Exhaust Wrap - Insulator or Cooler?
- 750steve
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I was going to wrap my headers to to make the bike run cooler but i was told tonight that although that works on cars it has the opposite effect on bikes, something im finding it hard to get my head round! This may sound like a stupid statement from me, well i gotta learn from somewhere, but i thought it made an engine run cooler?, then it occured to me that if thats true then why don't MotoGP & WSBK teams wrap their exhausts?
Advice appreciated as i REALLY dont want to melt anything!!
07 ZX6R Race Bike
1977 Z750 B2 Twin
1976 Z650 B1
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- mark1122
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- Keep twisting it
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76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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- 750steve
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07 ZX6R Race Bike
1977 Z750 B2 Twin
1976 Z650 B1
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- DoubleDub
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The wrap is meant to insulate the headers and prevent heat from escaping (radiating) from the headers. This should essentially move more of the heat away from cylinder head before it escapes which should prevent some of the radiant heat effect in the top end of the engine.
That said, since there is so much air moving around the engine I'm not sure to what amount this actually will make a temperature difference.
I do know, however, that exhaust wrap will likely promote rust on your exhaust headers. This is not an issue on a race bike where the wrap would likely be changed each race, but can be very problematic on a street bike.
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- 750steve
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Do you by any chance know what the best way to change silver headers to Black is? PJ1 heat resistant paint or can they be powdercoated?
07 ZX6R Race Bike
1977 Z750 B2 Twin
1976 Z650 B1
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- DoubleDub
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- 750steve
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07 ZX6R Race Bike
1977 Z750 B2 Twin
1976 Z650 B1
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- DoubleDub
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- bountyhunter
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That's a complex question. Strictly from the point of heat flow, it increases engine temp by adding insulation... but it's complicated. Making the exhaust gas hotter makes it flow better, which improves flow through the engine. That changes the "lean" factor which actually has a significant effect on how hot it runs.750steve wrote: So are you saying wrapping the headers increases or decreases temp?
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- 650ed
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750steve wrote: Thank you for your reasoned answer! The Irish climate is a bit wet even in summer so maybe wrapping isn't such a good idea?
Do you by any chance know what the best way to change silver headers to Black is? PJ1 heat resistant paint or can they be powdercoated?
Here are a couple folks who had them ceramic coated:
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/169462-bui...=20&start=520#422993
kzrider.com/forum/advsearch?q=ceramic&se...ildforums=1&limit=20
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/378697-pro...=20&start=120#496717
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- mark1122
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- Keep twisting it
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Premium Exhaust Wrap Details
Exhaust wraps help to retain heat in your exhaust system, which increases horsepower while reducing radiant heat damage. By wrapping the exhaust system it maintains hotter exhaust gases, decreases the density, and allows the exhaust gas to exit the system faster! Greater exhaust scavenging is produced and lowers intake temperatures: that equals more horsepower.
76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.
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~ (k) / (z)
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- 750steve
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07 ZX6R Race Bike
1977 Z750 B2 Twin
1976 Z650 B1
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