Heat Shielding

Heat shielding keeps a turbo system’s heat where it belongs: in the exhaust, not in the intake air, wiring, hoses and bodywork around it. This section holds exhaust wrap and heat tape, turbo blankets and covers, heat-resistant sleeves for hoses and cables, and adhesive mats and panels for the bodywork.

A turbine housing can glow under load, and it radiates heat in every direction. Nearby intake pipes and the intercooler pick it up, so the charge reaches the engine hotter and less dense. After shutdown, heat soak can bake rubber hoses, wiring looms and plastic connectors. Shielding works in two ways: insulation slows the heat passing through it, while a reflective face sends radiant heat back towards its source.

Pick the type by what you are protecting:

• Wraps and tapes: some wraps are rated to 800 °C. Tapes and bands are listed by roll length and width, for example 4.5 m × 25 mm or 15 m × 50 mm.
• Turbo blankets and covers: made for T3, T4 and T6 turbine housings or for particular turbos and cars, plus a stainless steel shield for one turbo. They cut radiant heat at the source.
• Sleeves: heat-resistant covers and fibreglass tubes with an aluminium outer layer, in diameters from 10 mm upwards, for hoses, fuel lines and wiring. Some close with hook-and-loop, so they fit without undoing the hose.
• Mats and panels: self-adhesive mats in sizes such as 250 × 500 and 500 × 500 mm, and a gold reflective barrier. There is also an aluminium firewall plate, and a stainless steel insulation sheet rated to 1000 °C.
• Materials and colours: fibreglass, fibreglass with an aluminium layer, basalt or ceramic fibre, in silver, black, gold, grey, red or white.

A turbo blanket keeps more heat inside the turbine housing, so the turbo can stay hot for longer after you switch off. That makes an idle cool-down after hard running all the more worthwhile.

Wrap pipes tightly with an even overlap, secure the ends with stainless locking ties, and leave sensors, flexible joints and clamps uncovered. New wrap may smoke on its first heat cycles as the binder burns off. Wrap holds moisture against the pipe, which can speed up corrosion on mild steel, so look underneath from time to time. Stick mats to a clean, grease-free panel, leaving an air gap between mat and heat source.