Is Adding Car Soundproofing Cotton Effective?
3 Answers
Adding car soundproofing cotton is effective. The functions of soundproofing cotton include: noise reduction, flame retardancy, reducing body vibration, waterproofing, rust prevention, and thermal insulation. The locations for full-vehicle soundproofing include: chassis, four doors, trunk, tailgate, engine hood, fenders, roof, dashboard, firewall, and U-shaped groove. The method for full-vehicle soundproofing is as follows: 1. Drive the car to a safe location, engage the handbrake, and turn off the engine to ensure safety. Remove the interior trim in the order of outside first and then inside, exposing the working surface, and place the removed screws and clips into sealed plastic bags. 2. Thoroughly clean the working surface with asphalt cleaner. For stubborn residues, try using other specialized solvents to dissolve them first, then slowly scrape them off with a specialized scraper. 3. Reinstall the interior trim from inside to outside as originally positioned. During installation, ensure all components are reinstalled exactly as they were, and all screws and clips are tightened and secured to avoid secondary noise.
Adding sound insulation material to your car can indeed be effective, but it depends on how you install it and what materials you use. From my personal experience, after installing butyl rubber sound insulation mats on the doors and chassis, road noise and wind noise were significantly reduced during highway driving. The cabin became much quieter, and music sounded clearer. The key is to choose the right locations – partial installation shows limited effects, so it's better to cover critical areas comprehensively, such as wheel arches or under the hood. Opt for high-quality, flame-retardant materials with good soundproofing properties; otherwise, they may degrade or pose fire hazards, and the effects won't last. Post-installation, noise reduction is around 20-30%, making driving much more comfortable, especially on long trips where ear fatigue is minimized. However, if the original vehicle already has good sound insulation, the improvement might be marginal. It's advisable to test a small area first to gauge the difference.
Adding soundproofing foam does help, but don't expect miracles, especially on a tight budget. I used budget-friendly foam myself, only applying it under the seats and in the trunk, costing less than 300 RMB, and it was a simple DIY job. The noise reduction is noticeable, mainly softening the engine sound from the cabin, making conversations in the car easier. The key is positioning: low-quality foam tends to absorb moisture and mold, reducing effectiveness; high-end options are too expensive with poor cost-performance. If the original car noise isn't excessive, just adding a bit locally can improve things. Combining it with door sealing strips solves both noise and draft issues. Personally, I feel less irritable when driving with reduced noise. I recommend first identifying the noise source before spending money blindly to avoid wasted effort.
