Heat Wrapping Tapes To Protect You From Vehicle Heat |
Posted: June 20, 2019 |
Until recently, heat wrapping tapes were seen largely on racing bikes and cars, but have now risen to be more of a fashion statement. These wraps are not just good looking but you will also experience reduced temperature and enhanced horsepower. But, why should we have these heat wrapping tapes on the exhaust and how does it benefit you or your vehicle? Are there any downsides to using these wraps? Let us explore the answers to these questions and understand more about heat wrapping tapes. Material of Construction Exhaust heat wraps can generally be seen on many motorbikes and many fans of the product hold the view that the product gives the bikes a performance specific and retro look. These tapes are made of basalt, E glass and silica yarns and belong to the realm of textile technologies. These wraps are designed by expert hands to produce maximum thermal coverage while enhancing durability and abrasion resistance. In terms of temperature resistance, these tapes can withstand as much as 550oC. Your Benefits From Heat Wrapping Tapes In simple terms, exhaust wrap or heat wrap tapes increase the efficiency and performance of the engine on your vehicle. The function of the wrap is to prevent the exhaust tube from cooling down so that the temperature is maintained at a high level constantly and the higher temperature in turn aids enhanced performance at varying levels. The intake as well as exhaust gases, get pulled through the engine with higher speed, contributing to smoother performance since quicker movement of gases bring more power for the engine. Another potential benefit is from significant reduction in engine temperature. Lower radiant heat will make it more comfortable for the occupants of the vehicle, and particularly so for motorcycle riders. The heat wrap tapes take on the form of a thermal blanket directing heat away through the exhaust outlet than the sides of pipes. Koolwrap is an Australian manufacturer and supplier with a wide range of heat protection products for varying applications. They bring over 2 decades of consistent experience serving Australian customers. Risks You Should Understand While there are many advantages that heat wrap tapes bring to your vehicle and perhaps your person too, you should be also aware of certain risks including potential damage to the pipe and header on account of excessive heat building up. There have been some instances where the exhaust cracked or split on account of the heat wrap and the solution lies in changing the heat wrap at intervals so that you also have the opportunity to check for signs of wear and tear on the pipe. Can Heat Wrapping Tapes Cause Damage to the Headers and/or Extractors When you have steel pipes for the headers, exhaust or extractors, the surface area of these pipes is large and therefore can quickly transfer the heat to the air which flows around the pipes. Consequently, air in the engine bay heats up and the density gets reduced. At this point, the hotter air gets drawn in via the intake system. The heated air with lesser density compared to cooler air that has lesser oxygen molecules and the vehicle can lose some power. The hoses, wires, and ignition leads may also suffer from the excess heat. You will also perhaps notice that when the exhaust gas passes the cylinder head, it starts dissipating heat via the exhaust pipe and begins contracting and losing velocity. When the exhaust gas can keep its level of heat, the exhaust gas does not slow down. Inertia of exhaust gas escaping through exhaust port on the header in fact helps in drawing more exhaust gases from the chamber and the intake mixture is drawn in. With more exhaust gas getting drawn out, the intake mixture in the chamber need not mix with the remainder of the intake mixture aiding better burning and therefore more power potentially. Some time ago, racers attempted wrapping exhaust pipes with fibreglass tape for insulating exhaust pipes and noticed the advantages mentioned above. Therefore, the question now is whether heat wrap tapes can damage the exhaust pipes or not. The short answer to the question is both yes as well as no. Overheating of exhaust pipes can be experienced by some racers on account of the insulating properties associated with wrapped headers or extractors and this in turn can lead to fatigue or cracking. However, in a vast majority of situations, the exhaust or header wrapper does NOT damage the exhaust pipes. Eventually, all exhaust pipes made of steel will rust and to extend its life you can coat them initially with an exhaust paint rated to withstand high temperatures. Alternatively, you can use a silicone based paint too. Opposed to most other heat wrap products, Kool Wrap products offer higher flexibility and do not need wetting before wrapping. Some smoke coming from the wrap on first start is a common feature and over a short space of time this will cease. Similarly, while there is nothing hard and fast when it comes to a recommended overlap, the general guidance is a minimum of about 5 mm overlap with greater overlap inside the bends. Summing Up In modern times, although we have the luxury of air conditioned comfort inside the car, tremendous amount of heat is generated when the vehicle is in motion, particularly when it moves at high speed. To appreciate this, you only need to pull up, step out of your car and simply place your palm on the hood. The heat can also accentuate due to factors low quality or inadequate fluids for different systems in your vehicle and inappropriate tyre pressure. Summer days can be extremely punishing for certain regions and most humans shudder to face the heat wave conditions. You need to remember that when you are out with your vehicle in these conditions, the amount of suffering that your vehicle takes is even more than humans. There are many ways to keep you and your car protected from the scorching heat. However, it is important to understand these products in-depth and align them with your specific needs.
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