Upgrade Your Hood Liner to Increase Hood Insulation and Soundproofing
Author:
Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated:
August 6, 2024
Read Time:
7 Minutes
Upgrade Your Hood Liner to Increase Hood Insulation and Soundproofing
Author:
Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated:
August 6, 2024
Read Time:
7 Minutes
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Updated: Aug. 6, 2024
Read Time: 7 Minutes
Make way! Coming through! Loud, powerful engines can offer premium performance, great for driving and vaunting at car shows, but they generate a lot of heat and noise that aren't so welcome in your cabin or your neighborhood.
Getting aftermarket hood insulation and sound deadening can not only improve cabin climate control but protect your paint and give you a clearer engine sound.
Let’s talk about how to insulate and soundproof your hood so you can have the best hood in the neighborhood.
Make way! Coming through! Loud, powerful engines can offer premium performance, great for driving and vaunting at car shows, but they generate a lot of heat and noise that aren't so welcome in your cabin or your neighborhood.
Getting aftermarket hood insulation and sound deadening can not only improve cabin climate control but protect your paint and give you a clearer engine sound.
Let’s talk about how to insulate and soundproof your hood so you can have the best hood in the neighborhood.
Popular Hood Insulation Materials (Heat & Sound)
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Why Install Under Hood Insulation?
Adding thermal insulation has several benefits. Just like automotive roof insulation prevents heat from entering through your roof; hood insulation does the same . . . but for your hood. If your insulation is getting old or you're just looking for an upgrade, any of the options we feature here will take your vehicle to the next level! Every car and every person is different, and the only thing we love more than cars are the people who love their cars. Give us a call and we’ll help you find the right materials to keep you and your car happy.
Hood Liner Controls Temperature and Protects Paint
More insulation means better heat control. Insulation absorbs heat in addition to slowing its movement. Protect your paint by keeping the hood cool and protected from the heat of your engine. Keeping heat from the sun on a hot day from warming your engine bay means allowing your A/C to cool more efficiently and quickly.
Car Hood Insulation Will Make YouR Vehicle Quieter
Our hood insulation materials come with an added benefit of soundproofing. We know, we know – some of you are thinking, “but I want my engine to be loud!”. Listen, there’s a time and a place to hear your baby roar and frankly, your daughter’s softball game isn’t one of them.
Hear me out. Applying sound deadener to your hood won’t stop your engine from strutting its stuff, but it will stop the rattling metal from competing with the engine’s purr. And then by combining sound deadening with foam insulators, you’ll have have more control over the sound leaving your vehicle. Your audio system will sound better. You’ll have less overall noise in your cabin if you want to be heard. And if you still want to hear let that baby loose, pop the hood and let ‘er rip!
Hood Insulation makes your car safer
Protect yourself, your baby, and your baby! Having hood insulation is very improtant to make sure your car is running at it's safest. Our insulation does a great job of absorbing heat and preventing heat related issues in your engine compartment. Whether this is your family car or your personal hot rod, protect it!
Who Should Consider Under Hood Insulation?
Upgrading or replacing your under hood insulation is a good investment for anyone wanting to improve their car's performance or has a lot of heat or noise to compete with. If you have one of the following, this is for you, so don't drive off:
I have . . .
-
- A larger or louder than average engine
- Upgraded engine parts
- Custom paint or decals on the hood that I want to protect
- A hot rod or newly restored vehicle
- A high-performance vehicle
- High average temperatures where I live and my A/C has to work too hard to cool my car
- Excessive heat inside the car cabin (also should consider car firewall insulation)
Second Skin Case Study: CAR HOOD insulation Kit
"Very good quality product! When it was all done, it definitely cut down on the aggressive noise level! Helped inside and out!"
- Mike B.
How to Install Hood Insulation in Your Car
Steps to insulate a car hood
We want you give you the clearest, most efficient instructions on the planet, because we're just that dedicated to our craft. So here it is:
Step 1: Remove and Clean
Remove the factory hoodliner. Although you won’t need to reapply it, keep it intact for step 2. Clean the metal hood with denatured alcohol thoroughly. Getting rid of any dust, dirt, and grime will make the material stick better and be more effective. The adhesive is very strong, but we are always extra cautious when working under the hood. The last thing you want is for something to fall down into the engine.
Step 2: Apply Sound Deadening Material
Damplifier Pro™ sound deadener is great for deadening the vibrating metal, allowing you to have a clearer, crisper sounding engine. Even more than that, Damplifier Pro™ is excellent at reducing heat transfer, a major problem for more powerful engines. Our box with 13.5 sq ft of material is all you'll need to get the job done right.
Install Like a Pro
- Wear gloves when handling Damplifier Pro.
- Always ensure 2” of clearance between the engine and any material you’re installing. It has to close still!
- Use your factory hoodliner to create an outline for your Damplifier Pro™ sound deadener.
- The underside of your hood probably contains a lot of dips and divots. Leaving your sound deadening mat in the sun for a few minutes will make it more pliable.
- Use a hand roller to press butyl sheets on for proper bonding. Any air bubbles will substantially reduce damping performance.
Alternative: Spray-on Sound Deadener
You can also choose a spray-on sound deadener like Spectrum™ if you don't feel like dealing with those curves and edges. 2-3 1mm layers will get you superior sound deadening and heat reduction. 1 gallon of Spectrum™ will do it! Just make sure to leave that 2" clearance!
Step 3: Apply Insulating Material / Heat Shield
Use the outline from earlier to cut your heat insulation material. to size using a utility knife or scissors. We have a ton of options here. Just snag one off the shelf and your hood will be thanking you in no time! Your hood will need anywhere from 12-20 sq ft of material depending on the vehicle you have.
- Mega Block™: A premium thermal insulator (1/2” thick) and sound absorber. This is the best performing sound and heat insulation you can put under your hood.
- FireWall™ Ceramic Coating: A water-based ceramic thermal insulation you can spray, brush or roll onto your hood to protect it from heat. Perfect for if you want to protect your hood while keeping the under hood looking factory. And yes, FireWall is paintable. 1 gallon will allow you to cover the entire hood in 2-3 layers!
- Heat Wave Pro™: A 3/8” thick jute material that provides some sound absorption and good thermal insulation and is surrounded by a reinforced foil to reflect heat. This is our high performance, but most budget-friendly option.
All Your Hood Insulation in One Place
Step 4: Tape and Secure
Tape up all seams and edges with a high temperature foil tape, this will help keep everything in place and keep the edges from fraying. This is an especially important step for extreme heat use cases. Use any clips or fasteners under the hood as additional support to support your insulation and/or heat shield. Better safe than sorry!
Pro TIP
Apply Luxury Liner Pro™, one of our automotive sound barriers, applied to the cabin-side firewall to stop turbo and diesel noises.
Hood Kits!... Hood Kits!... Get Your Hood Kits Here!!
It's often said that those with loud engines are overcompensating for something . . . if you know what I mean. Don't let anyone question what's going on under your hood. Get the Second Skin Hood Kit! Quiet that engine compartment and insulate your hood the Second Skin way!
If you’re looking for the quickest and easiest way to get maximum results, our Hood Liner Kit was built to make it as easy as possible for you to get exactly what you need to get the job done. Each Hood Insulation Kit includes soundproofing and thermal insulation materials for your hood as well as adhesives and tools to make the job a cinch.
- Damplifier Pro™ is the first material to go onto the hood. The sound deadener will stop your hood's vibrations, reducing noise in the cabin.
- We have a variety of heat shields that can be used as a replacement hood liner. Choose between Mega Block™ (our top of the line hydrophobic melamine foam) and Heat Wave Pro™ (a high-performing recycled jute material). Both have a reflective foil barrier to reject radiant heat and keep your hood as cool as the other side of the pillow.
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