How Essential Is The Downpipe Heatsheild.

[djinuk 2]

How essential is the heatsheild for the downpipe, ( the little one ) Reason i ask is i have freshley painted my bay, and im a bit uncertain about putting the grotty thing back in. That plus the fact the bolts sheered upon removal.

[Goliath 94]

I would say it is really quite essential, but then I have seen a car catch fire purely from lack of heatshield.

[Anthony 1,003]

Seen several 205's with that heatshield missing, and no obvious ill effects.

 

I would imagine that you can still buy one new for reasonable money if you want a new looking one to match the freshly redone engine bay?

[Baz 421]

You can, they're about 4quid.

[djinuk 2]

aight then thanks guys. Ill decide upon whether to use it later in the week, going to have to get the flaming studs out from the snapped bolts if i do. Hmm. It will be running a gti6 manifold so maybe it would be a idea to get it back in there due to how close they sit to the bulk head.

[GLPoomobile 958]

What are people's opinions on replacing it with adhesive backed heat reflecting material?

 

I was thinking about it the other day and wondered if there was a risk that the material could retain moisture behind it and rot the bulkhead. But then again, the adhesive should keep moisture out, but only if applied perfectly.

[Cameron 16]

I think that's the best idea, but that stuff is expensive.

 

I've just cleaned mine up and painted it with Halfords Aluminuim paint, it comes up quite nicely.

[richsmells 2]

Expect your CDs to get warmer.

[djinuk 2]

Well im answering my original own question here, but basically i lifted all my carpet and removed all the sound deadening to see that all the seam sealer around my eghaust tunnel behind where the heatshield sits was cracked, needless to say ive now cleaned it all back up but i will be buying a new heatsheild from pug and reapplying the seam sealer on the reverse of the eghaust tunnel.

 

anybody have a part number for the heatsheild ?

[alync406 4]

I think that the seam sealer cracks and falls off even with the heat shield there,my two 205's have had the heat shield and the sealer was cracked and falling off on both.

[djinuk 2]

ah crap, may aswel of left it off then, but ive drilled the broken rivits now aswell as upset the paint aroud them so i better get another heatshield on to hide it , just need that part num now.

[Rom 0]

What are people's opinions on replacing it with adhesive backed heat reflecting material?

 

I was thinking about it the other day and wondered if there was a risk that the material could retain moisture behind it and rot the bulkhead. But then again, the adhesive should keep moisture out, but only if applied perfectly.

 

Ive been using this for a long time now. Got ripped off for respray, and underneath was fine still, after about a year. Applied some more when it came back.

I think its pretty much some sort of fibreglass type mat, with an foil type front (very technical i know!).

As long as the surface is clean, its really sticky, holds fine.

 

I still notice heat around the stereo, but no where near as much as with no heatshield.

[djinuk 2]

hmm, i think i may try this sticky stuff you mention, any ideas best place to buy it.

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

Doesn't the speedo cable go behind this? If it's this one it'll fry it in no time.

[Rom 0]

I think ive always been missing some heatsheild, my speedo cable has never gone behind any shield.

This is part of the reason a lot of them flicker. They dry out quickly due to being near the manifold.

 

Anyway..being the anal kind of guy i am My speedo cable is wrapped in heatwrap anyway. As is my reverse cable, and throttle cable.

 

I got the stuff of ebay. Cant remember the seller though sorry.

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

Hehe, when I fitted my Mi16 engine I added an extra heat shield above the factory one with the speedo cable well-covered - it has never been changed in 10 years and is smooth.