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Topic: insulation engine bay (Read 3732 times) previous topic - next topic

insulation engine bay

Hello to all,
I am still waffling about what to use in engine bay. My original stuff is falling all over the engine. Has anyone used soundown Microlite insulation? If not what soundown was used.

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #1 –
i lined my engine compartment about 10 years ago with a product, i believe
was called dynamat. easy to install and still looks good. i am editing this post.
dynamat was not the product.  i used ez cool

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #2 –
I used EZ Cool in the engine compartment and the generator compartment. Really like it. Lightweight. Been installed over five years now. No heat in bedroom and quieter. I did double it up in the engine compartment.
I used spray adhesive AND the fender washers and screws to hold it in place.
EZ Cool is in Texas or Home Page - ESP, Inc. Home of Low-E Insulation

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #3 –
Our engine compartment was a mess with the insulation dropping down onto the turbo. I used R-19 Fiberglas covered with Hardie Backerboard. Really cut the heat in the bedroom. Used standoffs to give space for the R-19 and then stainless fasteners. Photo of my fire test says it all. Painted with white latex. Nothing gets through Hardie. See YouTube blowtorch tests.

I also did the fridge compartment with Hardie. No insulation but covered every square inch. Fridge compartment is the most important on the coach.

Generator compartment is also bad but have not done it yet.

Pierce

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #4 –
I also did the Dynamat insulation.  I removed the stock heat blanket, fully lined everything with Dynamat, then put the stock blankets back on.  On the inside, I removed all the carpet and black mat, lined the entire bedroom floor and bed pedestal with the Dynamat, then put in new pad and carpet.
The difference is noise is really good, but the heat difference is amazing.  We get no noticeable heat from the engine compartment any more. Glad we did it.

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #5 –
I have a big box of sound down insulation meant for the engine compartment and the generator. Just haven't had time to do it. I'm going to take it with me on my trip this summer and hopefully one of these days get around to it. I think the sound down is probably the best product for it. Not only do you want heat coverage but also sound and I think that this product will do the best at both. Truth is though if the engine catches fire it's not going to matter if you have something that's going to block heat or not.

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #6 –
I need to do the same thing. Does the majority of you guys rip out the old stuff? Or better off to over the top of the old stuff?

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #7 –
I scraped on it until every trace was gone.

P

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #8 –
Rip er out!

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #9 –
Black, old, heavy crumbling insulation, will plug radiator. Get rid of it!

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #10 –
Having experienced an engine room fire on a diesel boat, I'm extremely cautious about what product I use around turbos.  Looks like the existing insulation will burn, I can confirm Soundown burns vigorously with huge amounts of orange smoke and drips molten lead to boot.  Some of this stuff used looks to be metallized plastic?  No thanks.

I'm leaning toward using rigid fiberglass duct board with aluminum facing. Probably 2".  This stuff is sound deadening, will not burn, and is readily fabricated in a neat fashion, lightweight,very durable ,reasonably attractive and locally available everywhere. 



Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #12 –
Do those of you replacing with the fiberglass duct board remove the furniture blankets, or mount over/through them?
 
My original blankets still appear to be in decent shape, just dirty and hard to keep clean.
 
Thanks,
 
Trent

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #13 –
Just remember that anything with an aluminum face will melt quickly with a direct flame. Good for sound and heat but not for flame. In steel buildings, cement is sprayed over the steel beams to keep them from losing strength and failing when in contact with a fire.

Pierce

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #14 –
Improving the engine bay is on my list this month as well. I like the fiberglass and hardie backer approach. What am I going to find as the substrate after removing the crumbling black insulation?

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #15 –
Most likely will be plywood

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #16 –
Fiberglass is not a good choice: it's flammable !
Considering that the engine area is the second most common place for RV fires you should look for a non flammable sound deadening foam with a radiant heat barrier.
There are lots out there like this one from soundproof cow. Quiet Barrier™ Specialty Composite - Soundproof Cow
Good luck with your project
David

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #17 –
David,

Let's take a look at your post. First, the R-19 is underneath the super fire restive Hardie Backerboard where no flame can get anywhere near it even if it were flamable. Second, do you think every house with Fiberglas in the walls and ceiling is a fire trap? As a career firefighter, I made countless inspections of business and homes, all in accordance with the N.F.P.A. guidelines. Do you think insurance companies would insure homes insulated with flammable insulation?

That is why as soon as I bought out U300, I started making the fridge and engine compartment as fire restive as possible.

Google is a good search engine to come up to speed on these topics. The only thing incendiary so far is your post.

Fire resistance
Made from sand and recycled glass, fiberglass insulation is naturally non-combustible and remains so for the product's life. It requires no additional  chemical treatments. Many building codes also recognize fiberglass insulation as an acceptable fire stop in wood- and steel-framed wall assemblies.

The kraft face glued on some fiberglass rolls is the only thing flammable.

Pierce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NC79e0oztM


Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #18 –
Pierce, I think he might be confusing "fiberglass insulation " with just plain old "fiberglass" as in boats, motorhomes and the like.

Re: insulation engine bay

Reply #19 –
Quote from: rbark –
Pierce, I think he might be confusing "fiberglass insulation " with just plain old "fiberglass" as in boats, motorhomes and the like.
Yes, one is made from sand and glass and the other from a combination of fiberglass and petro chemicals. But when you come in the room with both guns blazing...

So, all fiberglass is made from silica sand ,soda ash, and limestone (types of sand and ash may vary) and is not flammable. It's only when a polymer (petro chemical) is added that the polymer combination becomes flammable (the actual "fiberglass" may melt but does not burn).

Pierce