Apologies if this is old news to everyone else, but I've just seen one of these on a rather tasty JDM Sti on the projects board:

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...-Blankets.aspx

Has anyone got any experience of using them? I can appreciate the physics of how they work I'm just a bit concerned that long term keeping the turbo hot may cook the oil around the bearing and cause it to fail.

 

Have one fitted to my hawkeye over the VF48 turbo. Been on there for the last 5 or so years. Can't tell you if it's helped power/spool etc but certainly helps with under bonnet temps. Worth the money I'd say!

 

Thanks BPR. Can I ask where you got yours from?

 

Mine came from FleaBay


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Tur...EOIBSA:GB:1123

 

PTP blankets are good Had a few

 

And did you leave or refit the existing heat sheilds?

 

You CAN refit the existing heat shield over the top of the blanket, but it's a bit of an **** to do and you have to modify the original heat shield to do it. Most don't bother, but I did as it looks more factory and adds another layer of protection!

 

No heat shield in mine with a blanket and you can put your hand on top of it after a good run, great at keeping bonnet temps down

 

Blanket vs Ceramic coating?

 

For £50-£75 this sounds like a decent little bolt on mod.
So I take it that to fit it I'll have to remove the old hear shield then it's just a case of reaching round the turbo to clip it in place.
Is this right or am I being hopelessly naive?

 

In theory, yes. But they are always a bit of an **** to fit and the springs don't always work correctly. Some people wire lock them in place instead some manage the springs. Make sure it isn't fouling the actuator arm and lever in any way once fitted.

 

I've yet to find anything that is straightforward to fit!
But as long as I don't need to disassemble the turbo or raise the car then I'll probably be ok.

 

Mine was installed by Richard @ FB Tuning nearly 6 years ago when he upgraded my turbo and lots of other bits to boot. It's the last piece to put back on before you re-install the intercooler so I would suggest for ease you remove that before trying to install the blanket. He did have to raise my car up in the air on the lift to get to the underside to clip the blanket on properly. The car had the belly pan removed too at the time.


I'm sure these can be fitted without gaining access to the underside of the car though. I agree, never expect a job to be easy then you'll always be pleasantly surprised!

 

I hate that belly pan.
But thanks for the info. If I can get hold of the parts then hopefully I'll be fitting a catch can this weekend so while I'm at it I'll have a good poke around the turbo and see what access is like.

 

Good luck! Sure it will be fine.

 

does size T3 will also fit VF36?

 

Pain in the **** to get the springs on or both of them anyway, I had to put a little slit in my blanket for the actuator arm being twinscroll it's slightly different.

 

I have a cdf blanket fitted over my tdo5 and the fitment was very poor, I too had to make a slit into the blanket to fit it around the actuator arm, the spring clips are pretty much useless and a ***** to fit so I cut a jubilee clamp to size, much nicer fit and no fouling on actuator arm etc

 

Don't be alarmed if there is a bit of smoke and smelling coming from the blanket after install, mine was like this for the first 100 miles then disappeared but check for any oil leaks as could end up in a nasty fire

 

If it's still visibly on fire with 6ft flames after 100 miles then I'd say take it back off again!

 

I've gone for cermaic coating on exhaust housing and heatsheild . .not fitted yet so no feedback on engine bay temps . ..hopefully couple weeks should be fitted and I'll have some 1st hand info

 

Out of interest what are the typical costs of ceramic coating?

 

Not sure on those two bits, they're not long back from Zircotec, haven't had invoice through yet . . .exhaust housing had different coating than heatsheild so thinking that'll be a bit more expensive . ..when I had RCM manifold and RCM exhaust system coated that almost doubled the cost of original items . .. it's low maintenance, very durable, should reduce temps by 30% and reduce spool up time

 

Did they coat both the inside and outside of the exhaust?

 

Outside

 

Outside for downpipe and centre section but they have done inside the exhaust tip

 

God that looks horrible.

 

Agreed, would have looked better white ala the WRC car. RCM used these guys at one time dont know if they still do but will quote you for ceramic coating

http://woof-tmt.com/contact/

 

Loads of colours avail
I personally think the Black looks good once fitted on car / after all , we are talking about a exhaust here ha ha , think a dark grey would look sweet also

 

If only they did the ceramic coating in shiny stainless colour!