Engine Cover Insulation

[Tom FitzPatrick]

I have a 73 Dodge Sportsman with the center-console-type engine cover in the cab (is there a name for that cover?)  On our last trip the cover was getting extremely hot in one spot, hot enough to burn your hand.  When I took the cover off I saw a piece of the yellow fiberglass insulation was torn off in that hot spot.

Since we were already on the road I had to improvise.  I used layers of aluminum foil from the kitchen to cover the spot, and that actually worked to cut down on the heat!

Now I am wondering if anyone has advice for a more permanant (yet thrifty and DIY) fix.  Some thoughts I've had - regular home fiberglass insulation (but what adhesive to use?), fireblock rated expanding foam, or stick with the aluminum foil.  I'm finding a few products online but some are quite expensive and I only need a small spot covered..

-Tom

[John Scott]

Hey Tom, that cover is commonly called a dog house.

I work as a sheet metal worker and we commonly line duct work on the inside with duct liner.

It would be ideal thing to use but probably hard for you to obtain.

You can buy spray adhesive at the depot.

House insulation will work fine but if it is faced, the facing can catch fire.

Best and easiest thing for you is to get some spray adhesive and replace the insulation .

Give that a day to dry.

Then spray again and cover with foil or better yet, some very light gauge aluminum if you can find some.

Just remember if the insulation your using is faced, peel the paper facing off because it will catch fire!!!

Hope this helps and if I can help you more, just ask,  John

[Randall Brink]

I had a similar heat and noise issue woth my Dodge Sportsman doghouse and used a foil aoustic and heat barrier. Here is a link to one of the products, the one I use, designed for this purpose: http://greenjeansinsulation.com/2010/06/the-insulator/.

This newer heat and sound deadening material is better than the OEM foil and insulation shield. It has a class A fire rating, intended for use in hot engine compartments.

[Tom FitzPatrick]

Thanks for the replies!  It will be a little while before I get around to fixing it, but I'll be able to use the advice.

[Michael Jolly]

We used rockwool with foil backing stuck on with contact adhesive it makes a nice tidy job but let it dry for a few days because of flamable fumes!! Keeps the noise and heat down.

[Jim Louiselle]

Our first camper was a 1976 Dodge class c with the same engine cover. (We always called it a dog house because that's what many of the truckers I knew called it.)

But it had what appeared to be a factory made blanket made out of foil faced and backed insulation. Basically two layers of heavy foil sewn together in a cross diamond pattern with about an inch of fiberglass insulation between. It was either from the coach builder or perhaps an after market item but definitely not home made. It was cut perfectly to fit, hemmed and attached with snaps so it could be removed. I would just go on line and look, maybe a custom van site or even J.C.Whitney. After I wrote this I came back five minutes later. I don't know how to link sites, but I did a brief web search and found dozen sites that sell engine insulation, so lot's of possibilities out there.

[Dale and Lynne Park]

Same problem with our 77 Sportsman.  The original insulation inside the dog house cover is in nice condition and we didn't have much space to add any on the engine side - plus I am a worry wart and packing in more insul. next to the engine made me a bit nervous about air circulation.  I made a pattern/template from the carpet on the interior side.  Then I sewed an additional cover to put over the carpet.   I used some of the upholstery fabric from decorating the rig and Insul-bright batting.  Insul-bright is used by quilters/sewing folk for the making of pot holders, oven mitts, etc.  I happened to have some on hand and it worked out fine.  This blocks a good bit of the heat and you have no fireproofing issues. You can also use Therm-Flec heat proof fabric which is already quilted and comes in a few neutral colors.  If you know basic sewing or know someone who can sew it is a pretty good solution.  

[Dale and Lynne Park]

Here is a photo.  I still need to add some trim around the bottom but it looks pretty good! You can see that we went "Full 70's" with our decorating scheme.

[Tom FitzPatrick]

Nice!  I want to show this to my wife!

[sullivan mcgriff]

You may want to check and see that there is not a missing heat shield off the exhaust manifold- mine was missing one it is a simple chunk of sheet metal that stops the heat from radiating onto the doghouse- saves the throttle foot