Is Adding Soundproofing Cotton to a Car Useful?
2 Answers
Adding soundproofing cotton to a car has some effect, but it is unlikely to significantly impact the noise level inside the vehicle, as there are multiple sources of noise in a car, and installing soundproofing cotton alone is insufficient for major improvements. Soundproofing cotton does not provide substantial help in reducing cabin noise, as automotive soundproofing is a systematic project, and engine soundproofing cotton is only a small part of it. Relying solely on adding a piece of soundproofing cotton to improve cabin noise is clearly ineffective. There are mainly two types of soundproofing cotton: one is vehicle-specific soundproofing cotton, mostly made of plastic flocking and high-temperature-resistant flame-retardant cotton; the other is freely cuttable aluminum foil soundproofing cotton, made of aluminum foil and foam flame-retardant materials.
I often drive long distances and recently added sound insulation cotton to my car. The actual experience has indeed improved. The main difference is after installing it on the door panels—closing the windows noticeably reduces tire noise, and the buzzing sensation in my ears during highway driving has lessened. However, installing it in the engine compartment doesn’t make much difference, though the sound system unexpectedly improved a bit. But a reminder: if the car’s inherent sound insulation structure is poor, this alone won’t address the root cause. My German car shows decent results, but my friend’s French car didn’t fare as well. For real quietness, it’s best to replace the sealing strips as well—low cost but more comprehensive results.
