Insulation for a car allows you to retain heat in the engine, its cooling system and battery. Thanks to insulation, the car owner can quickly warm up the engine in cold weather (while saving fuel), heat the interior, and get rid of ice on the hood. However, car insulation also has disadvantages. Among them are the possibility of overheating, a drop in motor power, and the possibility of fire of a low-quality product. The low service life of most of these “blankets” (about one to two years), coupled with their fairly high cost, frustrate car owners even more.

The following presents the advantages and disadvantages of using insulation for a car engine, according to which you can make an appropriate decision about the appropriateness of the purchase, and also gives a rating of popular insulation. If you have anything to add to the material, please speak up in the comments below.

Insulation of the car interior

The most common problem when insulating the interior is drafts that appear after the rubber door seals are deformed. If you replace them with whole ones, then there will be a constant positive temperature in the cabin, provided that after replacement the gaps between all parts of the car body are uniform and not too large.

Covering the body with sound-proofing and heat-insulating materials (sound and heat insulation of the interior) will make the interior even warmer. It is worth noting that before starting this rather labor-intensive procedure, you need to choose the right insulating material. Almost all of these products perfectly absorb moisture that constantly appears in the car during rain, washing or in the form of evaporation. However, there is also a drawback: after some time, this “thermal insulation” will begin to rot, causing an unpleasant odor in the car. Therefore, you should purchase a product that will not only provide warmth to the interior, but will also not absorb water.

Middle price segment

In the middle price segment, insulation products with an ideal price/quality ratio are presented.

Phantom

This is insulation from a Chinese manufacturer with an average price. This alone doesn't mean the Phantom is bad. This model has a lot of good reviews on forms and trading platforms. By the way, Phantom can even be purchased on Aliexpress. Users note good durability and high efficiency. Installing this device is very easy. However, if there are any difficulties, you can always refer to the instructions included in the kit. The number of autostarts with Phantom is halved.

You can buy a Phantom for only 1,800 rubles.

Phantom insulation

Advantages:

• safety;
• wide functionality;
• reliability;
• can withstand very high temperatures.

Flaws:

• not found.

Heatshield 2 in 1 xl stp 41368

Heatshield 2 in 1 xl stp 41368 is suitable for almost any motor. After all, its size is 135x80. Suitable even for some trucks. The blanket is made of polyurethane foam. Heatshield 2 in 1 xl stp 41368 is very popular among drivers from the CIS countries. This model is very often used in Siberia, which already says a lot. Heatshield 2 in 1 xl stp 41368 is resistant to high temperatures and changes. In addition, the model is absolutely safe for the health of the driver and others.

Price Heatshield 2 in 1 xl stp 41368 – 2000 rubles.

Heatshield 2 in 1 xl stp 41368

Advantages:

• easy to use;
• big size;
• practical;
• there are many positive reviews.

Flaws:

• a bit overpriced.

Torso Premium №1

Torso Premium No. 1 is produced in the Russian Federation. The materials used are very durable fabric that is resistant to high temperatures. When heated to high temperatures, it does not release harmful substances into the environment. This blanket is sold in all specialized stores in the country. Torso Premium No. 1 comes with a very convenient carrying case. The quality of the product is very high, defects are excluded.

You can buy Torso Premium No. 1 for 1,544 rubles

Torso Premium №1

Advantages:

• long service life;
• easily withstands temperature changes;
• safety;
• reliability.

Flaws:

• not found.

Safe Blanket

Safe Blanket can be used to protect car glass from ice freezing. Thanks to this blanket, the driver will no longer have to waste valuable time scraping ice off the glass. Safe Blanket is sold only in company stores (there are both land-based retail outlets and online stores). The blanket is EAC certified. The manufacturer recommends using Safe Blanket at temperatures no higher than 25 degrees Celsius. There is a very good warranty - two whole years.

The price is also reasonable - 1600 rubles.

Safe Blanket

Advantages:

• protects the windshield from ice;
• practicality;
• 2 year warranty;
• durability;
• easy to operate.

Flaws:

• There are temperature restrictions.

Chrysler 300 C (AT#2)

The manufacturer of the Chrysler 300 C (AT#2) officially states that this blanket can save up to 20% of fuel (which is spent on warming up) and warm up the engine to the required temperature. Chrysler 300 C (AT№2) is produced in Russia (despite the use of the Chrysler brand) and is made from harmless materials. This is confirmed by the technical passport that comes with each insulation. The Chrysler 300 C (AT#2) is based on fiberglass threads. Therefore, this blanket will serve for a very long time and retain all its original functions.

Price Chrysler 300 C (AT№2) - 1800 rubles.

Chrysler 300 C (AT#2)

Advantages:

• reliability;
• very high quality tailoring;
• fiberglass is used;
• can soundproof the car interior;
• safety.

Flaws:

• not found.

Insulation of the engine and hood of a car

Covering the engine with a felt blanket can result in a fire, so if your region does not have very severe winters, then you can get by with the usual thermal protection of the hood. And for those car owners who live in places with winter temperatures of more than -25 C°, we offer several of the safest options for car insulation .

Firstly, you should clarify why you should definitely insulate your car engine.

• Due to the long warm-up of the engine in winter, significant excess fuel consumption occurs, as well as faster wear of engine parts;
• a layer of ice that forms on the hood can damage the paintwork.

Many drivers know that starting a very cold engine leads to a negative impact on the service life of this most important part of the car. This occurs due to changes in some properties of motor oil and gasoline/diesel fuel at low temperatures. When the viscosity of the oil increases, for example, it cannot immediately penetrate into the necessary remote engine systems: when starting the engine with such oil, for a certain time it will experience a lack of oil lubrication in its parts, which, with constant friction, will cause rapid wear.

Also, engine starting in winter is affected by the fact that gasoline begins to evaporate worse - this leads to a deterioration in the preparation of the fuel-air mixture inside the car. And the battery at temperatures below zero does not release its full charge capacity.

To avoid all of the above problems, advanced technologies offer the use of several inventions that simplify the process of starting and operating a car in winter:

• pre-start engine heating: a device that warms up the engine before starting it. It saves not only time, your nerves and strength, but also fuel, and also prevents premature wear of engine parts and battery overload.
• Insulating the battery is simply a necessary measure in extreme cold, since the frozen mixture of distilled water and electrolyte should never be used until it is completely thawed, because when the starter is started, this frozen liquid will release explosive gas.

Having determined the main reasons why it is necessary to insulate not only the interior, but also the internal parts of the engine, you should choose the best option, suitable both in terms of convenience and financial capabilities.

Naturally, there are no ideal methods; they all have advantages and disadvantages.

For insulation, you will need a sheet of this material of the required size and clips to secure the insulation to the hood. In summer it is advisable to remove it.

The second option for engine insulation is a car blanket . This type of insulation can be made independently, having the necessary materials, or you can buy a ready-made version. To make your own, you will need: fiberglass and internal filler, or mullite-silica wool. These materials are used for insulation of oil and gas pipelines, as well as in fire-resistant shields. Their low thermal conductivity and completely non-flammable composition allows them to withstand temperatures up to 12,000 degrees, and also not be subject to chemical attack from various technical fluids.

Among the most modern technical “gadgets” for cars in terms of engine insulation, we can highlight:

• Electric heater;
• Autonomous pre-start heater.

Electric heating of a car engine is a very convenient means of maintaining the optimal temperature and preventing freezing of engine parts, but it has, rather than a drawback, but a feature - it requires a power source of two hundred and twenty volts near the place where the car is stored. The time required for heating from this device ranges from twenty to forty minutes and requires manual activation.

A preheater has more advantages than an electric heater, one of the main ones, for example, is the presence of the option to “turn on/off” this heater several times at night or during the day, as well as the autonomy of this device, which does not require the power to be constantly on.

At the moment, these methods are the most relevant and modern. Of course, the best and most reliable option would be a combination of all of the above methods. The question: “ What is the best way to insulate a car in winter ” will disappear by itself. However, when installing any thermal insulation, you should know several nuances:

• To prevent engine damage due to insulation parts getting on the pulleys of the pump, generator, fan drive or under the belts, all parts of the insulation material should be secured as securely as possible.
• Naturally, in winter the air temperature is almost always low, but there are days when it becomes +. At positive temperatures, the thermal insulation should be partially opened for a greater flow of cold air to prevent overheating of the engine. To do this, make special valves on the thermal insulation material installed on the radiator, which will close and open without completely removing the thermal insulation, and also have a reliable fixation both open and closed.

Many people are interested in how to insulate a car interior with their own hands. This work allows you to avoid many problems with operating the machine in winter. At a minimum, the comfort of the cabin will increase. In turn, this will improve the quality of management, which has a positive impact on safety. Yes, and it’s just nice to plop down from the cold into a warm cabin to go home. Warmth in a car is especially appreciated by people who travel quite long distances. To overcome a “shoulder” of 600 kilometers, sitting wrapped up to your ears in fur coats and padded jackets, compares to a feat. Therefore, do not spare money and time for complete insulation of the interior.

Why do you need to insulate a car battery?

All insulation procedures are designed to preserve the heat and physical and chemical properties of the vehicle’s technical fluids. The frost did not spare the battery electrolyte either. When exposed to cold, the density of the electrolyte drops, which leads to a rapid discharge of the battery and a decrease in its capacity. In order not to hear the sad whining of the starter, it is worth insulating the battery.

Methods for insulating batteries

The battery is insulated using special cases that protect the battery from the cold.

How can you insulate your car’s battery if you don’t want to overpay for the case? You can make something similar yourself. The following materials are suitable for this:

• Styrofoam;
• folgoizol;
• felt.

Regardless of the material chosen, the procedure is the same. It is necessary to tightly cover the battery on all sides, the main thing is that there are no gaps at the joints of the material.

Material selection

How to insulate a car interior with your own hands? This is quite a complex job that will require a large number of different actions from you. Difficulties begin from the moment of selecting heat-insulating material. It should hold heat well and not emit any harmful substances. Still, you will spend a lot of time in the salon.

The following materials are most often used for work:

• Penofol
  . This is the cheapest insulation. It retains heat perfectly and also does not allow noise to pass through. An additional advantage is the long service life;
• Citizol and isotone
  . These sheet materials are primarily sound insulators, but they also retain heat well;
• Isoflex
  is a good material. In high demand. The reason is low cost;
• Polyurethane foam
  . It is applied by spraying. Used for insulating cracks. Requires special equipment for application. In this regard, it is used quite rarely by garage craftsmen.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of materials to work with. Your task is to choose the most suitable option for you.

Tools

Premium (up to 9,000 thousand rubles)

This category contains the most expensive insulation for a car engine. However, models have been assembled, when purchasing which the driver does not overpay for the brand, but gives more money for quality.

Chrysler Concorde (AT No. 15)

And again, “parasitism” on the Chrysler brand. But what difference does it make if the thing is really high quality? Chrysler Concorde (AT No. 15) saves not only fuel, but also a lot of time that drivers spend on warming up. The Chrysler brand always produces things with a high level of quality and Concorde (AT No. 15) was no exception. Fiberglass is also used, but unlike AT#2 there is much more of it. Also, Chrysler Concorde (AT No. 15) allows you to soundproof the car.

Chrysler Concorde (AT No. 15) costs from 2100 rubles in stores.

Chrysler Concorde (AT No. 15)

Advantages:

• long service life;
• high level of reliability;
• fire resistance;
• good price.

Flaws:

• not found.

AutoTeplo No. 4

AvtoTeplo can be called a premium brand of insulation for car engines. Silica material, fiberglass threads, mullite-silica wool. No, these are not the materials from which rockets are made, AutoTeplo No. 4 is made from this. All the materials from which this blanket is made are of very high quality. The blanket is very large, but it weighs only three kilograms. Withstands up to 1200 degrees Celsius. Can be used even in the most extreme conditions.

However, the price of AutoTeplo No. 4 is 4,000 rubles

AutoTeplo No. 4

Advantages:

• incredibly durable materials;
• very high quality tailoring;
• reliability;
• durability;
• There is a full year warranty.

Flaws:

• the price is a little high.

StP Heat. Shield XL

The manufacturer claims that this insulation does an excellent job of sound insulation. This is why StP Heat is positioned. Shield XL is like a 2 in 1 device (insulation and fabric for noise insulation). To make StP Heat. Shield XL uses solid material. Therefore the blanket is very strong. Moreover, the weight is only one kilogram. Packaging with which StP Heat is sold. Shield XL can be used as a case. The blanket easily withstands any temperature changes. Can last up to five years. Fits StP Heat. Shield XL for almost all cars.

Price StP Heat. Shield XL - only 2,700 rubles.

StP Heat. Shield XL

Advantages:

• strength;
• reliability;
• safety;
• Suitable for almost any engine.

Flaws:

• not found.

Graphite Saturn

Another insulation from a Russian manufacturer. The model is very good. For its production, only high-quality materials (mainly textiles) are used. The weight of this blanket is only 1.4 kilograms. Along with the insulation itself comes an incredibly convenient bag. Saturn Graphite is suitable for virtually any type of engine. This Saturn Graphite is sold in the company's company store and in some specialized retail outlets.

You can buy Saturn Graphite for only 2,300 rubles.

Graphite Saturn

Advantages:

• very convenient case;
• easy to operate;
• safe;
• high level of reliability;
• long service life.

Flaws:

• not found.

Preparing the car

Before carrying out insulation work, the interior should be disassembled. All the seats are pulled out of it. It is imperative to dismantle the trim, this also includes the headliner. On some models it is quite difficult to pull it out, but if you leave the roof without insulation, then all other work will be pointless. Be sure to wash your car. This will allow the material to be laid more evenly. In addition, you should pay attention to the doors. They are also insulated. To do this you will have to remove the casing from them too. When removing controls for mirrors and lifts, be careful not to break them.

After removing the casing, carefully inspect the body. All excess and unnecessary holes are sealed. Particular care should be taken to evaluate the transition points of the wiring from the passenger compartment to the engine compartment. Install new seals. This will prevent heat leakage.

Why insulate your car engine in winter?

The procedure for insulating the engine compartment was born around the 70s of the last century. At the time, powertrains were not smart and the cooling system was water based. At the moment, the situation has changed dramatically; cars equipped with electronics think about their safety independently. Cooling systems are based on non-freezing liquids; the units are equipped with pre-heating systems. However, not everyone has modern technology under the hood and not everyone lives in mild winter conditions. In these cases, it is necessary to insulate the engine compartment. Let's look at how to properly insulate a car in severe frosts.

Insulation of the interior

Having prepared the car for work, you can proceed directly to insulation. This is done in the following order:

• New door seals are being installed. This will minimize heat loss through door gaps. In general, they should be changed every 2 seasons. This is caused by the relatively rapid wear of these elements;
• Patterns of all elements planned for insulation are made. For this you will need prepared cardboard;
• It is better to treat the underbody of the car with anti-corrosion agent. This will reduce the risk of rust;
• Using a stationery knife, we cut out the necessary pieces of insulation according to the patterns. It is recommended to make elements with a margin of several centimeters. It’s better to trim off the excess afterwards;
• Insulation begins from the floor. Glue is applied to the material, after which it is placed on the floor of the cabin. Having leveled a piece of thermal insulation, it is lightly pressed and left to dry. Usually in warm weather, waiting a couple of hours is enough. After drying, lay the floor covering;
• Let's move on to the doors. This is one of the most difficult elements to insulate. Cut pieces of insulation are glued to the inside of the lining. After this, the door trim is reinstalled, as well as all the removed elements. Don’t forget to check the operation of locks and power windows; We glue the sides of the body. Here the principle of operation is practically no different from the process described above;
• The last thing to insulate is the ceiling. Even though it is smooth, one inconvenience will still await you. It is almost impossible to fix the insulation evenly alone. Therefore, this work should be done with an assistant. The glue is applied to the surface of the heat-insulating material. After which, the heat insulator is glued to the ceiling. It is recommended to hold it for a couple of minutes, waiting for the glue to initially set. After drying, check the reliability of fastening of the material and install the casing in place.

All that remains is to install it in place. By insulating the interior in this way, you can save some fuel in the winter. After all, you will turn on the stove much less often.

Conclusion

. Before the winter cold, many car enthusiasts strive to prepare their car for operation in subzero temperatures. Therefore, the question of how to insulate a car interior with your own hands is not uncommon. In practice, insulating a car is not a complicated process, but due to the large number of related operations, you will have to tinker a bit.

Our country, as you know, is famous for its severe frosts, as well as the length of the cold season. Accordingly, in order to survive severe frosts and save fuel, we have to thoroughly insulate ourselves. And we have considerable distances, which makes life even more difficult in winter. Therefore, it is also necessary to insulate the car interior. Russian-made cars are characterized by low quality noise insulation and thermal insulation. This is evidenced by numerous complaints from owners about the cold in the car even with a well-functioning stove; this problem especially worsens over time. The older the car, the more its thermal insulation deteriorates. The main reason is the low quality of parts assembly. Insufficiently tight and airtight connections of components and parts allow cold and noise to freely enter the car interior.

Insulation of the car interior

Foreign cars, despite their high build quality, can also succumb to the peculiarities of our climate. And buying a foreign car in itself does not guarantee good thermal insulation. While there may be no problems with the interior, the space under the hood with all its contents may suffer from low temperatures. Of course, the build quality and connection density here is significantly superior to products from the Russian automotive industry, but now the situation is changing. Therefore, our cars are more often insulated than foreign cars, or foreign cars with a fairly long service life.

Budget models

Not all car enthusiasts have the money for expensive insulation. But don't be upset. After all, now you can find a good model at a relatively low price. (Of course, not from 100 rubles)

Cartage

An excellent medium-sized model (140x60 cm). Produced by the Russian company Cartage, therefore the price for this product in the domestic market is low. Ideal for insulating engines. The weight of the model is small - only 950 grams. Cartage is sold in a transparent cellophane bag. The manufacturer claims that the blanket will perform its functions for more than 2 years. This is also confirmed by some users of Cartage insulation in their reviews.

You can buy Cartage for only 1000 rubles in any specialized store.

Cartage insulation

Advantages:

• reliability;
• high degree of security;
• Suitable for many cars;
• excellent quality of tailoring.

Flaws:

• not dense enough.

Subcompact

Despite its name, this insulation device has a fairly decent size - 120x80 cm. To manufacture this model, the manufacturer uses materials that are resistant to high temperatures and alkalis. The heat is retained for a long time. With the help of the Minicar model, hundreds of drivers throughout Russia successfully warm up their cars even in severe frost. One of the features of the model is the absence of harmful emissions when heated to high temperatures. This device is suitable for almost all types of passenger cars. Service life without loss of properties is up to 5 years. These are not all the advantages of this model.

You can buy a “Small Car” for only 1,300 rubles.

Runabout insulation

Advantages:

• environmentally friendly materials;
• high-quality tailoring;
• resistance to alkalis and high temperatures;
• long service life;
• versatility.

Flaws:

• difficult to fit on some engines.

STP HeatShield

There are two types of STP HeatShield - for passenger cars and for SUVs. In addition to its main function (engine insulation), this device can also act as sound insulation. Many drivers claim that this foreign-made blanket significantly reduces noise levels when placed between the hood and the passenger compartment. STP HeatShield is not afraid of temperature changes. The device is made of materials such as canvas, a heat absorption layer and a self-adhesive coating. Also, special clips are used for fastening (there are eight of them in the set).

The price of STP HeatShield is from 1400 rubles.

STP HeatShield

Advantages:

• quality materials;
• safety;
• long service life;
• strength.

Flaws:

• cannot be cut.

Torso

One of the most popular insulation among budget models. It can be of different lengths. Therefore, Torso products are popular both among car drivers and among those who drive large vehicles (trucks, SUVs). Torso is really good. It is used by thousands of car enthusiasts from Russia and other CIS countries. These models are sold complete with a very convenient transparent bag, so the Torso is very easy to carry. The device weighs only one kilogram.

You can buy Torso in any specialized store for only 1000 rubles.

Torso insulation

Advantages:

• practicality;
• long service life;
• three whole years of warranty;
• Suitable for almost any car;
• can be conveniently stored in a special bag;
• good price.

Flaws:

• Not the best quality of tailoring.

Skyway

Perhaps the cheapest insulation for a car. Very different models are produced under this brand. There are both large Skyways for trucks and small ones for cars. These models are very popular among drivers from Russia. The blanket can last up to three years without losing its properties. It would seem that this is an ideal option, given the price. However, Skyway has one significant drawback - not very high-quality tailoring. But if you install it carefully and handle it with care, the Skyway can last for a very long time.

The price for Skyway is from 500 to 900 rubles, depending on the size.

Skyway insulation

Advantages:

• very low price;
• practicality;
• There are different sizes;
• performs its basic functions well.

Flaws:

• Not the best quality of tailoring.

How to insulate a car

There are probably as many ways to insulate car interiors as there are car owners. This is especially true for owners of domestic cars, who, like no one else, show their creative and technical skills. The interior can be upholstered from the inside with thermal insulation material. Vibroplast, or isolon, or other materials are excellent for this. The use of these materials makes it possible to minimize extraneous noise in the car interior, and, most importantly, heat loss is significantly reduced. That is, in winter the upholstery protects against heat loss, and in summer, on the contrary, from cold, a kind of thermos effect is obtained.

As an alternative to upholstery, you can use the method of spraying a foaming composition. Foamed polyurethane is ideal for such a composition. True, its application will require expensive equipment. The polyurethane layer can be quite thin, since the material has excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, it lays down in a high-quality monolithic layer and allows you to close all the cracks and holes through which cold air could penetrate inside the car. Another advantage of using polyurethane foam is the protection of metal from corrosion.

In the video - insulating a car door:

In addition to the internal upholstery, the external upholstery can also be replaced. For this purpose, vinyl artificial leather is used - a fairly economical material with good thermal insulation properties. This material is presented on the market in a large number of different colors, so you can indulge in any flight of fancy.

How to properly save fuel during the winter

Insulating a radiator using a piece of cardboard is an old method that is a myth. This method has been popular since the times of the Soviet Union. It remains relevant to this day. However, many people do not even realize that this approach is not useful, since it can cause you unnecessary problems. After installing the cardboard, the engine may overheat, boil and completely fail. Cardboard will not help you in this situation.

Before you insulate your car for the winter with your own hands, use a few tips for saving fuel in the winter:

• Try not to warm up the car engine. During winter, additional warming up of the engine leads to an increase in fuel consumption, and fuel costs can seriously increase. Do not leave your car outside overnight; be sure to drive it into the garage, then warming up will not be necessary (provided that your garage is insulated).
• Use special materials designed for this purpose. There is no need to show any initiative; there is no need to insulate the car with all available means. For this purpose, use only proven materials, because otherwise the saying will apply: “the miser pays twice.”