Who has the protector andwho dosen't?

Now, is it a protector to keep the heat off the paint or a silencer??

 

My truck never had it from the factory.

 

i always thought it was a heat sheild to keep the heat from destroying the paint
but someone told me that if the engine catches fire, it's supposed to fall on the engine and smother the fire so it goes out
i dont know if i believe that at all. i really dont know what it is for if it doesn't do what this guy said

 

I checked in the service manual, and they call it the "Silencer Pad". They don't describe what its purpose is, but based on the name, it would seem to be a noise reduction device. Either way, your paint will not be damaged by it not being there. If it would, every truck would come with one.

 

I had one on my truck and it had torn free of most of the leading edge clips. In my opinion there was a risk of it getting tanged in belts and thus had become a hazard. I asked similiar questions and got the answer that it was sound insulation. I pulled it out and have had no problem. Might be a different answer on a Diesel - but for a 98 gas truck it seems to be optional. my truck is a 98 2500 5.9V8.

 

mine did fall off and get tangled in the belts. it didnt ruin anything except the pad. i zip tied it back up, but i think i am just going to remove it. it fell becasue i got soak with mud and water from some hard core mud drivin and became weak and fell off.

 

What a coincidence....I was just under the hood last night and noticed that a couple clips are stating to pull loose. I was debating whether to repair the pad or remove it completely.

The only thing I wonder about is during the winter, will the hood frost up easier without the pad?

 

Cool, that means mine is just not missing.

Glidemann, as far a frosting over goes, what does it matter?

 

I removed mine last summer- was falling apart, was just disintegrating. not needed anyways.. makes the compartment look dirty and disorganized with it in.

as for it in the winter.. no difference.

 

I also heard it was to smother fires, but i dont beleive that at all