Heat Shield for Cars: Does It Really Improve Performance?
If your car is missing part of the heat shield (or the entire shield), you might wonder: “Do you need a heat shield for cars?” For sure, there are probably lots of people driving around out there without a heat shield for their car, and they appear to be doing fine. But, is skimping on this basic feature really worth the risk? Read on to find out when it’s time to think about removing an exhaust pipe wrap and how heat shield replacement could end up saving you more than it costs in the long run.
Are Heat Shields Necessary? Does Exhaust Wrap Work?
Asking, “Are heat shields necessary?” is a bit like asking, “Do I need gloves to remove a super-hot tray from the oven?” Cars have engines, and engines are hot—and we mean really hot! The catalytic converter alone can get hot enough to start a fire inside or outside of your car, and the exhaust system can reach 900°F—hot enough to melt metals like aluminum, cadmium, and lead.
Brand new cars come with a thin sheet of metal below the exhaust system and one on top to keep this heat inside your car and protect components that could become damaged by extreme temperatures. Installing a heat shield for a car on the underside keeps your engine from setting your neighbor’s lawn on fire when you park near their yard for a weekend barbecue. The shield on the top side keeps your shoes (and feet) from melting and becoming one with the floor pan.
Optional Automotive Heat Shields
In addition to the heat shield car installation that comes with your automobile, you can also install thermal insulation on your radiator, turbo, header manifolds, and exhaust pipe wrap. Header wraps made from fiberglass are designed to keep more heat inside your exhaust system to help lower intake and fuel temperatures to increase horsepower. Auto heat shield sleeves have the opposite purpose: to keep heat away from fuel lines and wire looms and prevent damage to components located near the engine and manifold.
Is a header shield wrap necessary on a car that already has the basic shields above and below? The short answer is that it’s not as necessary as the main sheet guards, but additional shields can keep the driver and passengers more comfortable and save you money on replacement lines and inefficient use of fuel. Many OEMs have a stamped piece of metal to act as a heat shield insulator on their headers.
Knowing When It’s Time for Heat Shield Replacement
Heat shields should—in theory—last as long as your engine. However, that doesn’t make them invincible (remember the claims made about the Titanic?). If you’ve decided that a heat shield really is necessary on a car, you also need to know the signs that it’s time for removing a heat shield and replacing it with a new one:
High Underhood Temperatures
High under hood or exhaust temps will soon tell you that this simple piece of protective insulation is important for correct functioning and for keeping you cool as well! If your hood’s getting hot and you have shields installed, then it’s time to give your automotive heat shield insulation a good check for damage.
A Burning Smell
One of the problems that most drivers hope to avoid, a burning smell is a sure sign that something’s wrong. Worn out heat shields that are smoking and burning need to be removed and replaced as soon as possible.
There is one situation in which a smoking exhaust heat wrap or shield isn’t a problem—and that’s when you’ve just installed new exhaust wrap. Binders and starches in the fiberglass thread will inevitably burn off and cure for the first few days after you’ve wrapped your pipes and this smoke is non-toxic and non-combustible (even though it smells pretty terrible!).
Removing a Heat Shield that Needs to be Replaced
If a heat shield is necessary on a car for safety and comfort, is this vital piece of protection something you can remove yourself? Once you’ve noticed that a shield is damaged or no longer working effectively, you can try your hand at removing the heat shield or take your car to a professional mechanic.
For those who prefer to do their own heat shield car insulation replacement, wait for the car to cool completely and make sure you wear gloves when unscrewing the heat shield plates. Exhaust pipe wrap and thermal heat sleeves will require cutting pliers for removing any locking ties and fastening tape. You can then slice through the wrap itself with a heavy-duty utility knife—being careful not to damage the tubing underneath or hurt yourself in the process.
Contact Heatshield Products
If you’re still wondering, “how important are exhaust heat shields,” contact the team at Heatshield Products, and we’ll guide you through the removal process and help you on your way to installing high-quality, race-tested heat shields!
