My S2 has no hood insulation, but the engine noise doesn't seem any louder without it. It's kinda nice not having to worry about the foam disintegrating and falling on you and all over the engine compartment. Is there any good reason why I should install some insulation?

 

incase there is a fire your hood doesnt get toasted too.

 

Okay, but if there's an engine fire, wouldn't the hood be the least of my worries?

 

That's exactly what I was thinking before reading it. After a fire and having to spend some big money to fix everything, what's a couple hundred more for a new hood? Besides I doubt the insulation is enough to keep the hood from toasting, unless the fire is put out quickly.

 

The insulation will catch fire and spread the fire more quickly. Well, unles it's fire proof, which the stock stuff isn't.

 

long term, the insulation will protect the paint on the hood from engine heat, my 89 951 did not have any insulation from the factory, you can now see damage to the paint directly above the exhaust manifold and turbo. This did not become obvious untill about a year ago.