Background

While looking for some heat shielding to add to the pieces already in use, I started considering the bang-for-buck factor of the various products on the market. Previously, I’d just ordered DEI products for no real reason other than familiarity with the brand name. It occurred to me that although all of the manufacturers’ products in this arena seemed to be made of extremely similar material, maybe one of them worked better than the others.

After a few rounds of email to ThermoTec and Heatshield Products (a new name to me, but they’ve been around a long time), I had some similar products in hand to put through some testing. I already had some of DEI’s product to use.

The Combatants

For the testing, I stuck to one category of heat shielding product: sleeving / sheathing.

DEI Heat Sheath

“Heat Sheath is made from a Hi-Temp fiberglass fabric bonded to an aluminized material then sewn into a tube. Designed to slide over wires and hoses this product can be easily shaped to fit the tightest bends. The Heat Sheath will reflect up to 90% of the radiant heat and can insulate against up to 500 degrees direct continuous heat. Easily cut to length with scissors or a sharp knife.”

ThermoTec Express Sleeve

“Thermo-Tec’s new Express Sleeves are just exactly what our customers have been looking for. The new easy to use sleeving is a combination of a high temperature insulation material to a highly reflective mylar foil with a Velcro closure. The sleeving is designed to provide maximum protection for wires, hoses, and cables from the very damaging effect of radiant heat with an easy application. Simply pull apart the material, wrap around the wire, and re-close the sleeving. Express Sleeves reflect over 90% of radiant heat, is fireproof and fire resistant, and just looks good.”

Heatshield Products Reflect-A-Sleeve

“Keep your wiring, fuel lines, brake lines, and cables safe from heat damage. Our heat resistant hook and loop seam makes installation easy. No disassembly required. Trying to protect your wires? Use our sleeve as a high temperature heat resistant wire loom! Use it as a shield for your intercooler or air intake pipes. Reflect-A-Sleeve acts as a thermal barrier capable of reflecting up to 95% of radiant heat away. *Weight*[sic] there is more, a 3′ length our Reflect-A-Sleeve weighs less than 6″ of the old silicone covered stuff. Though it weighs much less, it offers superior heat shield protection. Reflect-A-Sleeve withstands 1100°F continuous of radiant heat and 500°F direct heat. ”