Engine bay insulation

Topic: Engine bay insulation (Read 2194 times) previous topic - next topic

Engine bay insulation

December 04, 2013, 02:11:29 pm

With the nice weather here(45 degrees) I got a head start on my insulation project. I covered the engine with a tarp to catch all the crud. Then removed all the screws. Be prepared with vice grips as most will be hard to remove and may break. A few did on me. Also you'll need a utility knife. It's easier to cut thru the rubber layer and have it in smaller sections to remove it from the bay. Then get to srapping....it's a very dirty job. 24 years of heat sure does a job on insulation! I also used a wire brush to get the metal edges good. I'm very glad I started it when I did, there was a section that had come free from the wall and if it had come complexity free it would have fell right into the side radiator fan!! The area is now free of the old insulation.

I will post photos thru the process...tomorrow I'll get started on the install of the new stuff. I'll also post all the product info. I pick up the insulation from the local school bus garage tomorrow (DW is a bus driver, membership has it's privileges lol)

So far so good.....

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #1 – December 04, 2013, 04:04:07 pm

Only one word for that job---YUCK
John H

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #2 – December 04, 2013, 06:48:48 pm

Jeff, keep up with the time it takes. It can be in hours or how many beer's

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #3 – December 04, 2013, 07:10:16 pm

Jimmy so far it's been 3 hours....beer time would be about a 6 pack so far. More dirty job than frustrating so far lol

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #4 – December 05, 2013, 12:49:48 am

@Jimmy that's about what mine looked like when I pulled the insulation. I haven't replaced it yet so keep the posts and pictures coming.

see ya
ken

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #5 – December 05, 2013, 12:58:22 am

Hi, I am abut to do mine, although not today, as it was -4

Wouldn't it be way easier to pull the mattress off, and pull the platform off, and perform whatever work, then remount said platform..?

Haven't looked too closely yet, so am actually wondering...

Dave

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #6 – December 05, 2013, 10:39:55 am

Thanks for the post, I want to start on our rig, but it's just a little cold for that. I looked at pulling the cover off, but that looks a little harder than just working under it. The bedding and possibly the mattress have to go. I think that the hardest part of this job is just getting started. Thanks and have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #7 – December 05, 2013, 12:59:48 pm

Quote from: fkjohns6083 – December 05, 2013, 10:39:55 am

I think that the hardest part of this job is just getting started. Thanks and have a great day ---- Fritz

Has been the problem I had on the old coach and now on this one. Glad you could explain why mine still needs to be done.

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #8 – December 05, 2013, 04:58:34 pm

Ok I put about 4 1/2 more hours in today and I'm done. Minus the area above the radiator. It's obvious that the old insulation is installed prior to installing the radiator. There is only a few inches on free hand room to work in, so I'll save trying that till next summer.

The foil backed foam is for insulating heat ducts 1 4'x8' sheet from Home Depot at $17. WARNING do not use this alone. I did not find any flame ratings for it but since it was just to help fill the void under the bed I used it THEN installed the heat/sound deadening material over it. The heat/sound shield I used is called WIREZ. It was $220 for 2 rolls of 2'x50'. All and all very easy to use. It is a self stick and is about 1/8 thick and pretty heavy. I placed a rug on the dinette table and made my cuts there.

A few hints....take the time to get all the old dust out of the bay. I used my air compressor and still had a few areas that needed some more cleaning. Secondly watch out for the business end of screws from the other side. I sliced my hands a few times smoothing out the material.

We leave for FL on the 20th so I'll post a report on how much quieter it is. I hope this lasts another 25 like the last stuff did.

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #9 – December 06, 2013, 06:43:51 pm

I had another post on "Engine compartment insulation" that was started by Fritz....sorry I couldn't link the two
Jeff

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #10 – December 06, 2013, 11:47:20 pm

Jeff ---- Thanks for the info, I haven't started yet, toooo cooold!! Hopefully next week after this northerner retreats. I'm really anxious to get it done, I really dislike what is there now. Seems like this would be a good time to energize that engine block heater and see what happens, may even make it more pleasant under there!! Have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #11 – December 07, 2013, 08:53:13 am

Looking at the variety of materials being used in this potentially high heat area makes me a bit uneasy. Having lived through an engine room fire on a boat, and this was with properly rated materials (Soundown to be exact, which is a lead sheet laminated between foam) which was improperly installed too close to a hot turbo makes me wonder just how appropriate some of these materials are. I can tell you that Soundown burns with a thick orange colored smoke...just like it has a built in signal flare function!

Foretravel doesn't use the expensive stuff because they enjoy spending money.

Not pointing fingers, not saying it can't be safely done with alternate materials, just sayin...

Chuck

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #12 – December 07, 2013, 10:03:00 am

Chuck
We had some of the same concerns....DW grew up with a '36 Catilina sail boat. However, what we had was hanging 24 year old insulation and the bare plywood frame. I'll take my chances with this vs the later any day. Other than the foam board I used and covered with the heat/sound shield I think I'm good. The heat/sound shield is used on our local school buses here so I'm pretty confident it the material.

Besides if it catches fire on the road we will bale out and let it burn. It's only stuff and I figure that's what insurance is for.
Jeff

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #13 – December 07, 2013, 01:13:12 pm

The insulation in my engine bay was in good condition with only the outer covering starting to fail. So I covered it all with aluminum flashing. Only spent about $50 ,sound is less on the inside,an added layer of fire protection,and I can now wash down the engine bay with soap and a hose with no concern about the insulation. Gam

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #14 – December 07, 2013, 01:30:03 pm

Looks good to me but head is sore from standing on it to see pics right way up!!
Is that Alum siding or what?? You say flashing so maybe "soffit material"?
John

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #15 – December 07, 2013, 02:01:11 pm

Man! That looks really good gam... Thanks for the idea. Though the insulation on ours is so shot I will have to remove it, but I like that as an outer layer...
Don

Quote from: gam – December 07, 2013, 01:13:12 pm

The insulation in my engine bay was in good condition with only the outer covering starting to fail. So I covered it all with aluminum flashing. Only spent about $50 ,sound is less on the inside,an added layer of fire protection,and I can now wash down the engine bay with soap and a hose with no concern about the insulation. Gam

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #16 – December 07, 2013, 03:44:48 pm

Very nice ...I really like how the newer FT engine bays are more confined than my older GV...your addition give a very clean look!

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #17 – December 07, 2013, 10:03:55 pm

What sort of flashing is that and did it take special equip't to bend/cut it?? Thanks and have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #18 – December 07, 2013, 10:30:29 pm

Looks like J or it could b F channel, each piece locks with the other providing more strength as a whole, since there designed to withstand 90+mph wind - looks like it will work.

Screw or tack the channel, use tin snips or just a circular saw to cut.

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #19 – December 08, 2013, 12:09:46 am

Simple, brilliant idea. Then again the best ones always are...

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #20 – December 08, 2013, 12:38:13 am

Hopefully on the side panels some drain holes where put in the bottom J strips to let it drain out the road water or after washing. So it must be interlocking siding by all accounts.
John H

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #21 – December 08, 2013, 01:48:30 am

Gam, nice job, where did you buy the material?
Richard B.

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #22 – December 08, 2013, 09:56:51 pm

Everything is from Home depot. two pieces of 144" long aluminum soffit material $36, 4 each j channel $16, two each 4' x 2" aluminum door threshholds, and some drywall screws. Cut it all with a 4" grinder and a thin cut-off wheel. Water can't get behind it because of the J channel . The aluminum isn't compressing the insulation but the insulation dose push a little on the aluminum to hold it tight. If i did it over I would paint the aluminum with a coat of appliance epoxy .Gam

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #23 – December 09, 2013, 01:50:23 am

Quote from: gam – December 08, 2013, 09:56:51 pm

two pieces of 144" long aluminum soffit material 4 each j channel
two each 4' x 2" aluminum door threshholds

Gam,

I see the soffit and J channel, but I do not see (or recognize) the door thresholds; where are they?

Is that what you are talking about painting next time?

Thanks,

Trent

Re: Engine bay insulation

Reply #24 – December 09, 2013, 07:13:33 pm

I divided the the length of the lid by 3 and used the door thresholds over the flashing in two locations to go from side too side to help hold the long pieces in place.The pictures where taken before the thresholds where installed. I got the gold colored thresholds and they look good with the white flashing. The white finish on the flashing seams to stain somewhat with oil and exhaust fumes and I think a good coat of epoxy paint would prevent this.Gam

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