The inside of your car can be a death trap because of the extreme temperatures it can reach.
It can get extremely heated by your engine’s residual heat.
This can be a good thing when it’s cold but a curse when it’s hot.
Excess heat can also cause physical damage to your vehicle’s components and the evaporation of crucial fluids.
To avoid these negative effects of heat, many people use heat-insulating materials in and outside of their vehicles.
Better yet, some of these heat-insulating materials also help to soundproof your car from outside noise as well.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best car insulation materials on the market.
Keep in mind that some of these products are not limited to cars and can be used in almost all types of vehicles.
5 Best Car Insulation review
- Material: Polyethylene
- Dimensions: 12”x 24”
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
Thermo-Tec Heat Barrier is 70 mils thick and is the best heat insulation for cars.
One major issue that most people face when using automobile insulation products is their thickness.
Usually, they are quite thick and leave a bulky and unprofessional look.
This is why many choose the Thermal-tec heat insulation as the product is very thin yet effective.
It takes advantage of the heat-resistant property of silica which is then boosted by an aluminum finish.
The polyethylene film and the foil surface provide direct protection from radiant heat
This product can withstand radiant heat up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and direct heat up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Thermo-Tec heat insulation is very easy to install as it features a powerful adhesive backing.
Simply peel and stick to any clean surface where it is needed.
You can use this heat insulation material as a heat barrier for the entire body of your vehicle.
- Material: Polyethylene
- Dimensions: 120 x 48 x 0.25 inches
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
In the search for the best heat insulation products, everyone wants the best material to keep heat out.
CarInsulation has come up with the perfect product.
The CarInsulation sound deadener and heat barrier mat keep both sound and heat out.
You can use it to cover the interior of your whole car.
It will help to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter,
This heat insulation mat is lightweight and 1/4” thick.
It has a closed-cell polyethylene core with fiber-reinforced aluminum on both sides which prevents long-term crushing.
This allows it to block up to 97% of radiant heat.
Unfortunately, this product does not come with an adhesive backing.
However, it is easy to cut and install using spray adhesive, foil tape, double-sided tape, glue, etc.
- Material: Paper, Rubber
- Dimensions: 20.08 x 20.08 x 2.99 inches
- Weight: 1.94 pounds
If you’re looking for a lightweight heat insulator to insulate car floors, walls and roofs, choose the LINGDA heat shield.
This product is made from paper and rubber as well as aluminum for maximum heat insulation
In addition to these, the surface material also has a fiberglass layer which also helps with heat insulation.
The fiberglass layer helps block the transmission of heat from sunlight, the engine and the exhaust pipe to the cab of the vehicle.
It can help to reduce air conditioning energy consumption which helps you save fuel.
Not only does this product protect against heat but also works as a good sound deadener.
It helps to create a cooler and quieter vehicle interior by killing unwanted sounds and most vibrations.
The Lingda heat shield is waterproof and fire-resistant.
It has a fireproofing Grade of B2 and effectively blocks up to 97% of radiant heat transfer.
- Material: Polyethylene
- Dimensions: 20.08 x 20.08 x 2.99 inches
- Weight: 1.94 pounds
Noico is quite popular for its high-grade car body products.
Noico Red 315 mil uses closed-cell polyethylene foam as opposed to rubber foam.
It is a versatile auto insulation material that acts as an excellent thermal barrier as well as a sound barrier.
You can use it to keep your car cool and quiet.
It can reduce road noise and interior rattles to make your driving experience a bit quieter.
This insulation material has the same characteristics and excellent noise insulating properties as rubber foam.
However, it does not absorb water and has no odor.
It is also lightweight and oil and petrol resistant.
The operating temperature of the material is the same as rubber foam which means that it can resist heat up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Noico Red is easy to cut the size and install.
It features a self-adhesive backing and works best when installed over butyl rubber material.
- Material: Ceramic
- Size: 2 gallon
- Weight: 25.1 pounds
LizardSkin Ceramic insulation is unlike the other types of insulation we mentioned before.
This item is a liquid insulation product and comes in a 2-gallon bucket.
To apply, you have to mix the product well.
This can be done with a drill bit or any other tool that can get it well mixed.
Once it is mixed, you pour some of it into a spray gun powered by an air compressor and give your car two or three passes until you apply about 40 mils.
Since it’s ceramic-based, you can expect a huge improvement in your vehicle’s heat resistance.
It will keep your car cool in the summer and hold the heat in during the winter.
Do keep in mind that this item may not help as much if you’re looking to block out noise.
This is why it is recommended that you install your sound-deadening materials before using this thermal shield.
Once dried, you can paint over the LizardSkin Ceramic insulation to match the color of your car
Types of heat insulation products
The same principles apply when it comes to both heat and sound insulation.
You want to eliminate any weaknesses that allow sound or heat to enter the cab of your vehicle.
The easiest vulnerabilities to identify are in the armor of the vehicle where air passes freely.
Both heat and sound travel by air so the first thing you’ll need to do is to get rid of any place that lets air enter the cab.
Heat and sounds can also pass through materials and this is the case since most vehicles use sheet metal.
The metal can even make random noise much more pronounced.
Thankfully, they are a wide variety of materials that you can purchase to make your vehicle more sturdy and less prone to rattling.
Let’s take a look at an example.
Rubber is a great choice to use for soundproofing and heat insulation as well as a few other materials that we’ll discuss in a few minutes.
In the end, it’s all about adding some bulk to the thin metal parts of your vehicle.
If you want to combat overheating, you’ll then have to make sure to use heat-resistant materials.
So here are some of the types of heat-resistant materials you may find.
Rubber and Foil Mats
If you’ve ever shopped for a sound deadener you’ve probably seen rubber and foil mats before.
These types of mats have foil on the front and a black rubber or asphalt-based material on the back.
They may or may not have an adhesive backing.
Rubber and foil mats are effective since they help absorb excess engine noise and stop loose metal parts from rattling against the sheet metal
They are also heat resistant so they will help you to manage the temperature of your vehicle.
These mats can be a little tricky to apply since you have to rub them into the sheet metal.
If you do choose this type of product, try to avoid getting it stuck to your skin or clothes when installing.
You can use rubber and foil mats on the inside of your car doors, the headliner, the trunk, on the floor or under the hood.
You can find these mats available in rolls, rectangular cut packs or a kit with pieces for various parts of your vehicle.
Check out our best dynamat alternative post for rubber and foil mats.
You can also read this noico vs dynamat vs hushmat vs fatmat to see how some of the best on the market perform against each other.
Fiber and foam insulation
Fiber and foam insulation products are used underneath floor mats or carpeting.
They help to thicken up the floor of a vehicle which can have several different effects when it comes to sound and heat control.
Fiber and foam insulation can improve the acoustic quality of the cabin of the vehicle.
It can make conversations or music from your speakers sound better.
Unfortunately, most of these types of products aren’t waterproof.
Your vehicle needs to be able to withstand a certain amount of water.
If it’s rainy some water will get into your vehicle either from the bottom of your shoes or something else.
However, some people still use these types of products because they do help with sound and heat.
Spray insulation
Liquid insulation has only been around for a short while in the world of automotive sound deadening and thermal management.
These types of products are applied using an air compressor-powered spray gun.
It allows for a more even application which is not always possible when you’re using the other types of insulation material.
Spray insulation may also last longer than adhesive and non-adhesive mats, rolls and tape.
This is because it fuses to the metal in a better way.
However, since it’s a fairly new product on the market, the jury is still out on its effectiveness for sound and heat insulation.
That being said, it seems to be gaining popularity and many people use it alongside foil and rubber mats as well as foam and fiber insulation.
Finishing tapes
Finishing tapes are similar to foil and rubber mats and as their name suggests they are used to add the final touches to your self-adhesive mat installation.
After installing your mats into the sheet metal, you can use finishing tape between the different pieces of mats to fill any gaps.
The finishing tape is usually thinner and on its own would not insulate against heat or sound.
This is why you need to use it with another insulation product to keep your vehicle cool and quiet.
Buying guide to automotive insulation
If you have no idea about car insulation material then you shouldn’t head out there and buy the first product you find.
Before making a purchase, there are a few things you need to consider.
Let’s get right to them.
Purpose
Heat insulation products have many purposes.
Different brands may make them with a specific idea in mind.
Some may be good at insulating only certain parts of your vehicle.
Try to look for products that are made for your specific purpose.
If you are looking to insulate your entire vehicle, look for a product that can work throughout the vehicle.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to insulate a specific section like the floor, look for a material that was made specifically for insulating floors.
This way you get the best product for your specific purpose and end up with the best results possible.
Adaptability
You’ll find that some heat insulation products aren’t made for all cars.
Some are built for a specific vehicle or a particular model in mind.
Be sure that the type of heat insulation product you purchase can work on the type of vehicle that you have.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of heat-insulating materials comes down to their thickness.
It is believed that the thicker the material, the better.
However, this isn’t always the case as the thicker materials are harder to install and may look bulky.
Some ultra-thin heat insulation products are as effective as their thicker counterparts.
You can also opt to use spray insulation as well.
Spraying on an even coating of liquid insulation of about 40 mils of product can make a huge difference.
Base material
While thickness is important, the base material can help you decide whether the heat insulation product will work for you or not.
The best choice is rubber, more specifically a product with aluminum foil on the front and a synthetic rubber material known as butyl on the back.
However, some people aren’t a fan of this rubber material since it can be hard to work with sometimes and may omit a strong odor.
IThe other option is to go for a product that is made from closed cell polyethylene.
They are flexible, easy to work with and best of all have no strong odor.
If you’re going for spray insulation, you can try rubber-based or ceramic based products
Both these materials can withstand similar temperatures so either one will leave you with optimal thermal insulation.
Style
In most cases, heat insulation is not visible from the outside.
They are usually embedded into the structure of the car but sometimes they may be visible.
If you’re particularly concerned about the look of your heat insulation then choose a heat-insulating product that suits your style
Coverage
Different brands make their heat insulation mats, sheets and rolls in various sizes.
This is because these products are usually made with a specific vehicle in mind.
Make sure you are getting enough to cover every surface of your vehicle to guarantee the best insulating results possible.