Minimizing heat from the exhaust

LD-Ordie

10+ Posts
Apr 28, 2024
75
105
Ridgecrest, CA.
Name
Jimmy
Trying to reduce the heat from the pipes on my 24 FreeWheeler. Options are removing the Cat, which is a fair amount of work. Buying aftermarket pipes without the Cat. Fairly expensive. Has anyone tried wrapping the pipes and installing the heat shield over the wrap? Gotta believe it would help, but is it enough? Main issue is my wife as the Trikes really add a lot of heat on her legs on a long ride. Thanks
 
Trying to reduce the heat from the pipes on my 24 FreeWheeler. Options are removing the Cat, which is a fair amount of work. Buying aftermarket pipes without the Cat. Fairly expensive. Has anyone tried wrapping the pipes and installing the heat shield over the wrap? Gotta believe it would help, but is it enough? Main issue is my wife as the Trikes really add a lot of heat on her legs on a long ride. Thanks
We have many Customers that use Titanium wrap on their headers, under the heat shields. Here is a LINK to the wrap that works best.
Here are a couple of photos of it-

exhaust_wrap_under_shields.jpg


shields_installed.jpg


Much of the heat your wife is feeling is from the exhaust, and the above wrap will help that. There is also heat coming off the engine, that gets swept off the engine, but instead of going past her, it hits the rear fender and then goes up her right side.

If the wrap does not get her comfortable, look into cooling the actual engine down (your engine will thank you also).

You can see a report on Why & How to cool it down at this LINK.


Kevin
 
Trying to reduce the heat from the pipes on my 24 FreeWheeler. Options are removing the Cat, which is a fair amount of work. Buying aftermarket pipes without the Cat. Fairly expensive. Has anyone tried wrapping the pipes and installing the heat shield over the wrap? Gotta believe it would help, but is it enough? Main issue is my wife as the Trikes really add a lot of heat on her legs on a long ride. Thanks

I have a 2017 with an aftermarket head pipe, along with the insulators on the inside of the heat shields and a full dyno with a TTS tuner and it still got hot. Now I just installed a 1 1/2 tank lift kit along with the air wings from DK Custom products. So today the wife and I took a ride about 50 miles thru the country then about 40 miles back the interstate. While on the interstate I set the cruise at about 77-78 mph and when we exited it, we were in a nearby town. The heat didn't seem to be as hot as it used to be, was it my imagination. I don't think so, I believe the addition of the tank lift and air wings did help. I think it was DK that mentioned about removing the left side plastic leg protector to allow air to get pulled out, I haven't done that yet.
 
I have a 2017 with an aftermarket head pipe, along with the insulators on the inside of the heat shields and a full dyno with a TTS tuner and it still got hot. Now I just installed a 1 1/2 tank lift kit along with the air wings from DK Custom products. So today the wife and I took a ride about 50 miles thru the country then about 40 miles back the interstate. While on the interstate I set the cruise at about 77-78 mph and when we exited it, we were in a nearby town. The heat didn't seem to be as hot as it used to be, was it my imagination. I don't think so, I believe the addition of the tank lift and air wings did help. I think it was DK that mentioned about removing the left side plastic leg protector to allow air to get pulled out, I haven't done that yet.

Are you using the DEI Harley pre-cut heat shield insulator kit? Our Drag Specialties rep gave us display samples and they look like they would work well.
 
Thanks guys, so going to give it a shot. I currently have the 2" lift, filter relocate kit, Jagg 5 row cooler and removed the left heat deflector. That reduced oil temp by 30 degrees from 260 at 70 mph and 100 degrees while 2 up. I had the 5 row cooler sitting on the shelve from another project, and have a Jag 10 row coming. Gotta think that will be worth another 10 or 15 degrees. Will be installing the Flo oil filter at the next change. Heard it's good for 5 degrees. Took a solo ride yesterday, 70 mph and 100 degrees. Oil temp after 30 miles was 123. I also choose not to use my down pipe on the frame for the cooler as it gets too much heat from the front cylinder. I think the crash bar in direct air flow is better. Making progress

IMG_5041.jpeg
 
Are you using the DEI pre-cut heat shield insulator kit? Our Drag Specialties rep gave us display samples and they look like they would work well.
I did look them up and verified proper part number. They look to me like they would work along with a wrap. On order, thanks for sharing!
 
I installed the DEI heat shields on my 21’ Tri Glide and they reduced the overall felt heat dramatically.

Bang for the buck, adding these is IMO a no-brainer.
I agree, they are pre-cut per year and model, you can't even see them tucked behind the stock Harley heat shields, they work and the price is right. I didn't realize how diverse DEI's product line is. It includes bikes, side by sides, cars, trucks, boats, etc.
 
260 oil temp is insane I don't understand how it could be that high. I have a cam and tune in my 114, nothing extra in the cooling department and my oil runs right at 225, maybe 230 on a real hot day.
 
260 oil temp is insane I don't understand how it could be that high. I have a cam and tune in my 114, nothing extra in the cooling department and my oil runs right at 225, maybe 230 on a real hot day.
So I did post something a while back asking what kind of temperatures everyone was running, but really received no response except one dickhead telling me I worry too much and I need to just ride it. An admin removed his post.
 
So I did post something a while back asking what kind of temperatures everyone was running, but really received no response except one dickhead telling me I worry too much and I need to just ride it. An admin removed his post.
Well unfortunately we have a couple of Richard Craniums on here. But the upside is the administrators do keep them in check.
 
260 oil temp is insane I don't understand how it could be that high. I have a cam and tune in my 114, nothing extra in the cooling department and my oil runs right at 225, maybe 230 on a real hot day.
I've been keeping track of my oil temperature and my head temperature for the last couple of years. On the hottest days with high humidity I've never recorded over 180° oil temperature. Head temperature can hover around 285 on the hottest days. I am running DK's oil filter relocation and oil cooler kit.
 
Thanks guys, so going to give it a shot. I currently have the 2" lift, filter relocate kit, Jagg 5 row cooler and removed the left heat deflector. That reduced oil temp by 30 degrees from 260 at 70 mph and 100 degrees while 2 up. I had the 5 row cooler sitting on the shelve from another project, and have a Jag 10 row coming. Gotta think that will be worth another 10 or 15 degrees. Will be installing the Flo oil filter at the next change. Heard it's good for 5 degrees. Took a solo ride yesterday, 70 mph and 100 degrees. Oil temp after 30 miles was 123. I also choose not to use my down pipe on the frame for the cooler as it gets too much heat from the front cylinder. I think the crash bar in direct air flow is better. Making progressView attachment 127040
If you really want to get ambitious. You could replace your header pipe with a de-catted header pipe and wrap the pipe before installation. You going have to remove your header pipe to wrap it anyway, why not install one without the catalytic converter. Its relatively cheap. See below:
 
I've been keeping track of my oil temperature and my head temperature for the last couple of years. On the hottest days with high humidity I've never recorded over 180° oil temperature. Head temperature can hover around 285 on the hottest days. I am running DK's oil filter relocation and oil cooler kit.
I'm amazed at the wide spread of numbers, but your the first stating a 180. We all know that friction creates heat. Maybe I'm still in the break in period. Bike has 5800 miles, just did the second oil change. Running Amsoil 20/50. Bike runs good, idles proper, getting 40-42 mpg solo, and 35-38 2 up and loaded on the freeway doing 75+ only recently started checking cylinder head temperature . Oil temp was 230 with head temp at the plug being 300 and 325. Oil temp at 215 had head temp at 270 and 290. Guess I really do need to ride it and keep an eye on the numbers. Oil cooler will be going from a 5 row, to a 10 row next week. I did buy a set of Love Jugs, but are back ordered so who knows Temperature where I live just went from 118 to 102, so will be spending more time on the bike. This morning I did a 30 mile ride, 95 degrees, no traffic or stop lights. At 65 mph, oil temp was 215. While on a trip last week, before the cooler, and oil temp was 260, that was concerning
 
If you really want to get ambitious. You could replace your header pipe with a de-catted header pipe and wrap the pipe before installation. You going have to remove your header pipe to wrap it anyway, why not install one without the catalytic converter. Its relatively cheap. See below:
Thanks for the advice and the link. I did order a set of DEI heat shield liners for my stock pipes. Need to give them a shot first. I do have the ability to cut out my cat and weld the pipe back up if really necessary
 
180 is too cold for oil temp. You are not cooking the condensation out.
You are correct. Although I have never seen any indication of condensation in the oil. I'm running the Dakota Digital dash which allows me to monitor the head temperature and oil temperature. I may try changing the oil temperature sending unit that's in the oil tank. It could be giving me a faulty reading. I have always thought it was too low also. I've never topped 300 on the head temperature either. I know the oil cooler and remote oil filter take off around 30°.
 
I installed the 10 row Jagg cooler. I did see a decrease in oil temp, but need to spend more time in the saddle for real numbers. I also wrapped the exhaust. Still waiting on the DEI heat shield liners. Going to ride it a bit to see if I can tell the difference with or without.
IMG_5085.jpegIMG_5096.jpeg
 
New DEI heat shields were installed, can't say I feel a difference over just the wrap, but overall, they both made a huge difference, and highly suggest to anyone with an exhaust heat issue. Heat shields still fit properly, only had to change one clamp over the cat.

IMG_5126.jpeg
 
You are correct. Although I have never seen any indication of condensation in the oil. I'm running the Dakota Digital dash which allows me to monitor the head temperature and oil temperature. I may try changing the oil temperature sending unit that's in the oil tank. It could be giving me a faulty reading. I have always thought it was too low also. I've never topped 300 on the head temperature either. I know the oil cooler and remote oil filter take off around 30°.
Water boils at 212F, but it starts to evaporate much lower.

Normal, accepted oil temp range for engines is 195-220 F.

Only Harley and a few other Mfg. that have trouble keeping their engines cool, list 230 F as "normal" oil temp.

The other thing to consider, when measuring the oil temp at the tank, that is no where near the hottest that the oil is.
Harley uses piston oilers, shooting oil at the bottom of the piston on the combustion stroke to draw the heat out of the piston, into the oil. The oil is much hotter at that point than by the time it gets to the tank.

Here's a video where you can see the piston oilers, at the 1:17 mark.



Kevin
 
The other thing to consider, when measuring the oil temp at the tank, that is no where near the hottest that the oil is.


Kevin
That's true of virtually every engine installation out there. Temp is never measured at the hotest the oil gets.
Virtually all air cooled engines run hotter oil than water cooled. When I raced an air cooled 911 I would see 250 oil temp until I put a 934 type nose with huge oil cooler on the car. We were very happy to have it run at 225 then.

My oil always sits at 225. I change it at 5 k and frequently send a sample to Blackstone. It always comes back as having more life left in it.
 
You are correct. Although I have never seen any indication of condensation in the oil. I'm running the Dakota Digital dash which allows me to monitor the head temperature and oil temperature. I may try changing the oil temperature sending unit that's in the oil tank. It could be giving me a faulty reading. I have always thought it was too low also. I've never topped 300 on the head temperature either. I know the oil cooler and remote oil filter take off around 30°.
I purchased a temperature reading dipstick and compared the reading from the dipstick to the reading on the dash from the Dakota Digital sending unit. They were within one or two degrees from each other so the reading I get on the dash is correct. I did top 190 a couple days ago. 92°, 60% humidity. I hit 195°. It's been the highest so far.
Oh yeah, I added some powder coating to my air cleaner.
 

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