How to Stop Rust From a Heat Wrap

Wrapping your exhaust system can give your engine a little extra boost in horsepower.

Heat wraps or exhaust header wraps are materials installed around the exhaust systems of cars and trucks. They are designed to prevent heat from the exhaust from migrating to nearby parts of the vehicle and causing damage. They also retain the heat in the exhaust system, increasing the engine's horsepower. But wrapping the exhaust can also trap water or moisture on the pipes, potentially causing rust. Such damage is easy to prevent if you follow several simple guidelines.

Instructions

1. Check your exhaust system for any damage, particularly on the muffler and tailpipes. Modern-day exhaust systems are rust-resistant, and heat wraps will not encourage the retention of water on their outside surfaces. But breaks or prexisting rust can lead to further damage, so it's important to have the exhaust system in good working order before using the wraps.

2. Install the wraps correctly, according to manufacturer's suggestions. There are a variety of blended materials used in exhaust wraps, and each has a slightly different suggested method of installation. Not following the suggested method can lead to an early failure of the wraps, as well as possible damage to the exhaust system.

3. Refrain from getting the wraps wet. While the wraps are generally made out of materials that are water-resistant, they are not waterproof. Driving your vehicle in the rain will not cause a problem for properly installed heat wraps. But driving through a creek bed or other high water that reaches the lower levels of the vehicle could cause a problem. Once the material is wet, the moisture might be retained next to the exhaust system, causing future problems with rust.

4. Keep your vehicle away from power washers. Whether handheld or the type used at automated car washes, this powerful stream of water can easily damage the wraps. That damage could lead to complete failure of the wrap system or eventual rust damage to the exhaust pipes.

5. Examine your exhaust system on a regular basis. A quick visual inspection of the system and the heat wraps can spotlight any potential problems -- allowing for easy fixes before the problem becomes more serious.

References

• Heatshield Products: Exhaust Systems 101