Hood Insulation

[BlackRook]

Sorry if this is asked and answered, but the black insulation under the hood... do we really need that junk? Is the sound dampening really worth it? Or does it make a difference in preventing overheating (I'd think the opposite).

Full disclosure: I just pulled it for a mod, and broke half the lil black plastic tacks. I really don't want to bother putting it back in... :cwl:

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[nerubi]

Sorry if this is asked and answered, but the black insulation under the hood... do we really need that junk? Is the sound dampening really worth it? Or does it make a difference in preventing overheating (I'd think the opposite).

Full disclosure: I just pulled it for a mod, and broke half the lil black plastic tacks. I really don't want to bother putting it back in... :cwl:

Probably don't but why not keep it? I don't understand how the Rubicon hood vents really work with the insulation covering them. Seems the cooling effect of the vents is mitigated by the insulation. My first new car 50 years ago had a functional hood scoop and it didn't have insulation blocking it just straight into the carb.

 

[Renegade]

It’s just for sound dampening. Drive it and see...

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@Renegade

It's purpose is a bit more then sound deadening..

That fiber sheet on the hoods underside helps, direct drained water to the hood sides and to he rear... without the fiber sheet, drained water falls directly on the engine.. Sure you can plug the hole on each hood vent to prevent water entering but...........

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@BlackRook

My guess is you pulled the fiber sheet so you could increase air flow. You opted to cut holes in the 2 hood vents. YES, that will increase air flow for sure.

Other's have done this. IF you live where there is lots of rain, you may regret opening up like that.

What you can do is leave the fiber covering off ... and buy another pair of vents (retail for $69) and on them, seal up the little drain hole in each vent.

Now, during rain season, heavy rain days, you can pull the vents you opened up and temporarily replace them with the vents with the holes plugged. This will keep engine compartment from taking on too much water.

Swapping out the vents is easy and only takes a few minutes.

 

[JIMBOX]

Since the new(post 1990) vehicles have been getting "MUCH HIGHER" in operating temps---from 180/190 in the '80's to 220/250 now--

The main reason for the under hood insulation is to keep the exterior paint/clear coat/plastic adornments--etc safe from the engine compt. heat-(heat rises)

Noise muffling is another reason--

I think you'd be better off to keep the insulation layer in place--

You can goto any auto store-Kragen/Zone/Napa and buy the plastic caps, they come in many different sizes and aren't that expensive-

I got mine at O'Reilly's--

If you look at the inside of the insulation sheet you can see what RhineBeck01 is talking about--the channeled water troughs for the hood vents-

Good luck

JIMBO

 

[BlackRook]

Thanks! Actually I pulled it to throw a hood decal on (had to get the hood bumpers/sprayers off). Easy enough to put back on. I was just being lazy. Do like the paint, and don't like flooded engines, so I'm thinking putting it back in place is a no brainer...

 

[Kadonny]

Cut your Rubi vents and the associated insulation out to allow the hood vents to really be functional. Many of us have done this with great success. Don’t worry about rain water getting in, it’s a no issue.

 

[digitalbliss]

Thanks! Actually I pulled it to throw a hood decal on (had to get the hood bumpers/sprayers off). Easy enough to put back on. I was just being lazy. Do like the paint, and don't like flooded engines, so I'm thinking putting it back in place is a no brainer...

Pixidecal?

 

[LoganDzwon]

There is no problem with the engine getting wet. I’ve had functional hood vents on all my Jeeps. (I used to do a lot of extended water fordging and without a vented hood there is no way for heat to escape the engine bay.)

 

[Rhinebeck01]

There is no problem with the engine getting wet. I’ve had functional hood vents on all my Jeeps. (I used to do a lot of extended water fordging and without a vented hood there is no way for heat to escape the engine bay.)

Much depends on your geographical locale. IF you live where the water passes through and dries pretty quickly, (i.e. , Florida) that's one thing, but if the water goes in and freezes up, coating everything in the form of heavy ice that's another thing.

Yes, great to vent the heat out of there but.......

 

[JIMBOX]

Sometimes an AUTO MFG will add "THINGS" and we wonder--"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS FOR "

Most of the time, as Rhinebeck01 says--"depending on your area" it can't be figured out--but

Everything the AUTO MFG does on a particular vehicle is for PROFIT/SAFETY--(EXCEPT CORVETTES}

It's your jeep, do what you want, but pay attention to reports/opinions/and your STATE/INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS--

W.E.

JIMBO

 

[LoganDzwon]

Much depends on your geographical locale. IF you live where the water passes through and dries pretty quickly, (i.e. , Florida) that's one thing, but if the water goes in and freezes up, coating everything in the form of heavy ice that's another thing.

Yes, great to vent the heat out of there but.......

Very true! I forget that some people live where stuff has the potential to freeze.

Though... that said.... http://hoodlouvers.com/heavy-rain-snow-water-no-problem/

 

[Kadonny]

Much depends on your geographical locale. IF you live where the water passes through and dries pretty quickly, (i.e. , Florida) that's one thing, but if the water goes in and freezes up, coating everything in the form of heavy ice that's another thing.

Yes, great to vent the heat out of there but.......

Coating? No way, not even close. I’ve had my vents open for 3 years on my old Rubi (PA resident) and 6 months on my JL. If I ever get any moisture in the vents, it’s literally drops even after pouring all day rain. Not enough to even get close to freezing anything up, even in the dead of winter. And once tour start the Jeep all moisture evaporates very quickly.

It’s a no issue.

 

[NHJLUR]

Since the new(post 1990) vehicles have been getting "MUCH HIGHER" in operating temps---from 180/190 in the '80's to 220/250 now--

The main reason for the under hood insulation is to keep the exterior paint/clear coat/plastic adornments--etc safe from the engine compt. heat-(heat rises)

Noise muffling is another reason--

I think you'd be better off to keep the insulation layer in place--

You can goto any auto store-Kragen/Zone/Napa and buy the plastic caps, they come in many different sizes and aren't that expensive-

I got mine at O'Reilly's--

If you look at the inside of the insulation sheet you can see what RhineBeck01 is talking about--the channeled water troughs for the hood vents-

Good luck

JIMBO

I think this is the winner. Higher temps under the hood are causing all sorts of issues, one of which being the failure of coatings. Plastic parts, engine mounts, electrical components, etc are starting to fail prematurely at elevated temps. Some of the worst are the high strung small turbos, requiring a great deal of R&D effort to heat management.

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