Do the insulation layers in the exhaust pipe and muffler heat shields (insulators) contain asbestos? These are the shields pinned above the muffler, catalytic converter(s) and exhaust pipe under the body of the vehicle.
Do the exhaust pipe and muffler heat shields contain asbestos?
- Thread starter Bryan062087
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Don't know - but those heat shields are stamped dual layer and sealed. If there's a thin strip of asbestos in the sandwich, its inconsequential. Its captive.
If you've separated one and found white stuff inside it - I would assume its asbestos (to be safe)
If you've separated one and found white stuff inside it - I would assume its asbestos (to be safe)
- Thread starter
- #3
One of mine has deteriorated completely and the insulated layer is sticking out significantly.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Threads
- 584
- Messages
- 16,437
- Location
- Winter Park, Florida
- Website
- www.cruisermatts.com
No clue, they sure do look yummy though.
I am fairly certain they contain asbestos. It’s either that or some kind of aramid fabric like Kevlar. Either way, breathing the dust from asbestos or Kevlar fibers is really bad. I threw mine out the first time I removed them and they started falling apart like you describe.
After a few years I switched to a set of headers and none of those heat shields would be useful anyway.
If heat is an issue in your engine bay you could wrap the exhaust with some headers wrap to cut down on temps. It’s probably not a really big issue unless you drive for long distances or periods of time. If you go off-road the wrap material can attract dirt and water causing the exhaust to rust out faster, so there is that to consider.
I did notice, on my cross country trips without the heat shields, my drivers seat got really warm. Uncomfortably so. I have actually been thinking of bending some aluminum sheeting to make a heat shield to go between the floor pan and exhaust under the drivers side.
But, I would just throw them out and run without them for now.
After a few years I switched to a set of headers and none of those heat shields would be useful anyway.
If heat is an issue in your engine bay you could wrap the exhaust with some headers wrap to cut down on temps. It’s probably not a really big issue unless you drive for long distances or periods of time. If you go off-road the wrap material can attract dirt and water causing the exhaust to rust out faster, so there is that to consider.
I did notice, on my cross country trips without the heat shields, my drivers seat got really warm. Uncomfortably so. I have actually been thinking of bending some aluminum sheeting to make a heat shield to go between the floor pan and exhaust under the drivers side.
But, I would just throw them out and run without them for now.
Last edited:
I think they're just aluminized sheet metal. There's no asbestos in any of those, that I know of.... In FJ40s though, some of the early insulators around the exhaust manifold were made of asbestos material.
