I have read about people taking the insulation off the intercooler pipe in order to get a better turbo sound. Does this do anything to the performance of the truck. I would think that this would raise the tempeture of that pipe and have some of a negative effect on performance. If there is no negative effect on performance i would like to do this for the sound. I tried to search but found nothing stating weather it was good or bad for performance just that it sounded better. thanks

 

The insulation you take off - is on the hot-side pipe, before it goes through the intercooler - so you're not going to hurt the temps any. AND from what I have read - it is to cut the sound - not the temps.

I say go for it!!

 

Don't forget, Ford didn't put that insulation on until people (obviously not from FTE) started complaining about how loud the turbo whistle was.

 

actually if you think about it, the insulation holds the heat IN the pipe, rather than letting the air pass over it and marginally help cool it. it's just to dampen the sound. take it off, youll love it!

 

No work today because of the rain - think I'm gonna give it a whirl, and pull my insulation off today!

 

Any chance the heat needs to be held in that pipe, to protect other components around it? Like the air intake or other items? Just for the sake of discussion as I am curious, before I shred mine too......

 

I don't think so. Wasn't used in previous models and is definately not used on aftermarket performance tubes which is a big indicator. I would have to believe it's there to silence the turbo whistle and the only thing that would do had to be heat resistant. It does get hot but nothing like the exhaust manifold down there. JMO.

 

That wrap looks like hell too! Check out my gloss black tubes in my gallery. I need a few more good side angle pictures but you'll get the idea.

Nut

 

So I have mine apart now now, for those whom have done this mod, what did you use to get the remaining stick fibreglass crap off the intercooler pipe? Alcohol? Acetone? Thanks for any immediate help!

 

Once you've got the foil part off, spray it down with a lot of WD-40 and/or brake parts cleaner, and use a wire wheel on a drill to get it all off. I also used some SOS pads to help buff it a little, and some Simple Green at the end to spruce it up.

As to the theory of the foil wrap, it was added on 99.5+ models just for sound. Same reason for the newer wheel which replaced the early 99 wheel (now called the whicked wheel, sold in the aftermarket). Early 99s had the wicked wheel and no insulation, in general.

Also, the air that goes through that pipe is much hotter than the air outside it in the engine compartment (which never gets much more than 15 degrees over external ambient temps). The foil doesn't serve to keep heat out of the pipe at all, and would only trap heat IN it, if anything (which goes against the purpose of the charge air cooler). Take that crap off the pipe!

Not only does it sound better, but it looks better, too:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...86590301OtHfpL

 

High gloss black pipes look great! Here's mine HERE

 

That high gloss looks good Nut!!

Are you guys painting them, using a "high temp" paint on the IC pipes??

 

Does it really have that much more wistle to it,or is it just marginal.

 

Sharp!


Yes, I noticed a huge difference.

 

That does look good Nut. Excellent work.