My headers are wrapped in that header wrapping stuff, and i was just wondering what the benefit of it is. They're in pretty decent shape, but there are a couple very small ripped spots. Should I just remove it all? Re-wrap them? Leave them alone? Does it really do a whole lot for heat reduction? oh and my headers are already out of the car. Thanks in advance!

 

Just leave them alone if you want...lol

 

Ok, someone will probably come in and tell you everything I say is wrong, but yes wrap helps alot. The wrap works just like the ceramic coatings do, it can just be cheaper depending on how much you need.

As long as the wrap is mostly intact, and the tears arent all the way down to the primaries, I would just leave it alone. Provided the wrapper did a good job theres no need to redo it.

 

It doesn't work as well as the ceramic coating but yes it DOES help with reducing heat.

 

diddo^ I'm going to do my bike exhaust when i get a chance.

 

Yea if it isn't in too bad of shape, leaving it is probably a good choice. I have done a set of hooker long tubes and BBK shorties for my car, and several other sets for other cars. Can be really frustrating sometimes to get them nice but the stuff does work pretty well. If you are looking to prolong the life of what you have, it may be worth it to spray some of the high temp silicone protectant paint on them (if you can get decent enough access). You can get it fairly cheap at advanced or autozone. I have done and run wrapped headers both with and without the paint, and I feel it really helps the life of the material.

 

It does work, but if it isn't done right, sometimes the pipes rust really bad under that wrap.

 

MM is basically right, but I'd put the risk of the wrap having caused rust at a much higher level. Unless it's done essentially perfectly, that wrap holds moisture and accelerates the rusting process by a great deal.

 

might i recommend the black silicone spray it will slow the rust that will be inevitable if you drive in the rain. reduce engine bay temp but hard to get to the bolts on the headers with that junk on there:-D. Its main purpose is served in the protection of the wires and keeping them from melting. It can cause a misfire if those suckers get hott. GM made these nice little metal caps that fit over the plug boots and i use those and header wrap.

 

Yea that was also one of the primary reasons I wrapped my headers. Wires melting left and right and causing missfiring was a pain. Didn't know about those caps though.