Here's How to Soundproof Your Vehicle

So you finally bought that dream audio system you've been saving for months now. And while it's great to have nice sounds to accompany you while driving, the experience wouldn't really be worth it if they're drowned out by noises outside your vehicle.

Fortunately, a good way to eliminate much of these problems is to soundproof your vehicle. Also known as sound deadening or sound dampening, the process allows you to use materials that help block outside noise. Often, these come from the engine bay, car frame, panels, tires, roads, and even the environment. This means you will need to work around different parts of your car to make soundproofing your vehicle more effective.

Keep in mind that this process won't guarantee 100-percent silence. Still, they can significantly reduce car noise to more tolerable levels.

Engine Bay

Studies show that around 40 percent of the noise you hear inside comes from the engine. This is especially true for those cars that run on diesel.

The best way to sound deaden your vehicle's engine is to place damping or deadening mats with adhesive backings underneath your car's bonnet. Just measure your car bonnet, cut the mat according to its shape and size, and carefully insert it under the hood.

By the way, make sure to clean the surface thoroughly before you place the mat, since oil  and grease will prevent the adhesive from sticking. It's also important that the material is  heat-resistant, and with an aluminum coating to prevent oil and grease from transferring to other parts of your engine bay.

Floor

Your car's floor has a huge surface area. And it's also near your tires and axles. This means that your tire's vibrations directly transfer into your floor area, thus, contributing to more car noise.

You can reduce the vibrations by adding damping mats. Damping mats are made from stryene-butyadine rubber or asphaltic-based panels, and they come with adhesion at the back. What  they do is change those vibrations coming outside into heat, depending on the damping  material used.

Windows

It's easy for noise to get inside your windows if they have tiny gaps or cracks around the edges. Remember: sound travels through air, and they can get inside the smallest holes and gaps without any problem. That's why it's  important to seal them with adhesives.

Here's a warning though: the adhesives aren't really pretty to look at. In fact, they might even ruin your window's appearance. If you don't want this to happen, then you might opt for damping materials that can be placed on the windows. If you're on a budget, an alternative is to purchase the aluminum foil-backed EPE foam insulation, instead. Note that they aren't as effective as adhesives, since the gaps around your window's edges won't be sealed shut. Still, they can serve as decent sound dampeners for your windows.

Doors

It's not really that practical to externally soundproof your doors. Doors are often accessed, and there's always a chance that they would fall off when they're hastily closed or opened.

A more effective way to do soundproof your door is to remove your vehicle's door panels, remove the first  layer inside, and then add foam. Once you're done, simply put back the door panels and  fasten them tightly.

To make it even more soundproof, look for small spaces around the panels and spray it with foam. There are specific brands that can be used for doors (and even engine compartments). These are a must-have if you're really serious about getting rid of the noise.