Heat is the one thing we constantly fight on every vehicle we have. It destroys transmissions, kills radiators and engines, fatigues axle gears, burns through important wiring, overheats vital parts, and makes your vehicle too hot to sit in sometimes. If you’ve got some experience with customized vehicles, then you are likely no stranger to some type of heat problem. Having your vehicle properly prepared for the heat its parts will generate is imperative to the longevity of your vehicle. In minor cases, heat will prematurely wear things out on your vehicle. In major cases—say, one in which a wiring harness catches on fire—it can cost you your ride. Thermo-Tec has built an entire company around preventing heat damage, and there is no shortage of enthusiasts who need to think about a little better heat management. We asked Thermo-Tec to send us a few samples of their Cool It wiring sleeves, header wraps, and heat barrier products—welcomed protection that we used up too quickly on our own project vehicles. 01. These Heat Sleeves from Thermo-Tec are sealed with silicone-coated fiberglass fire sleeving to protect wires and hoses. As long as it does not come through the ends, these Heat Sleeves are mud and water proof as well. They insulate a little better than an easily-installed Express Sleeve, but you have to fish one end of the wires or tubing through, so they’re more difficult to install after the fact.01. These Heat Sleeves from Thermo-Tec are sealed with silicone-coated fiberglass fire sl 02. We used some of the Heat Sleeve on our starter cable hanging at a low point in the front of the vehicle. We also used some of the Aluminized Heat Barrier around the engine starter motor since starters (especially older starters) are susceptible to heat soak damage.02. We used some of the Heat Sleeve on our starter cable hanging at a low point in the fr 03. Cool It’s Aluminized Heat Barrier is a flexible sheet made up of woven silica with an aluminized finish on one side. The fabric side of the heat barrier can withstand temperatures up to 1,200 degrees F and the aluminized side can hold off up to 2,000 degrees F. It has no adhesive backing, but can be cut to the shape needed, and riveted, screwed, strapped, or clamped in place.03. Cool It’s Aluminized Heat Barrier is a flexible sheet made up of woven silica with an 04. The Express Sleeves have a high-temperature insulating material that uses Velcro for an easy installation over existing wires. It comes in rolls that you can cut to length for whatever your needs, and is adjustable (via the Velcro to fit wire bundles up to 1.5 inches in diameter.04. The Express Sleeves have a high-temperature insulating material that uses Velcro for 05. We use the Express Sleeve on a number of vehicles to shield our wiring harnesses. Wires and hoses near exhaust parts, hanging over engines, draped over radiators, or passing by transmissions can all benefit from one more layer between them and the heat source.05. We use the Express Sleeve on a number of vehicles to shield our wiring harnesses. Wir 06. The Adhesive Backed Heat Barrier is not as flexible as the sheet of Aluminized Heat Barrier, but it definitely has its uses. You can cut it to wrap around tubes or condensers or pumps you want insulated, or you can slap it on places on your body where too much heat transfers to sheet metal. It can withstand radiant temperatures up to 2,000 degrees F.06. The Adhesive Backed Heat Barrier is not as flexible as the sheet of Aluminized Heat B 07. Header Wrap is a time-tested method of keeping heat from radiating out of the exhaust system before the tailpipe tip. It can be used any place from the headers to the tailpipe, but it’s most effective when used around the headers so the hot gases (with decreased density) exit the engine most quickly. Cool It’s Exhaust Insulating Wrap has a proprietary coating made by Thermo-Tec known as Thermal Conduction Techonology (TCT) that conducts heat across the wrap’s surface. 08. We wrapped our headers and some spots where the 2.5-inch exhaust tubing gets close to the body. We also got a couple packs of Cool It’s Snap Straps to hold the Exhaust Insulating Wrap in place.08. We wrapped our headers and some spots where the 2.5-inch exhaust tubing gets close to the body. We also got a couple packs of Cool It’s Snap Straps to hold the Exhaust Insulating Wrap in place. Sources Thermo Tec Greenwich OH 44837 800-274-8437 www.thermotec.com By Chris Rogers Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
