Help ID this cloth or exhaust wrap zip tied in engine

[bucket1032]

Hello all,

Picked up a 2020 ecodiesel limited w/ 12k miles as a certified pre-owned about a month ago. I went looking under the hood for the block heater cable yesterday and found something weird. On the passenger side of the engine, towards the firewall and near the top I found a piece of cloth which might be exhaust wrap, but its the smoothest feeling exhaust wrap I've ever felt.

It's ziptied to some part of the engine that's under a rubber cover. Not the main plastic cover but a softer rubber cover that's a bit lower down and towards the passenger side.

I'm a little concerned as its doesn't look like something that came from the factory. Pics attached. First one shows general area where it is (under/behind the coolant bottle, you can see a white material if your eye follows straight down from the cap). Second pic is a close up of what it is.

Any ideas what it is and if I should take it for service or inspection?

 

[Eighty]

Looks to me like someone zip-tied a knit snow hat in there to keep something from rattling.

 

[LakesAZ]

I agree with Eighty, it looks like it was placed there to stop a rattling.

 

[bucket1032]

geez, I hope it's not the sign of a problem. What part of the engine is that? I'm somewhat knowledgeable about mechanical stuff (I change my own oil and do easy brakes/suspension jobs) but I've never had a diesel before.

 

[djevox]

That must be the $400 vibration isolator I’ve been hearing so much about…

 

[Sascwatch]

I’ll take a look at mine tomorrow and see if I have anything similar.

 

[bucket1032]

thanks everyone

 

[Sascwatch]

I’m thinking it’s covering some part of the egr, my truck has the same thing.

 

[bucket1032]

the plot thickens

 

[djevox]

I was joking earlier, but that looks like heat shield wrap. Generally they’re applied with metal straps, but if the heat is low, a zip tie could work (I personally wouldn’t do it though). Since the heat is low enough to not melt the zip tie, I’d say they’re just being extra careful with the heat radiating up to the coolant container. However, there is that plastic shield above it.

Edit: looking further, I’m not really convinced it’s heat shield material so I’m still in the “No f’in idea” camp. Soooo, I’ll just end with a dad joke: What’s a dogs favorite chips? Ruffles.

 

[Dragonmaster13]

That’s insulating the EGR tube. Leave it there. If the EGR gets too cool the soot buildup gets worse.