turbo blankets: beneficial or a burden?
#1
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I wanted to install my turbo blanket that came with the kit to reduce heat soak and protect the radiator hose that comes from the heater core back into the block. I've read your mixed reviews dating back to 2010. I thought it was good to keep the engine bay temps down especially when it comes down to radiator hoses and water temp. It only confused me more why and why not to install it. I was also thinking of cutting a hole in my cowl and directing air to the back of the engine. Is a turbo blanket beneficial or a burden?
#3
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I have a a waste gate actuator on the turbo. does the blanket lay over the arm? Also I received a flyin miata heat shield and intake box. Is it smart to cover the filter up because as it stands I have it where the hush kit walls it from the rest of the bay but not covered on top. I know this restricts airflow as wells as the aluminum heats up fast so it's pull hot air. Is this beneficial or a burden for either or in reference to both the heat shield and hush kit
#9
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I have a cloth style blanket I do not have the springs or wire holding it on it just sits snugly on the exhaust housing. I have tested it to 140 mph with no hood with 0 problems. I do not know if there is actually a performance gain other than keeping heat in the exhaust housing witch I have heard arguments that go both ways. I can say I do not burn myself anymore on the housing and the engine compartment stays much much cooler. For that purpose alone it has to help and I love the fact that even after an hour drive and some hard pulls I can put my hand on it and not get burned.
#13
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I have a cloth style blanket I do not have the springs or wire holding it on it just sits snugly on the exhaust housing. I have tested it to 140 mph with no hood with 0 problems. I do not know if there is actually a performance gain other than keeping heat in the exhaust housing witch I have heard arguments that go both ways. I can say I do not burn myself anymore on the housing and the engine compartment stays much much cooler. For that purpose alone it has to help and I love the fact that even after an hour drive and some hard pulls I can put my hand on it and not get burned.
#17
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I'm interested of hitting the engine bay in various spots with a temp. Gun to see what I need to wrap. Especially my hoses. Lol At that comment. And just because my exhaust manifold is cast iron doesn't mean it won't crack. The link said that our exhaust parts are made with heat absorbent materials when they are built. With this said I'm still not satisfied with the temperature. I was considering the gv style headlight,heat extractor or Randall cowl tube positioned to the back of the engine. I will be performing a coolant reroute and I need to see the cleanest bay that performed the task without it looking sloppy. It needs to be clean.
Last edited by BlackBandit; 03-25-2014 at 08:43 AM.
#18
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If you're primarily worried about your heater core hoses, my suggestion is it to do the following:
- Buy silicone heater hoses from Mishimoto (spelling?). The silicone is less likely to harden and fail due to heat cycling.
- Build or buy (depending on your turbo set up) a proper sheetmetal heat shield which protects the hoses and brake components from radiant heat. There are plenty of examples on this forum. Throw some DEI reflective mat on the inner face of the shielding for extra measure.
- Swaintech your manifold, exhaust housing, and DP. This is a splurge and one which I didn't bother to do on my own car due to $$$$.
-Zach
- Buy silicone heater hoses from Mishimoto (spelling?). The silicone is less likely to harden and fail due to heat cycling.
- Build or buy (depending on your turbo set up) a proper sheetmetal heat shield which protects the hoses and brake components from radiant heat. There are plenty of examples on this forum. Throw some DEI reflective mat on the inner face of the shielding for extra measure.
- Swaintech your manifold, exhaust housing, and DP. This is a splurge and one which I didn't bother to do on my own car due to $$$$.
-Zach
#19
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Mishimoto makes only two hoses for the nb unlike the na. The top and bottom radiator. Not the hoses going to and from the block into the heater core. I think there is a a group buy for silicone hoses on cr.net. It is for every fluid hose available. I'll communicate with the supplier to see if I can get only those two back hoses.