Should I get rid of the hood insulation?

[Jason94sport]

It's not in too bad shape, but would removing it keep the engine bay cooler? My engine bay gets REALLY hot after I drive in the FL heat. Even things on the fenders get too hot to touch. Does this insulation have a purpose like for a fire, or reduceing engine noise? Or is it just for looks?
Will removing it bubble & heat up the paint?
Thanks

 

[DeRocha]

Not sure on the heat aspect, but the insulation is mainly to surpress engine noise..

 

[conig]

i removed mine, and im in tallahassee, I didn;t notice much of a noise change. I havn't felt the hood yet but have done this on 4 cars now and the hood is always cooler. the explorer got super hot with the insulation on there. you can also remove the little weather strip at the back of the engine bay and install it upside down for alittle more ventilation.

I once told that its there for a fire blanket, the plastic clips will melt and it will drop off ontop of the fire and smother it. I personally don;t beleive this and carry a fire extinguisher anyway. just fyi.

 

[JStrider]

I've been thinkin about pulling mine off... its all torn up.

but yah I wasnt sure what all it was there for... figured mostly to reduce noise.

 

[KKM]

You might try the old roadracing trick for the production class vehicles and remove the seal where the hood meets the firewall. You have air flowing in, but little going out of the engine compartment, so this will help. The only downside is if you have any type of oil or emission leak in the engine compartment, you will be more likely to smell it through the vents.

 

[snocross1985]

Got rid of my hood insulation. Made my hood lighter, didn't affect the paint at all and that was 2 years ago. Go for it.

 

[Jason94sport]

I took it off. It came off all in 1 piece & the clips are intact so I can put it back on if needed. I'm looking for more of a cooling effect then anything else.
I like that back rubber strip. Keeps water out from back there. I have a lot of under hood wiring in loom for my stuff along the firewall. I'd rather keep the engine bay as dry as I can.

 

[karl_burns]

I think the hood "insulation" was a composite that acted as an extinguisher in case of fire. It would melt into some chemical that doused flames. At least, that's what the dealer told me!?!?
Karl