While in the process of removing the exhaust manifold on my 2006 1.25 fiesta to try to find and fix a exhaust leak, I found the bolts holding the manifold heat shield and cat heat shield to be rounded and rusted to the point where there just lumps of rust!

The thin metal manifold heat shield was rusted and had disconnected from a few of the bolts so I decided to just forcefully remove the rest of it as it has been rattling around since I brought the car as well.

Does anyone know or have any info about whether the these heat shields are 100% needed?

I understand they are for helping prevent the heat from the exhaust melting any nearby plastic or rubber but are they definitely needed?

I don't race or track the car, just use it as a modified daily.

On another note, has anyone with a 1.25 engine had a exhaust leak from the manifold/manifold gasket? Is it a common issue? Did you have to disconnect the lower roll restrictor and move the engine forward to get the cat manifold assembly out? 

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

I would imagine it's an MOT failure if they're missing.

A missing heat shield is not an automatic failure, mot manual says:   Only fail a vehicle for missing heat shields if there’s a risk of fire with other fuel system components.       I take that to mean if the heat shield protects fuel tank or fuel pipes.  It’s open to interpretation . Eg. I would say if the tank / pipe is metal then maybe that shouldn’t fail whereas if tank/ pipe Is plastic then it should fail.  I don’t know how harshly the rule is applied. I can see the sense in it if tank / pipe is plastic.   But it seems if missing heat shield did not shield fuel tank or fuel pipe then not mot failure. 

@isetta

A missing heat shield is not an automatic failure, mot manual says:   Only fail a vehicle for missing heat shields if there’s a risk of fire with other fuel system components.       I take that to mean if the heat shield protects fuel tank or fuel pipes.  It’s open to interpretation . Eg. I would say if the tank / pipe is metal then maybe that shouldn’t fail whereas if tank/ pipe Is plastic then it should fail.  I don’t know how harshly the rule is applied. I can see the sense in it if tank / pipe is plastic.   But it seems if missing heat shield did not shield fuel tank or fuel pipe then not mot failure. 

Okay thankyou, to be honest I didn't even think about how it would affect my MOT 😅 Well that's good to know, tomorrow I will have a second look around the manifold area to double check there's no fuel lines so there's no risk of fire or failing mot 👍

I've not had any luck finding any new heat shields to buy or used ones from breakers so far, had a thought...

If excess heat in the engine bay by not having a heat shield was an issue, would exhaust heat wrap be a good alternative?