Hi all,

I recently ordered a new front cat. down pipe for my 95 xjs because I thought mine was rotted out due to significant exhaust noise coming from behind the heat shield wrapping around the down pipe. Well by the time my new part arrived I had finally taken off the old one, ripped off the factory heat shielding just to find that a weld was broken. The pipe and cats were fine although now there is no heat shield (which was shot anyway) on my part. I noticed on the new part there is no heat shield either. My car has 60k on it. Does anyone think it's worth keeping the new one and putting it on (for $500) or just welding the old one and putting it back on, knowing it has 60k miles on it and no idea of how many more miles I'll get before having to replace anyway. Without the heat shield on either part, am I going to have heat problems, say with the O2 sensor wires etc. ?

 

What is the EPA status where you live? In the Peoples Non Republik of Kalifornication you have to pass a smog test every 2 years. If you don't have to do a smog test, I would say save the money, weld the old one.

Keep the heat shield. You need it. You can fry / melt / burn the under hood wires with out it.

XJSPaul
'94 V12 XJS Convertible

 

60K is not a lot of miles for a cat.

You can probably fab a heatshield or maybe muffler shops have generic heat shields available.

edit: just noticed you were talking about around the downpipe. maybe you could use header wrap.

 

You don't say if it's a V12 or I6

I would re-install the heat shield. Mine was shot so I wrapped the pipe in exhaust wrap. In the V12 the pipes are very close to the steering rack rubber boots.

 

It's the I6. I don't see any way of re-using the old heat shield, it was pretty shot by the time I got it off. Will header wrap provide enough heat protection and is there an issue with it getting wet if I happen to get caught in the rain? Has anyone used a manifold blanket before? It almost seems like a good idea maybe to use a combination of a blanket and wrap but then we're looking at $100 or more. I've seen some silicone spray to apply after the header wrap to keep it waterproof. Any comments on that?

 

Today, I spoke with an exhaust shop and also another mechanic who both said not to worry about the heat shield for various reasons. Does this sound reasonable?

 

listen to marrjon.....earlier post, yes you can talk to as many mechanics as you want and they will tell you what you want to hear......but the exhaust is very near the cv joints on the rack....i have had experience with many cars and the exhuast will "cook" the oil in there and rubber, eventually you are looking at problems....so yes, you can feel better by putting the heat shield in there as the manufacturer did and with reason....and stop asking mechanics who dont know better.....

 

Jaguar did not put the shields on there by mistake or just for the hell if it! That's like saying a camper dosent need to have safety chains. Your right. They don't have to however I wouldn't go without them

 

The metal heat shield on my V12 LH down pipe significantly reduces the heat radiated into the steering rack gaiter. The wrap I used on the RH down pipe does an even better job of reducing heat around the steering rack column and gaiter. The down side of the wrap is if you do a lot of short trips moisture will not totally evaporate and can cause the down pipe to rust - just keep an eye on it.

I would not leave the heat shield off permanently

cheers
Warren