway all was fine with no cracks.
So many hundreds ££££ later I have a beautiful Zircotec covered manifold. The guy there was very friendly and gave me a tour of the place showing me all the processes they do.... very interesting.
After less than 1,000 miles I had 6 cracks in my manifold!!! I wasnt happy.
However I am impressed with the coating. I carefully ground the coating off the cracks and Tig welded them up. The ceramic coating did not burn off 5mm from the weld!
As to why my stainless manifold cracked.... ??? My only guess is the ceramic is stiff and doesnt allow the pipes to expand so they get stressed and crack.
I also had my piston crowns covered.
Steve_D said:
There has been much written on this so a precise as I see it.
It is said the wrap can cause the headers to crack. Don't quite know how this works as it does not gel with me.
Simply because the pipes will run quite a bit hotter without air around them to cool them. More heat=more expansion=more stress=more cracks.It is said the wrap can cause the headers to crack. Don't quite know how this works as it does not gel with me.
Mr2Mike said:
Steve_D said:
There has been much written on this so a precise as I see it.
It is said the wrap can cause the headers to crack. Don't quite know how this works as it does not gel with me.
Simply because the pipes will run quite a bit hotter without air around them to cool them. More heat=more expansion=more stress=more cracks.It is said the wrap can cause the headers to crack. Don't quite know how this works as it does not gel with me.
What I meant was the wrap is claimed to cause cracks but the coating does not.
What you are saying is true the heat cycle may cause cracks but that would be true of both heat retention methods.
Steve
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