Why is my exhaust like a mummy?

[supersport]

Mike pointet out on Sunday that I had something dangling down under my car and I have just been to have a look underneath. Around the exhaust pipe where the two down pipes join to a single pipe there is a load of bandaging wrapped around both pipes and the junction, these look to have been held by some kind of metal clamping ring which is now flapping around loose.

This bandaging is now slowly unraveling just like an Egyption mummy and seems to fall apart to the touch. It seems a bit like the stuff you put around a woodburning stove's glass. Is it normal to have this bandage here and purpwhat does it surve? Do I need to be concerned with replacing it?

 

[Diver944]

How long have you had the car?

That sounds very much like an emergency exhaust bandage to plug a hole. If left on too long they do just fall apart [&o]

 

[supersport]

I have only had the car since September.

I am amazed that it would seal a hole, it doesn't strike me as having enough body to it, but that was my thought when I saw it.

 

[robwright]

+1 mate it is an exhaust repair bandage. You put them on wet and they dry like a plaster cast when the exhaust gets hot. They usually come with wire to twist on and hold them in place. They are purely a get out of jail fix!!! Remove it and find what horrors may lie underneath!!!

 

[supersport]

Oh deep joy and I bet being the front end of the zuast its going to be the expensive bit. They joys of "cheap" motoring. Just goes to show that maintained regardless of cost usually means the opposite.

 

[zcacogp]

Does sound very much like an exhaust patch ... the only other possiblity is that it is an exhaust bandage, used to keep engine bay temperatures down by insulating the hot exhaust. However this is unlikely to be the case on the downpipe ...

Sorry to hear it!


Oli.

 

[mike220]

Am I the only one who think's it sounds like the pipe's been heat wrapped to me, as in :

http://www.exhaustwrapshop.com/default.aspx

It's a good thing if it is.............................and a bad one if it's repair bandage [8|]

 

[supersport]

ORIGINAL: mike220

Am I the only one who think's it sounds like the pipe's been heat wrapped to me, as in :

http://www.exhaustwrapshop.com/default.aspx

It's a good thing if it is.............................and a bad one if it's repair bandage [8|]

I think there is some of this higher up you can see it when looking down into the engine bay. Wondered what that was all about.
The stuff that is coming off actually goes along both pipes from halfway between the first joint/box to the pipe split and then down both pipes. This stuff was secured with some steel ties that look like the steel ties given on the wrap fastenings on the website you mention.

I guess the only way to truly find outs is to take the rest off and see what is under it. It doesn't sound like it is blowing though to be honest.

I had the car looked at not long after I got it to see what issues it had and this stuff wasn't commented on at the time.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: mike220

Am I the only one who think's it sounds like the pipe's been heat wrapped to me, as in :

http://www.exhaustwrapshop.com/default.aspx

No - see my post just above yours!


Oli.

 

[mike220]

Sorry Oli, scan reading again ! haha. Glad to see you were on the same page bud.

Mark, don't take it off - it'll never go back on again as it's like fibreglass wrap and once heated for a long time will just turn to dust if you disturb it. If there's no blow, don't go ! Post up some pics for a definitive answer of what it is, though the amount wrapped you describe - I'm pretty certain. Just re-fix the loose end mate. It's not particularly cheap stuff so don't want you having to re-do it all. Works very well at what it's designed for, so be glad someone's taken the car to do it mate - it's not a nice job, I did the rally car last time it was done [:'(]

Mike

 

[supersport]

Ok, I will take some pics later when its back in the garage.

It looks like bits of it have already disintegrated and is in tatters and having poked what is left it won't stay on for long anyway. It looks like one of the clamps moved and let a loose end come off.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: mike220

Sorry Oli, scan reading again ! haha. Glad to see you were on the same page bud.

[]

(I'm not optomistic tho'. I still think it's more likely to be a patch, particularly given where on the exhaust it is. Sorry. [] )


Oli.

 

[beeRS]

Mark, This really sounds like its exhaust heat wrap. If the metal ties are simply wire that would indicate that it is a repair - but that is unlikely. If the metal ties look like a metal version of a plastic cable tie I would be 99% sure that this is exhaust heat wrap - not a repair.

I have a bit of experience with heat wrap, and what you've described sounds exactly like what happens to 'ordinary quality' heat wrap after about a year of use. My advice would be to strip it all off. You don't need it there on a road car, though it does have some benefits. It will reduce under bonnet temperatures. It's not a bad idea to have, and I was thinking of using some on my 944. The downside of this stuff is that it can hold moisture and if the exhaust does not get hot enough to evaporate this it could promote corrosion. The best way of tackling heat wrap is to use a decent quality wrap (lasts about 4 time as long as the cheap stuff) and then use an appropriate coating that is sprayed on and acts as a water repelant, and hardens the wrap.

heres some links;

metal ties; http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/Exhausts-Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/c531_710/p140140/Stainless_Steel_Exhaust_Wrap_Ties/product_info.html

cheap wrap; http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/Exhausts-Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/c531_710/p140090/LMA_Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/product_info.html

good quality wrap; http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/Exhausts-Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/c531_710/p140000/Thermo-Tec_Exhaust_Heat_Wrap_(White)/product_info.html

High heat coating: http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/Exhausts-Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/c531_710/p140150/Hi-Heat_Exhaust_Wrap_Coating/product_info.html

I hope this helps you. I really don't think you have a bodged repair to worry about here [] You can either stip off the old wrap and do without it. Or stip it off and re-apply a good quality one.

 

[supersport]

ORIGINAL: beeRS


metal ties; http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/Exhausts-Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/c531_710/p140140/Stainless_Steel_Exhaust_Wrap_Ties/product_info.html

cheap wrap; http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/Exhausts-Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/c531_710/p140090/LMA_Exhaust_Heat_Wrap/product_info.html

Those ties are definitely what is on the car at the moment and that cheap wrap looks identical to what is currently disintegrating. I think there is some of the more expensive stuff higher up the system though.

Since there is no blowing, clearly we have identified what it is all about.

Thanks for you help.

 

[idc1873]

Could it not just be sound deadening wrap? It reduces resonance noise within the cab

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Exhaust-Wrap-10M-Roll-52mm-Wide-10-Stainless-Ties_W0QQitemZ120522771375QQcategoryZ72205QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m513QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DRCI%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%252BMH%252BUCC%26otn%3D10%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7605177321897956943

 

[supersport]

ORIGINAL: idc1873

Could it not just be sound deadening wrap? It reduces resonance noise within the cab

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Exhaust-Wrap-10M-Roll-52mm-Wide-10-Stainless-Ties_W0QQitemZ120522771375QQcategoryZ72205QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m513QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DRCI%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%252BMH%252BUCC%26otn%3D10%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7605177321897956943

That doesn't say anything about noise deadening but is the same as the stuff we have been talking about?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Thats what I think I saw Mark
Mike