SonexBuilders.net

Do you guys have a favorite header/exhaust wrap? There is more than one choice on Aircraft Spruce. Thoughts?

John

Hi John,

Check out https://sonexbuilders.net/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5090&hilit=Heat+containment&start=10#p39011.

Bryan and Jeff suggested it and I found it to be excellent. I used hose clamps to secure it.

Good Luck,

Wes

I just use 2” exhaust wrap you can buy on ebay and used ss safety wire to keep it in place but clamps would work too. Some people say its a bad idea because it can promote corrosion after the intense heating and cooling effect. I did it to try and keep the heads cooler by less radiant heat being broadcast up to the bottom of the heads. It has worked for me on my jabiru and has given me 10+ degree lower temps. I will give up exhaust longevity for head longevity. Don’t go wider than 2” or it will be harder to keep tight.
Mark

Thanks for your input guys. Got some titanium 2 inch from Amazon.

John

FWIW, 6 years with header wrap and not a spec of corrosion. 4 years of that was outdoors at a tie-down.

Same as Mike. This stuff (sold under a bunch of brand names) over stock Sonex pipes. 6 years and counting. Recently had some off to inspect. No issues.

https://smile.amazon.com/Exhaust-LIBERR ... ef=sr_1_10

I've HEARD about folks who say that wrap ruined their exhaust but no one claims to be the actual person whose exhaust was ruined and so can't ask what they used that caused the problem.

Hey guys, did you just dip the stuff in water or do you have to let it soak for a while?

Hi John,

If you used the stuff Bryan and Jeff suggested, the answer is neither. The wrap doesn't use water in the application.

Ref. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp1uaJQZg4Q

Wes

An alternate to header wrap is ceramic coating. I had this done on my Sportsman (IO-360 4to1) exhaust (inside as well as outside). Claims are that it will stop 50% of the radiated head from the pipes. I'll likely do this on the Sonex next winter.

Mild steel used in some automotive exhaust systems will degrade pretty quickly when used with header wrap. However, the Jabiru exhaust as well as the AeroVee exhaust both use high quality stainless and hold up just fine to the wrap. Ceramic coating is a great option, but make sure you do any welding needed before coating (such as smoke injector bungs, manifold pressure gauge ports, etc) or you'll have a tough time getting good welds. If you can plan ahead and do the ceramic coating I highly recommend it (once you're flying no one wants to pull the exhaust and be down for several weeks).

One last word about wraps (mentioned in the last thread that came up), only buy the "good stuff" - DEI Titanium. Imitations often claim similar performance, but in practice rarely hold up as well as the DEI Titanium wrap. It's worth the extra few dollars to do right the first time.

Jeff