Exhaust Heat Wrap FAQ

When you boost your engine’s performance, you also increase the temperature of the exhaust gases it produces. When the gases pass through the exhaust system, parts like the catalytic converter, manifold, and muffler can run hotter than intended by the manufacturer. In turn, the ensuing higher temperatures can melt hoses and burn out wires in the exhaust system. Hot exhaust gases can also raise the temperature in the engine compartment, making it more challenging to manage the engine.

Exhaust gases make engine compartments much hotter, making them harder to manage. 

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Fortunately, there’s an affordable yet effective way to improve the heat protection of your car’s exhaust system. Simply wrap vulnerable exhaust parts with exhaust heat wrap.

What Is an Exhaust Heat Wrap?

A heat wrap is an accessory that resembles thick tape, especially when rolled up. Also called exhaust wrap, it can be wrapped around exhaust parts like downpipes and mufflers.

Exhaust heat wraps are made of insulating materials that can withstand high temperatures. Ceramic, fiberglass, and titanium are popular choices for exhaust wrap products.

What Does Exhaust Heat Wrap Do?

Exhaust heat wraps act as insulation for exhaust parts. They stop heat from leaving the exhaust system, leading to cooler temperatures around the wrapped parts.

Installing exhaust heat wrapping lowers temperatures under the car hood and around the exhaust system.

Why Heat Wrap Exhaust Parts?

Here are the benefits of heat wrapping exhaust parts:

Parts Last Longer

Exhaust heat wraps reduce wear caused by heat. They extend the lives of hoses, wires, and other parts of the exhaust system.

Heat has a degrading effect on many materials. Rubber dries out, plastic deforms or melts, and metals can develop fatigue or burn, to name a few.

Unfortunately, many car parts are made of materials that degrade when exposed to heat. Hoses and electric wires are particularly vulnerable. Many hoses use rubber, while wires are almost always copper threads coated in plastic. When exposed to heat without reprieve, hoses and wires wear out faster, which increases their chances of failure.

You can reduce the heat radiating from exhaust headers and pipes by covering them in an exhaust heat wrap. The insulation protects vulnerable parts like hoses and wires, especially the spark plug wires, from the heat radiated by the exhaust parts.

Increases Engine Performance

The benefits of exhaust heat wraps aren’t limited to the exhaust system. The engine can also get a performance boost when you put insulating wraps on exhaust headers and pipes.

Exhaust heat wraps increase exhaust gas temperature (EGT) by reducing heat loss in the exhaust system. The higher the EGT, the faster the gases leave the engine’s combustion chamber.

In turn, increasing exhaust gas velocity increases the effectiveness of scavenging, a process that removes spent gases from the engine’s combustion chambers. Since exhaust gases reduce power, removing them more efficiently will boost the engine’s performance.

Speaking of boosts, higher EGTs also benefit cars with turbochargers. Increasing exhaust gas temperatures and velocities reduces turbo lag and speeds up spool-up times, which helps the engine achieve maximum boost faster.

Another way exhaust heat wraps improve engine performance is by helping cool the air intake system by lowering under-hood temperature. The effect is similar to that of a cold air intake, which cools the air entering the engine and increases the oxygen supply for better performance.

Improved Work Safety

You usually have the luxury of waiting for the engine and exhaust system to cool off before working on your vehicle at a safe pace. However, there’s always the possibility that you might have to work on your car while it’s still hot. If such a situation does happen, exhaust heat wraps can save you from accidental burns.

If you are a racer, exhaust heat wraps can spell the difference between victory and defeat. You cannot wait for your car to cool down. While you and your pit crew usually wear protective clothing, accidentally hitting a hot part might still cause injuries. Exhaust heat wraps make it easier and safer to work on the engine.

Cooler Car Interior

Exhaust heat wraps don’t just keep your engine cool, they also help keep you and your passengers comfortable. Some of the heat released by the exhaust system reaches your car’s firewall and floorboards. The heat gets transmitted through these panels and into your car’s interior, raising the temperature in the cabin. While most cars have insulating material on the floor, some heat usually gets through.

The situation is even worse in race cars since they usually don’t have floor insulation to save weight.

Fortunately, you can keep the heat out of your car’s interior by installing exhaust heat wraps in the exhaust system.

Tips For Exhaust Heat Wrap Installation

You can install exhaust heat wrap yourself to save on labor costs. Try the following to make the DIY installation job even easier.

Soak the exhaust heat wrap in water to make it more pliable for easier installation. You can use a spray bottle to get the wrap wet before bending it around the exhaust parts. If spraying doesn’t work, apply more water with a can or a bucket.

Also, ask someone to help you. While you can install exhaust heat wrap alone, the job becomes easier and faster when you have a partner. The other person can secure the wrap, guide it from another direction, and keep it from moving while you tie it securely.

Exhaust heat wraps offer an affordable and effective option to boost your vehicle’s performance in subtle yet significant ways. Whether you drive a race car or an ordinary vehicle, you stand to benefit from installing exhaust wraps.

Getting Your Hands on Exhaust Heat Wrap

There are a lot of benefits that come with wrapping different parts of the exhaust to help it retain heat. Fortunately, you can take advantage of them by getting an exhaust heat wrap for your vehicle at CarParts.com.

The best part? You won’t even have to step outside your door to shop for auto parts. Simply visit our website, search for the part you need, fill out the vehicle selector, and use the search filters. These steps will help you narrow down our extensive catalog to compatible parts that match your preferred brand, price, and specs.

We make it a point to source our products from some of the most trusted manufacturers in the industry. Because our warehouses are strategically located all over the US, you can expect to receive your order in as fast as two business days.

Insulate your vehicle’s exhaust parts as soon as possible to improve engine performance. Browse our catalog of exhaust heat wrap that’s built to last now at CarParts.com.