Header wrap/ only on the collectors

[2.5GT]

I'm still debating whether to wrap the header or not. It's a eBay special header, cheap and effective. But it makes this obnoxious "sewing machine" sound, almost identical to an exhaust leak. It's obviously not a leak, it's just the valvetrain making noise through the thin walled header. For those of you who has the knockoffs knows what I'm talking about.
The real Borlas, i believe does not make this sound. But they have horrible welds and prone to cracking. It doesn't seem like the route i want to go and i rather not spend $200+ for a header again.

So wrapping the header would be the only option for me. The only problem is that I have a small oil leak, and it seems to be coming from the oil pan itself. It starts from up top and slowly makes it's way down to the drain plug. It's nothing major, but what I'm worrying about is the oil being carry off with the wind and lands on the header wrap. The oil then would soak into the wrap and cause it to light on fire with the extreme heat, even worse, creating a fireball effect. Where I'm concerning where the oil will land at, is right where it connects to the catalytic converter. That curve section right behind the oil pan area.

Wrapping the whole header would be ideal. I'm not worrying about it being rusted out. I believe stainless steel takes along time to rust out compare to mild steel. What I'm aiming for is getting rid of that nasty "leaking" sound. Wrapping the whole header would damping the sound and/or make it disappear. But the oil issue still troubles me, and the car is a daily driver, so it takes a beating everyday.

My question is, will wrapping only portion of the header. Where the collectors meets the heads make any difference? Will it damping the "leaking" sound?

You would figure it's the closest to the valvetrain, so wrapping that section would atleast make somewhat of a difference. Thought sound does travel quite a distance in the header. I can't really put my figure on this one. I just can't stand that noise any more :cry:

(FYI, I have the borla knockoffs, stock cats, resonator-less mid pipe, magnaflow axleback)

Picture for reference, shamelessly stolen from MConte05 (and photoshop'd) on Nasioc.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/4A-FE/Random/exhaust032ab6.jpg

[Huffer]

Any possibility of fabbing up an exhaust shield that clamps over the header?

[rougeben83]

My question is, will wrapping only portion of the header. Where the collectors meets the heads make any difference? Will it damping the "leaking" sound?


no it wont.

[ScoobySnack]

Tell me how it goes. I picked up some headers on the form awhile back and it was the first generation borla headers (not shiny) I guess and it makes crazy leak noise but I know it not leaking since I check all the time. Maybe this will solve my problem too.

[2.5GT]

Any possibility of fabbing up an exhaust shield that clamps over the header?

I'm not sure about the shield over the header. The might be some clearance problem with the oil filter, it's very close where it's at now.




no it wont.

Damn :cry:

So wrapping the whole header is the only option

*kicks rocks*

unless you want to try these:
HEADER (http://www.speedyracer.com/servlet/the-173/Subaru-Impreza-Header-for/Detail)

[)2edline]

The speedyracer ones are also ebay specials. I just got them installed after picking them up cheap.

I have the sewing machine noise =\

I think I can live with it however.

[rougeben83]

the sewing machine noise is due to the thinner walled exhaust pipes used on any aftermarket header. It basically acts to amplify the engine/valvetrain noise that's already in there. You'll get the same result with real borla headers and the EL headers too.

Technically, the silicone spray that you see a lot of guys put on their wrap is used to prevent oil from soaking into the wrap, causing a fire hazard. Whether that reasoning is enough to take that chance is up to you.

[2.5GT]

The ones that Zues Marine posted up are about the same ones I have, same header, different "brand".

But the silicone spray has a protection up to 1500* and combine with the heat wrap, thats around 2500*. According to DEI, their company actually recommends to use the spray on the heat wrap.