For straight sections of wiring harnesses or fluid lines, standard design thermal barrier sleeves work great for protecting those vital components from heat exposure and possible abrasion damage. But when it comes to shielding fluid couplings and wiring junctions from heat, a straight piece of sleeve material requires modification to fit over these junctions. Besides lengthening the installation process, these modifications can also compromise the efficiency of the thermal barrier sleeve to protect the components. This was the genesis that fueled us to come up with Utili-Shields^TM, T-shaped and 90-degree shaped sections of thermal barrier material designed specifically to protection important wiring junctions and fluid couplings.

ABOVE: Utili-Shields are specially designed as a complementary component to Stealth Sleeve and Lava Tube protective thermal barrier sleeve products. Utili-Shields are designed to easily cover and protect wiring junctions and fluid couplings that are usually left unprotected, or require modifying standard-design thermal barrier sleeve material for proper fitment. Utili-Shields are offered in three different diameters a in T-shape and 90-degree shape, with other shapes and sizes beign developed to expand the line. 

Having to modify pieces of thermal barrier sleeve to fit around junctions and connections can make and easy install a difficult one. Besides the old adage of “measure twice, cut once” there is also time needed to properly prepare the now severed edges of the thermal barrier sleeve to prevent fraying of the material. This fraying creates openings for heat to penetrate the inside of the sleeve and create an oven effect that totally negates the protective capabilities of the sleeve. In fact, it can even amplify the amount of heat exposure the wiring harness or fluid line is exposed to.

ABOVE: On this 1939 Ford coupe, you can see where part of the wiring harness is left exposed. Electrical tape was used to tidy up the exposed area and offer some protection, but in a tight engine compartment such as this and being located in close proximity to the exhaust manifolds, it won't be long before the tape begins to deteriorate and lose adhesion. 

ABOVE: Thanks to its built-in high-temp hook & loop fastening system, installing a Utili-Shield is super easy, even in tight spaces. All you have to make sure of is face the hook & loop seam away from the major heat source when installing. No more having to mess with sticky electrical tape and trying to make it look neat while wrapping around exposed wiring. Utili-Shields also mean no more sticky residue left behind on wiring from electrical tape that degrades from heat exposure over time.

Utili-Shields^TM are offered in both of Heatshield Products specially formulated thermal barrier sleeve heat blocking materials, Lava^TM Tube and Stealth^TM Sleeve. The specially designed pieces use the same high-temperature hook & loop fastening system of our protective sleeve materials, making installation easy and usually don’t require disassembly or disconnection of the harness or fluid line, saving time and effort to get the job done. This also allows for Utili-Shields to be easily removed when necessary to allow for maintenance work on the protected harness or fluid lines.

ABOVE: Utili-Shields are excellent for protecting fluid line fittings and couplings from heat and underhood elements exposure. Esepcially aluminum fittings like AN fittings or those on A/C lines. For AN fittings, Utili-Shields also help protect the fitting's anodized finish from being tarnished and/or oxidized from exsposure to underhood elements thanks to the volcanic rock fiber makeup of the material. In addition, it will keep the fittings cooler so you don't have to worry about handling hot fittings while doing necessary work at the racetrack bewteen heats and rounds where you don't have time for a full engine cooldown. 

ABOVE: Another great feature of Utili-Shields is the non-conductive nature of its specially formulated thermal barrier material. This helps reduce the risk of accidental shock or potentially damaging electrical shorts from any exposed power wire. In this photo, we used a 90-degree Utili-Shield to cover the exposed hot lead going into the '39 Ford's alternator. 

For the initial product release, Utili-Shields^TM are available in T-shape and 90-shape designs in the three most common diameters. Because they’re made from the same specially formulated volcanic rock-based material as Lava^TM Tube and Stealth^TM Sleeve, Utili-Shields are naturally chemical and acid resistant. This is extra important when the fluid line carries a potentially corrosive liquid such as brake lines.