Turbo Wrap, does it work?

[V6UnderPressure]

I see summit sells a turbo wrap that looks like a foil coated insulation that goes around your turbo to keep heat in and spool up quicker. Has anyone used this and does it work?

Scott

 

[turbobob924]

RE turbo wrap

I was wondering the same thing!

I know that wraping the DP makes a big difference in engine compartment temps

 

[Sinful6]

What I've heard about it is that the wrap will actually cause the metal to deteriorate much quicker. I'm sure that there are some posts about this if you search the archives.

Personally, I would not do it on a street car or weekend warrior. Now an all out 9 second race car? Go for it



-DC

 

[fitz3820]

Be careful that oil doesn't leak on them. A few guys have had fires when wrapping headers and having a leaky valve cover cover them with oil, not good.

I ran it on a downpipe for a while, keeps heat down but looks terrible...

Mark F. 87 GN 11.9 @ 115

 

[PhilthMonger]

the wrap also traps moisture and causes rust....quickly too. I ran it for a couple months and a brand new downpipe came out looking like it was rotting in a junkyard for 20 years

 

[77tech9]

Actually with the wrap on the DP, like any other exhaust, it keeps the heat in, and allows to flow better, leading to more HP

 

[V6UnderPressure]

Originally posted by PhilthMonger
the wrap also traps moisture and causes rust....quickly too. I ran it for a couple months and a brand new downpipe came out looking like it was rotting in a junkyard for 20 years

True but what if stainless steel?

 

[ngianop]

Insulating the exhaust keeps heat in, which keeps exhaust velocities up and that's good for performance. The side benefit is a cooler engine compartment. The comments about rusting are true so the parts you intend to wrap should be stainless steel. Don't know if ceramic coated pipes (in & out) will withstand rusting though...

 

[nisnutz]

For what it's worth the TIO540'S that some of our airplanes run have heat blankets on the turbo's.

 

[webleyaz]

You could get a similar effect and much better look with Jet-Hot coating. It also keeps parts from rusting for all you non-Arizona guys and girls.

 

[TRBON8R]

I kind of doubt that the "shiney" Jet Hot coating would work too well on the turbo exhaust housing. I used Jet Hot on my Houston downpipe and while it has held up ok, it does have a spot right by the flange where it bolts to the turbo where the Jet Hot has hazed up. On the turbo itself, I think Jet Hot would probably burn right off. Of course all this applies to the basic "shiney" Jet Hot coating. I know Jet Hot has another type of coating that is rated for higher temperatures. I've been thinking about giving it a try on the next turbo I buy.

 

[DonnieShort]

Originally posted by Scott4DMny
True but what if stainless steel?

When I bought my car the previous owner had an ATR stainless header installed wrapped in this stuff. It hadn't been on long maybe a year and was having all kinds of exhaust leaks. Took the header off and unwrapped it to find that the metal had split ( almost into ) around every primary and at the collector. The wrap was almost the only thing holding it together. My cousin who is a profesional welder fixed it for me and said the wrap accelerated the problem and does not recommend this stuff on a street driven car. The constant heat cannot escape and causes the metal to break down making it brittle and prone to splitting and cracking, which is what happened in my case. On a race car, yes just because it isn't exposed to as many elements, i.e.- constant heat, water,etc.

 

[TurboDave]

This thread has obviously gone far astray from the original question that was posed.

He DID NOT ask about pipe wrap. He was asking about turbo wrap, or sometimes refered to as turbo blankets.

As for them, yes, if you have the room for one, it has a definate advantage. Turbo's work by extraction heat from the exhaust gasses. The more efficient you can keep the turbine housing the better. Wrapping the turbine housing (not compressor housing), with a blanket will keep heat in the turbine, hence, higher efficiency, better turbine performance.

 

[Two Lane]

TURBO BLANKETS

Turbonetics recommend using an insulated turbo blanket.

HTH

 

[V6UnderPressure]

Originally posted by TurboDave
This thread has obviously gone far astray from the original question that was posed.

He DID NOT ask about pipe wrap. He was asking about turbo wrap, or sometimes refered to as turbo blankets.

PHEW Dave, I was hoping I wasnt the only one that saw this! Finally real question answered! Thanks!

 

[Sinful6]

Scott, I replied with your original question in mind. The wrap is still going to help deteriorate the metal of the turbo much quicker than without it.

Like I said before, my opinion is:

Yea for race car.
Nay for street car.



-DC

 

[TheDoughboy]

I was wondering awhile back about using the adhesive backed heat barrier that comes in sheets. Cut it to fit and applied to the inside of the turbo shield. Thinking it would reflect the heat back to the turbo. Would not help the underhood temps at all though.

This stuff http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4785&prmenbr=361


Ron

 

[TurboDave]

Originally posted by Sinful6
Scott, I replied with your original question in mind. The wrap is still going to help deteriorate the metal of the turbo much quicker than without it.

Like I said before, my opinion is:

Yea for race car.
Nay for street car.



-DC

Ummm, maybe you haven't really seen one the devices that's being refered to. It's not really a wrap, that is, it doesn't fit tight over the housing. It's more of a blanket, and isn't wrapped tightly. Some of the bottom is open so the plumbing can get up into the turbo, and it's also loose enough to allow the wastagate actuator to operate, etc.
I don't really think this would be an issue for the turbine housing metal.

 

[Jimn8or]

I have seen data on ceramacoated exhaust housings and it's pretty impressive. On big rigs it adds 3lbs more boost to the non-adjustable systems, temps are 100's of degrees cooler under the hood etc... CAT and John Deer have both initiated an option on new equipment that includes ceramacoating [Jet-Hot] on all their turbo applications due to the overwhelming benifits. Ben, I know exactly what you are talking about on the THDP puck area, mine did this too, but the much thicker exhaust housing never discolored even a tiny bit, anywhere. Looks way better and is easier to clean and for about $30usd your exhaust housing is done. beat that.
Jim

 

[Two Lane]

SOURCES?

Other than TURBONETICS, where can you purchase the turbo blankets?

Who else is offering them?

TIA!!