Thread: Wrapping the downpipe

Turbo guys....I am looking for some input on wrapping my downpipe. It is really close to the oilpan and obviously must contribute to some heatsoak and engine bay heat.I guess it could actually heat the oil in the pan from radiant heat also?
I have also been reading how it may help keep heat in the downpipe to evacuate gases quicker ,possibly improving lag.
I am not concerned with HP gains as much as reducing my underhood/bay temps,and/or oil temps as much as possible.In FL every little thing helps...I have ceramic coated my mainifold,and turbo rear housing,and have a turbo blanket on the way.
Also planning to add an oil cooler at some point as well as a misting system for spraying water on the FMIC
The downpipe is mild steel ,not stainless,so I do realize it may rot sooner with wrap on it,but here in FL,I dont think its as bad as the salt belt.When/if it rots,I will upgrade to stainless. Thanks in advance.

It will help a bit, nothing crazy though.



Most gains are found from doing this before the turbo. I doubt you will see anything from doing this post turbine.




All of those things help, but when battling heat soak the best plan of action is to give the heat some way to escape. I am also in FL, and the biggest improvement I have seen in heat soak on most of my cars is simply running "hood spacers". It is ugly but effective.

You can also wrap the turbo manifold even though its coated.



I have been misting my cooler for a long time now. It helps alot during multi-gear pulls.

I had to do the same thing on my 6.2L turbo car. I wrapped headers, downpipe, and used a turbo blanket to keep under hood temps down. The DEI wrap with silicone sealant spray works really good. Also ceramic coating hot parts helps a bunch.

I know I am not a turbo guy and you will instantly discount my opinion because of that unfortunate stigma, but the heat management is very important. You don't need to be a turbo-head to know that is true when it comes to engines. Heat and turbo stuff does not mix well and they often go together. Heat blanket for the turbo is a huge plus for keeping the under hood temps low. That would have been my first suggestion. I would also wrap the down pipe until the engine bay has been cleared more than likely.

You are correct in the mild steel will corrode faster, but lucky there is no salt to aid that corrosive property.

You already have the two best things done, ceramic coating and a turbo blanket. Keep on going with the wrapping of the downpipe and

Don't ever run hood spacers is the one advice I have as heat management handling has already been addressed.

The cowl is a high pressure zone.

I have heard both sides of this....more than one person in SouthFL with turbo cars has told me to run spacers.Its Africa-Hot in South FL ...LOL

....I know the underhood area is a highpressure area but what about cowl induction hoods and hoods with vents like an EVO or something like a Invader type vented hood?(not that I would run one.LOL)

Wouldnt those hoods go against the whole concept?

thanks

Cowl induction uses the high pressure at the base of the windshield to force air into the engine. So I would think that forcing air into the engine bay in the same manner would help exhaust the heat elsewhere. No?

Nope! The issue is, it impedes air exhausting from the engine bay. Now you are TRAPPING air in the engine bay.

Do as you folks please. Cowl induction serves an entirely different purpose and typically, they are sealed off from engine bay air.

Also, Evo vents are not even remotely close in function like cowl induction or hood spacers. They are louvered and promote exhaust by redirecting airflow. With this redirection, it leaves a low pressure area underneath the wake and promotes the high temp (which means high pressure; simple gas law) air rushing to the low pressure area.

Do a little research instead of listening to people. No fully functioning race car apart from hard parkers and wanna be dragsters run hood spacers lol!

Edit: Never mind. I just did some reading and wouldn't use hood spacers for any reason, ever.

Post 8 has broken the internet because of the large amount of truth in it.