What exactly does wrapping your exhaust do?

Just wondering what wrapping your exhaust does, and if there are any down sides to it.

 

The reason for wrapping the exhaust is to "increase the scavaging effect"
The headers remain HOTTER and therefore PULL more exhaust from the cylinder on the exhaust stroke.
The faster and more efficently you can REMOVE EXHAUST FROM cylinder, the faster fresh fuel/air can be PULLED IN.

This is all theory, some agree/some do not.

1 major down side is the life of the pipes. ESPECCIALLY when you start the bike let it run for 30 secs or so then turn it off. Condensation MUST be removed 100% to prevent early rusting. So if you start it make sure to run it ATLEAST 10-15 mins.

 

couldnt you put some kind of spray on high heat rust protector to eliminate or minimize that problem?

 

The moisture accumulates on the inside of the pipes... More specifically, down in the lowest points of the exhaust. Kinda hard to apply a coating there, esp. considering that the surface has to be cleaned first. :mrgreen:

 

I always thought that the purpose of Wraps was to keep underhood temps down. Changing from cast headers to tubular creates a lot of issues. Iron headers was not as poor a choice as Header makers would have you believe for anything not a pure race machine.
Putting wraps on Bike headers IMO would be either for : Looks Or to keep from burning one's self. Any other 'advantages' are inconsequential.

 

The moisture that I speak of is between the pipe and wrap. (Even though inside will happen as well w/ ANY pipe) Rain, humidity, ect is not fully "boiled off" and then remains on the "warm" pipe and begins the rust process.

I have never had experience with TOUCHING 8O a wrapped pipe. Does it really insulate well enough to allow touching?

 

Yes, I can touch my pipes for a couple seconds without any harm, even after a long ride.

 

I've heard that wrapped pipes "stink" as in, smell real bad - like rotten eggs. Is that true?
thx,
baz

 

For the first 100 miles or so they do smell a bit. I coated mine with clearcoat, so it was even worse, but they do not smell at all now.

 

header wrap is applied to keep exhaust temps higher, therefore theoreticaly makeing the exhaust thinner (less viscous) so it can flow faster. i am thinking of wrapping my pipes for looks mostly.

 

Header wrap is good for hiding dents !

 

Thanks alot guys, not gonna lie I love this forum everyone on here seems really helpful and it is really nice to talk to people that have knowledge about this. So thanks again.