What's up guys - been a while since I've posted.

I was wondering if anybody else has tried header wrap on their Y-pipe? After seeing how Kev had wrapped all his exuast sytem I decided to give it a try. I just wrapped the Y-pipe though (I think Kev wrapped everything all the way to the muffler) using DEI Wrap and noticed a difference in acceleration and also a smoother idle. I guess it kinda makes sense to wrap it since the stock Y is covered all over with heat shields.

 

I usually dont come to this forum but I did on accident and saw this thread. If you live where it either snows or in a coastal area, I recommend you not wrap it. Infact, I wouldnt wrap it at all, the Y pipe is underneath the car and it will collect alot of road grime and dirt. Even though it is stainless steel, the Y pipe can still corrode if constatnly immersed in corrosive material. I took my wrapping off and repolished my pipe.

 

but even if the wrap gets wet, the heat from the exhaust should keep it dry. I can see it being a problem if the wrap gets wet and the car is no longer running, allowing the exhaust to cool off.

 

I've heard that wrapping the exhaust isn't good. I've heard that it tends to keep any moisture inside exposing the exhaust to the possiblity of corrosion...even on SS systems.

 

I wrapped mine and have thanked myself often for it in the reduction of noise fropm the flex section and protection from damage to a small extebt from rocks and such under car.

 

There we go... What about the compromize of wrapping the flex section?

 

Yeah, I heard the same thing from the people that did my exhaust. On the West Coast, they said wrap=crystalization=cracked pipes. They didn't recommend doing it at all. Back East it's a different story.

WizzaMax: You say it decreased your noise levels inside the cabin? From the y-pipe itself or the "hissing" from the flex section? I noticed you have a 4th Gen Max. That was a Stillen design flaw...


ADMAN

 

What does crystalization mean? Is this refering to deposits that form on the wrap and slowly corrode the pipe? Or does this mean the metal changes properties and cracks due to heat stress? I live in central Texas so I'm not at all concerened about the weather like everybody in the Northeast or coastal areas.

By the way I've got a virtually new RT cat for sale in the "For Sale" forum if anybody is interested:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=76542

 

Actually mine did make noise (Warpspeed) but only for 2 days as the next day I picked up the wrap and the following took care of the problem completely. As far as teh long term effect, I did not plan on keeping it on long so I did not consider the effects.

Call it early plans on getting rid of the Maxima.

 

Wrapping the flex section would definitely quite down the ride.

 

yes, I was going to do that.... good compromise between wrapping the whole thing....

 

This is directly from Brian C Catts
"You can count on header wrap bringing your pipe to a substantially hastened
demise, header wrap is as deadly to y-pipes as it is to headers and should
only be used for racing purposes. Only rusted stainless y-pipe I have ever
seen was from under header wrap, amazing."

Im hesitant to even wrap my flex section now.

 

That may be the case but to be honest with you I really like the way my car drives and responds with it so I'll take my chances. If it's a couple of years before I need to get a new Y-pipe, I think it's good trade-off.