When I installed my turbo back exhaust, the turbo head shield was just a PITA to remove, so I just decided to leave it off. Is there any negative effects of leaving the shield off? Does it make a difference even?

 

I have. Somebody recorded the temps at some point with and without the heat shield. Without engine bay temps were obviously hotter. Which means more heat soak for the IC. I cannot remeber to what extent though. I have had mine off for more than 10K and no problems whatsoever.

-N O R S E

 

I've heard a lot of experienced tuners cringe at the idea of leaving the heat shield off entirely, so I just used tin snips to cut mine to where it would fit over the new downpipe (I think I only ended up using 4 of the 7 or so screws that had originally held it on. I don't know why, it doesn't seem like a big deal, but EVERY Suby shop I trust has told me that it is essential to keep the shield on and all of them acted in a way like it was 'obvious' or something when I asked the question. I trust them, so I cut mine and made it fit - no big deal, worth the peace of mind

 

cut the stoopid thing in half and then put the top half back on. WHY?The intercooler does become heat soaked.

 

It makes it easier for people to see that you have a after market downpipe. The top mount intercooler is going to get major heat soak no matter what. The only time it dosent get heat soak is when the car is in motion.

 

I made a custom one...

My stock one was cut from an uppipe install and then I forgot to attach the bracket (to hold on the heatshield) when I installed my new downpipe.

So I just bought a steel sheet and bent it to fit around the turbo and downpipe (twin dump). I then I painted the sheet with high temp red spray paint and I bolted it on where there is an extra hole for the ic.

~Evan

 

Anything to keep heat away from your IC is a good thing.

 

I'm running my heat sheild off for like 20k miles now. I just left it off out of laziness after I installed my Stromung DP which does not have a heat shield bracket anyway.

In the summer when it was hot, like around 85 or higher and when I was driving around town or in traffic the IC gets real hot. VERY HOT! However I'm almost positive that this would happen even if I did have heat shield IMO..

I'm getting the STI hood scoop this Monday anyway so thats bound to keep things cooler under there. Even with my stock scoop once the summer ended and temps went back down into the upper 70s and below my IC does not heat soak any more than usual.
Paul

 

I have no turbo heat sheild.....but i have an FMIC

adamsrs

 

I have an FMIC and I put my heatshield over the turbo because I want to keep as much heat as possible away from the IC piping and all the rubber lines that run near the turbo. Besides, I think that it looks a lot cleaner with it on.