Exhaust Insulation Tape

[peteyg]

Installing a new tubular manifold from SJ. Is there any reason why I shouldn't wrap it with the special insulation tape to stop the heat attacking the chassis and engine mount?

Pete

[Joey]

Not a lotus expert by a long shot, but I was always told that the exhaust tape would trap in mosture and cause rust....

[catty s2]

No need to worry about it if its stainless. Pete can't see why not, it will protect the grease in the uv's from drying up too if you put some on further down.

Edited March 22, 2006 by catty s2

[Guest Troy Halliday]

It is great stuff and realy helps reduce the heat. But unless you wrap it evenly you will get a hot spot which could blow through I know this sounds odd because the exhaust will normally take the exhaust gas but I have seen it a few times on Sevens a a couple of grass track racers. Oh and it really smokes while it cures so make sure you are outside the garage when you start it up because the gasses are realy nasty stuff

[GSimpson]

I have just had to replace the header on my Lancia as I put header wrap on it to protect things like the steering rack boots. The wrap has been on less than a year and the header was completely wrecked, it has just crumbled away. I have had a new one built and this time just relying on sheilding so that sensitive parts don't get direct heat but the header doesn't get too hot. I don't recommend the stuff!!

[Joey]

My opinion again, but I would just have the header/manifold ceramic coated... I had this done on my headers for my land rover and 2 years, they look like new and the engine compartment temp has been drastically reduced.

[peteyg]

Hi Joey,

Interesting idea. What's the rough cost of ceramic coating? Hope you're going to keep the landy when you get the Esprit - they make a perfect couple. I've got a '62 Series 2A SWB.

Cheers

Pete

[Goose]

No expert but asked Steve at SJ Sportscars a couple of months ago what he thought of wrapping Esprit manifolds when I took mine off to replace the gaskets and he said that it was crap... etc. That said a couple of years ago I wrapped the headers on a '74 Trans Am I used to own and I had no problems and the heat in the engine bay was cut dramatically.

The mention of ceramic coating reminded me of Dermot O'Hare's Lotus S4 site Dermot O'Hare's Lotus Esprit Site. Might be worth contacting him?

[peteyg]

Thanks Angus. I already had a look at Dermot's site and he siad it was rubbish and flaked off after 2 weeks.

Guess I'll go down the route of wrapping the chassis that's close to the manifold and hopefully the uprated engine mounts and heat shield will be more resistant than the old ones.

Cheers for all the comments!

Pete

[Joey]

I got the headers done at www.jet-hot.com they offer a lifetime warrenty on new uninstalled items and a 2 year on used or preinstaled items.

I have been very pleased.

It was around $350 shipped if I recall correctly...