A new season of summer cruising and car shows is here. But if your favorite car or truck isn’t properly prepared, the summer heat could leave you stranded someplace because those high-temperatures caused problems underhood.

Installing Thermal Barriers and Insulation Help to:

• Prevent reliability problems caused by excessive underhood heat
• Protect components from being damaged by constant high-temperature radiant heat exposure
• Save money by reducing heat-related maintenance costs
• Improve component and system function

Instead of being stuck waiting for a tow truck or other help, installing some Heatshield Products insulation and thermal barriers can help make sure the summer heat doesn’t scuttle your plans. Best of all, these products are easy to install and usually without any need for special tools. Follow along was we highlight these products.

Thermal Barrier Sleeves

Installing thermal barrier sleeves helps to prevent multiple heat related issues during the summer. First, on carbureted engines protecting underhood fuel lines from heat helps to prevent vapor lock issues. Second, on other fluid lines such as power steering, coolant hoses and brake lines a thermal barrier sleeve not only protects the lines from heat damage, it also helps to keep those fluids cooler so they don’t reach a temperature where they start to break down and/or hurt the function of whichever system they’re a part of. Third, protecting wiring harnesses from constant high-temperature heat exposure helps prevent damage to the harness and its connectors which leads to electrical gremlins or worse, an underhood electrical fire.

Lava^TM Tube, Cold-Gold^TM and Stealth^TM Sleeve products offer high levels of protection against radiant heat exposure. Built-in high-temp hook & loop fastening system makes installation easy and typically doesn’t require disassembly/disconnection of components. For sensitive wiring or fluid junctions, Utili-Shields^TM are designed specifically to fit these connections and protect them from heat.

Heatshield Armor^TM Exhaust Insulation

The exhaust system generates a lot of radiant heat underneath a vehicle that can heat soak fuel lines and other components. This constant heat exposure can eventually lead to reliability issues or outright component failure that will leave you stranded. Installing Heatshield Armor^TM (and related exhaust insulation kits using the same material) significantly reduces the amount of heat the exhaust system radiates. This negates issues typically caused by exhaust heat under your car or truck. An added bonus is the reduction in exhaust radiated heat also helps to lower interior temperatures thanks to the amount of heat the system radiates upward towards the passenger compartment. Heatshield Armor^TM kits insulate the exhaust pipes, catalytic converter, muffler(s) and even exhaust headers to cut exhaust radiated heat. Any of them can be installed by the owner with simple tools and without having to remove the exhaust system. You can see all the details in our blog using a 2016 Jeep Wrangler for a before/after test.

RV Dog House and Floor Heat Shield

If your plans for the summer involve an RV, then you should definitely pick up an RV Dog House and Floor Heat Shield kit. Easy to install and won’t cause fitment issues with the carpet and dog house cover, this kit helps to block a significant amount of heat that penetrates the passenger compartment on RVs. In some applications, the heat is so bad you can actually burn your feet and ankles if you put your feet too close to the dog house.

Pro-Boot^TM Spark Plug Boot Protector

A melted spark plug boot can ruin a fun run in your car or truck real quick. For any setup where the spark plug boots are in close proximity to cast iron manifolds or exhaust headers, Pro-Boots^TM are a must to keep those spark plug boots protected from heats and exposure to underhood elements. Sealable ends not only help keep heat out, but also dirt and debris that can get inside the protector and cause damage to the boot. Keeping those plug boots cooler also helps improve ignition output to the plugs by keeping electrical resistance lower from the cooler temperatures. Our blog shows the before and after using a C7 Corvette as a test subject.

Lava^TM Battery Shield

Heat kills car batteries, and with the current replacement cost of a battery it’s a problem you want to avoid for the sake of your wallet and whatever fun you’re having. Lava^TM Battery Shield is available in multiple fitments to protect batteries from underhood heat exposure to make sure you get maximum life from your car or truck’s battery. Keeping the battery cool also helps to keep electrical resistance low so the battery doesn’t have to work as hard keeping things powered.

Lava^TM Starter Shield

Another major vehicle component heat exposure kills is the engine’s starter. A heat soaked started draws more power from the battery to operate. Additionally, constant heat soaking puts more wear on the starter that leads to start reliability issues and eventually failure. Lava^TM Starter Shield wraps the starter in a layer of heat-deflecting protection made from our specially-formulated volcanic rock-based thermal barrier material. On most applications you can install Lava Starter Shield without having to remove the starter. Check out our before and after test using a 2012 Camaro SS here.