Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (August 2008, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:33:37 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Hersh <cmwolfsburg@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Hersh <cmwolfsburg@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Wrap exhaust pipes with fiberglass?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I was in Harbor Freight buying X-treme Tape (on sale for 3.99 USD till 8/25, BTW, save $1) and I mentioned to a guy in that aisle that it got high marks from folks on the Vanagon list serv.

He said he used to own a Vanagon and said I can reduce heat in the engine compartment by 70% if I:

Wrap the exhaust pipes (engine block to the cat) with fiberglass (using some kind of high-temp fiberglass stuff), securing with stainless steel wire, which in time will bond the whole shebang together. That helps to send the heat out the exhaust and, as the exhaust pipes will no longer act as radiators into the engine compartment, reduce engine overheating, heat stress on electrical components.

I guess I can see the reduction of waste heat part in a general sense, but I am puzzled about the engine overheating part. I'd think that a properly running Vanagon's cooling system will keep the block and heads cool enough that the hot exhaust pipes won't add that much to their heat load...

He made a particular point about engine overheating, saying, after a long trip, you slow down, engine overheats, you lose compression, etc... and that this will fix all that.

My guess is that if that fixed or improved something for him, then he had something else wrong with his van. But I smiled and thanked him, as I wanted to beat the traffic home.

Thoughts from the collective brain power of the list?

Mark, "one week till road trip!"

-- 86 Campmobile Six-Seater "Monty"

Black dogs are euthanized at a greater rate than other-colored dogs, regardless of temperament. Learn about Black Dog Syndrome at http://www.blackpearldogs.com/


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.