Exhaust wrap

[Spanky]

You beat me to it...

They are talking about Ceramic coating on the general board. That is the best way to go for sure. Much more expensive but does an even better job of holding the heat in than this wrap does.

Looks great too but that's not really an issue with the Spyder. I hope someone goes that route and lets us know.

I know someone already did go to ceramic but I am not sure if it was on this board or not. It was about a year ago.

I did not hear any results.

 

[BajaRon]

I know someone already did go to ceramic but I am not sure if it was on this board or not. It was about a year ago.

I did not hear any results.

I knew that Ceramic vs Tape thread wouldn't last on the general board. Surprised Lamont let it go this long.

There was a member that posted he did his Honda Valkyrie in Ceramic and liked the results. That had to be more for asthetics than for any real need. I had a Valkyrie and I didn't see any need for ceramics.

On another note, I worked for a Chief in San Diego who went by the nickname of Spanky. I hear he still rides and will be at Sturgis.

Maybe Spanky's are all riders!

 

[krb1945]

BajaRon... great writeup...

You hit it out of the park with your writeup.

One way you can tell if you have too rich a mixture with the stock system is to watch your oil. If your oil gets a dark or dirty looking appearance in just a few hundred miles... more than likely you have a rich fuel mixture or a restricted air cleaner filter.

A lean a mixture and your exhaust pipe will overtemp and turn color, if chrome it will usually turn a shade of blue. Also if you lean out too much the machine will nose over when accelerating hard or if you demand power. Sometimes if it is too lean it will have a tendency to backfire when decelerating.

I just ordered my 50 foot roll of white insulation this evening. I've got two to wrap. JC Whitney has what I believe is a decent price on it. That assumption is based on what the price is here where I live.

The best way to treat these pipes is to use the ceramic coating inside and out. But it is expensive and the unit is down for awhile unless you just happen to have a complete set of replacement pipes.

I used Lamonsters idea of removing the two splash guards underneath the engine compartment. Under the same basic conditions, 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity, the temp gauge now runs 2 bars lower on both the SE5 and SM5.

 

[BajaRon]

You hit it out of the park with your writeup.

One way you can tell if you have too rich a mixture with the stock system is to watch your oil. If your oil gets a dark or dirty looking appearance in just a few hundred miles... more than likely you have a rich fuel mixture or a restricted air cleaner filter.

A lean a mixture and your exhaust pipe will overtemp and turn color, if chrome it will usually turn a shade of blue. Also if you lean out too much the machine will nose over when accelerating hard or if you demand power. Sometimes if it is too lean it will have a tendency to backfire when decelerating.

I just ordered my 50 foot roll of white insulation this evening. I've got two to wrap. JC Whitney has what I believe is a decent price on it. That assumption is based on what the price is here where I live.

The best way to treat these pipes is to use the ceramic coating inside and out. But it is expensive and the unit is down for awhile unless you just happen to have a complete set of replacement pipes.

I used Lamonsters idea of removing the two splash guards underneath the engine compartment. Under the same basic conditions, 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity, the temp gauge now runs 2 bars lower on both the SE5 and SM5.

Removing the splash panels does help, especially when you're moving. Not so much in stop and go or sitting still.

The tape is a poor man's fix but it is a good alternative and not a Micky Mouse approach.

It takes awhile to do with the pipes on but with a little patience it comes out pretty good. I did both mine and Lamont's and we are both happy with the results.

 

[SpyderGirl]

I just got done wrapping my pipes up and have already started it up once and now I am letting it cool before I start her up again. It took me about an hour to do this and I used 30' at 2" width. I didn't take the pipes off to do it.

 

[BajaRon]

I just got done wrapping my pipes up and have already started it up once and now I am letting it cool before I start her up again. It took me about an hour to do this and I used 30' at 2" width. I didn't take the pipes off to do it.

Let us know what you think overall as far as reduction in heat that you might notice.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Well after the ride today they have stopped smoking, which is good. I also had did a radiator flush and refill with Engine Ice as well as changing the spark plugs out to iridium plugs. I was hoping that all of that, along with the fact that I just changed the oil would let it run a little cooler. I think it might be, but it's difficult to tell. I was running between 3 and 5 bars during the ride, it stayed mostly at 4... it's too early to tell though, I'll keep you all updated.

 

[BajaRon]

Well after the ride today they have stopped smoking, which is good. I also had did a radiator flush and refill with Engine Ice as well as changing the spark plugs out to iridium plugs. I was hoping that all of that, along with the fact that I just changed the oil would let it run a little cooler. I think it might be, but it's difficult to tell. I was running between 3 and 5 bars during the ride, it stayed mostly at 4... it's too early to tell though, I'll keep you all updated.

The exhaust wraps main function is to reduce temperatures in the engine compartment by keeping the heat inside the exhaust pipe and not allowing so much of it to radiate out. Though this should reduce engine temp some, it probably is not going to be a noticable amount.

If the Engine Ice reduces coolant temps that will decrease exhaust gas temps and that will (along with the wrap) reduce engine compartment temps even more.

If you used the standard 50/50 coolant/water solution the Engine Ice will probably not drop your temps very much. Usually about 5~8 degrees at 200 degrees.

If you go to a 30/70 coolant/water solution the effect is usually 15~20 degree reducion at 200 degrees. Anti-Freeze is not a very good conductor of heat and actually traps heat in the coolant. Water is a better conductor of heat and helps additives like Engine Ice to be more effictive.

Though some need a 50/50 mix it is overkill for most areas. A 30/70 mix will give you freeze protection down to Zero degrees. Most people don't need the -34 degree protection provided by a 50/50 mix.

Seems like our Spyders are much more likely to get too hot than to get too cold.

 

[aka1004]

Today was the full day of ryde after the exhaust pipes were unwrapped ( had wrapped end to end) and ryde were between 70-114 degrees(from los Angeles to corona to San Diego to palm springs.

I did get little more heat on my legs and plastics did get noticeably hotter BUT coolant temp was lower by... I would like to call it half a bar

it went up 6 bar only one time all day (it's been creeping up to 6 bars costantly in hotter weather) and cycle between 4 and 5 bar were quicker meaning once it went up to 5 bars it was brought down to 4 a bit quicker. It did not make enough difference to bring it down to 4 bars in 114 degree weather thou.

When I get home splash guards are comming off.
The guy who is selling his spyder had his off and claims a 2 bar diffence and I am looking forward to that.ray:

 

[SPYDERPOPS]

Ron,
I agree with you 100% about wraping the exhaust! The word I was waiting to see was Scavage. As I understand the principle when you wrap your headers it makes the hot gases scavage out much quicker and actually pulls heat away from the engine quicker. This is supposed to help keep the heads cooler and engine temps lower. That's the added performance process.

I would suggest that everyone take the pipes off so that they can be wrapped as close as possible to the heads in order to get the process started sooner. Yes, if you leave too much bare pipe at the heads it could cause overheating in the flange area and could cause gasket problems there. Short cuts shouldn't be taken in this process, get the insulation as close to the flanges as possible and the only way to do this is by removing the headers.

The best way to secure the wrap is to use stainless steel safety wire and safety wire plyers. I have used this method on ATV's for years and not once has any wrap come loose due to vibration or water contact.
HC

 

[SpyderGirl]

I was able to start the wrap right at where the exhaust manifold meets the head. I did almost a complete wrap of all of the pipes down to the joint where the muffler slips on. I did notice a significant drop in the heat that was radiating out the right side, so I would have to say what I did was very effective.

As for the coolant, I just put in straight Engine Ice which is a 50/50 mixture. I had considered the 70/30 mixture as I had learned about in school, but opted for the pre-mixed solution.

I am very happy with the changes I have made and am looking forward to further riding to see how well it does over time. Our trip in September will be the ultimate test.

 

[BajaRon]

Today was the full day of ryde after the exhaust pipes were unwrapped ( had wrapped end to end) and ryde were between 70-114 degrees(from los Angeles to corona to San Diego to palm springs.

I did get little more heat on my legs and plastics did get noticeably hotter BUT coolant temp was lower by... I would like to call it half a bar

it went up 6 bar only one time all day (it's been creeping up to 6 bars costantly in hotter weather) and cycle between 4 and 5 bar were quicker meaning once it went up to 5 bars it was brought down to 4 a bit quicker. It did not make enough difference to bring it down to 4 bars in 114 degree weather thou.

When I get home splash guards are comming off.
The guy who is selling his spyder and had his off claims a 2 bar diffence and I am looking forward to that.ray:

I am glad your coolant temp went down but having your exhaust pipe wrapped or not isn't going to make much difference either way on your coolant temperature. The exhaust wrap has virtually nothing to do with engine coolant temps one way or the other.

Theoretically, because of better scavenging of the exhaust, engine temps should go down with the exhaust wrapped. But it is going to be so small a reduction in engine temp that I don't think we will see it on our bar graph temp gauge. I only say this because there is no way wrapping the exhaust is going to make your engine run hotter. It is just physically impossible.

Hot gasses travel faster than cooler ones (just a law of physics) so your exhaust exits more quickly when it is hot than when it is cold.

The hotter engine compartment and plastic covers is the only difference you will experience from removing the exhaust wrap because that's the only noticeable improvement you'll get from the wrap to start with.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Question about exhaust wrap, 02 modifer, and fuel economy...

I was curious as to if wrapping the exhaust pipes will decrease the fuel economy? I think I am getting worse gas mileage now, it's hard to tell but we ran out of gas on the way to work yesterday. I basically got 60 miles out of 2.5 gallons of gas... I was getting more than that before... about 32 - 35 MPG.

Also, I had planned to install the O2 modifier and was wondering if this was going to just make things even worse??

Thanks.

 

[chascarpenter1]

I haven't noticed any reduction in mileage. But do put on the O2 modifier if you are using an after market exhaust. If not then really it not necessary.

 

[Firefly]

I will let you know if I have any luck. I just noticed the leak last night after about 10K miles of having the Hindle installed.

If the leak is at the joint - like many of us have noticed - Lamont has a thread out here about how to notch the pipes to get them to seal properly. I have not done it yet--- but am planning on it.

The Honda gaskets are for further up on the pipes.

 

[BajaRon]

I was curious as to if wrapping the exhaust pipes will decrease the fuel economy? I think I am getting worse gas mileage now, it's hard to tell but we ran out of gas on the way to work yesterday. I basically got 60 miles out of 2.5 gallons of gas... I was getting more than that before... about 32 - 35 MPG.

Also, I had planned to install the O2 modifier and was wondering if this was going to just make things even worse??

Thanks.

Wrapping the exhaust cannot reduce fuel mileage. It should, theoretically, increase fuel mileage as it allows the exhaust system to opperate more efficently. I think this effect will be slight on the Spyder and I don't expect anyone will get any appreciable fuel mileage increas.

But you certainly will not get a decrease in mileage from just wrapping the pipe.

As for the O2 sensor replacement, I'm not convinced this is a great idea. But many like it so that is a choice each will have to make.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Wrapping the exhaust cannot reduce fuel mileage. It should, theoretically, increase fuel mileage as it allows the exhaust system to opperate more efficently. I think this effect will be slight on the Spyder and I don't expect anyone will get any appreciable fuel mileage increas.

But you certainly will not get a decrease in mileage from just wrapping the pipe.

As for the O2 sensor replacement, I'm not convinced this is a great idea. But many like it so that is a choice each will have to make.

Thanks. I did a little more riding and testing over the weekend and the fuel economy did not go down, if anything it may have improved slightly. I am going to give the 02 modifier a shot, it's not costing me anything to see if I like it. I do worry that my NOx emissions will go up by running so lean that when and if they start smogging bikes here I might be in trouble.

 

[SpyderGirl]

If the leak is at the joint - like many of us have noticed - Lamont has a thread out here about how to notch the pipes to get them to seal properly. I have not done it yet--- but am planning on it.

The Honda gaskets are for further up on the pipes.

I just dropped it off for service over the weekend and told them about the exhaust leak. Let's hope they fix it.

 

[Questions]

This does not sound like it is good for the bike to contain this heat.
I am not a mechanic, but this subject sounds interesting.

the bike will actualy make more power by containing the heat in the headers

 

[Campverdefela]

This does not sound like it is good for the bike to contain this heat.
I am not a mechanic, but this subject sounds interesting.

I just installed the Hindle exhaust and no wrap, have noticed how much cooler the muffler and pipe are running than the stock setup....just a thought.