glad to see someone say something like this.
The only reason regular cars ever have insulated exhaust pipes that I am
aware of is to maintain exahsut heat to keep the cat well lit and
catalyzing.
Or you could want to retain a lot of heat to help get better fuel mileage.

but I don't actually see how insulating the exhaust pipes is going to help
the engine stay cooler............and wasn't that the original concern ?
scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: Fiberglass Exhaust Wrap - Cooler engine compartment

>A caution.
>
> Often, exhaust systems are designed to utilize the free air to help keep
> them cool. It does pretty well as long as the vehicle is moving right
> along, but get slow or stop and the heat is not carried away but
> collects in the engine space, making it mighty hot. It is all a trade
> off. If you wrap the exhaust with any kind of insulating material you
> are going to really cook the devil out of those pipes when running at
> power - which is the time you really want them to be cooling in the
> breeze and getting all that heat carried away. The exhaust system will
> burn out much, much sooner than if simply let exposed to the ambient air.
>
> So be careful in your choices on your Vanagon.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers.
>
> Chris S wrote:
>> Is anyone here using fiberglass exhaust wrap?  Any comments and/or
>> experiences?
>>
>> I'm thinking of wrapping the entire exhaust up to the catalytic
>> converter.
>> Also I'd like to insulate the intake runners and place some insulating
>> mat
>> between the fuel lines and the engine.
>>
>> Chris S.
>>
>>
>>