Hood insulator pad - what's it for?

\/\/0J0 · Mar 16, 2017

pkhoury said:
I'll LMAO if I meet anyone who tells me they actually removed the hood insulator "to save weight on my car, along with the rear seats, radio and AC."

The one in the Golf is pretty trashed. Besides filling the garbage can well, I wonder if it burns well (since we all burn our trash out here).

I don't think they're designed to burn too well, being close to the engine and all. I used an old one as a welding blanket to allow fresh welds to cool more slowly, handy when welding temperamental materials. It singed but did not ignite.

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ZippyNH · Mar 21, 2017

Most years are a mineral wool, similar to fiberglass.
So it is actually fire retardant. It is made to fall off the hood and cover an burning engine when the plastic clips melt, helping to smother a fire. It might not extinguish it, but slows it down.

pkhoury · Mar 22, 2017

[486] said:
if you don't think it makes a difference, toss a few hundred lbs of junk (or people) in your back seat and take your car for a spin

I'd believe it, but I also prefer my creature comforts, especially given how much I drive each year.

Now I get to see if it makes a big difference on a cold start. Wasn't supposed to snow today, but it is. Quite pleasant actually (I made it up to Maine last night).

Hood insulator pad - what's it for?

\/\/0J0

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ZippyNH

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pkhoury

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