Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: LeftAngle on Monday,September 25, 2023, 01:25:11 PM
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Has anyone used ceramic fiber insulation on their car… for any purpose?
At speed, 659R’s mufflers apparently reach temps around 1,000°f (538c). The muffler color I’ve chosen for shows is yellow, but no paint I’ve found has been able to withstand the heat for long, requiring frequent removal and repainting.
Ceramic Fiber Insulation Blankets are sold to insulate stoves and other high heat appliances. I’m told they can reduce 1,000°f at a hot surface to well below 300°f on the cold side, 1” away.
I won’t be painting a thermal blanket, but a painted aluminum cover around one may be in my future.
Any experience, plusses, minuses or other information from those in the know would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bruce
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1000°F ?? That is excessive. Is it running lean?
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1000 is an educated guess. I’ve read its common for mufflers to run at those temps. Whatever the actual temperatures are, they are far above what high temp paints can handle... every brand and style paint has been tried over the past decade. I need to come up with another plan. btw, 659R is not happy running lean, so it is not that.
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You can get an infrared gun at Harbor Freight pretty cheap or brake caliper temp marking paint at Pegasus Racing to determine the actual temps. I have used "Jet Hot" coating on race headers, pipes and mufflers. It significantly cuts engine bay and under floor temps. It is not cheap, a muffler might be $150 or so? I'm pretty sure they do colors too.
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I will check them out, thanks
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VHT header paint is supposed to rated up to 2000°F. Some powercoatings can also handle temps close to 1000°F. There is also ceramic coating, that will easily withstand those temps.