ATV/UTV Upgrade
You Don’t Have to Feel the Heat
Climbing on board your 4-wheeler and hooking up with friends is supposed to be a hot time. But there’s one kind of hot you don’t want when hitting the road. We’re talking absorbing heat generated from the engine bay. It may not sound like a big deal for an open-air vehicle, but it comes down to physics as an internal combustion engine creating power also creates heat. And that heat can hurt you, wear you down or generally take a fun time and end it prematurely. When that heat turns on the vehicle itself, it can often reduce service life and components in numerous ways. Heat is particularly hard on wires, electrical components, sensors, computers, fuel and coolant lines as well as mechanical components in the engine bay.
So, what’s a rider to do? Beat that heat, that’s what. Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI), based in the Northeast Ohio area, has a well-proven reputation in the performance racing industry for heat and sound control on cars with over 1000 HP. They’ve taken their experience with taming those machines and all the heat they create and applied it to the powersports market with some model-specific kits.
Many riders have noted Honda Pioneers transfers engine bay heat to the seat bottom as well as other occupant areas. With the engine sitting virtually under the seat, riders and passengers would likely prefer a cooler ride. DEI’s specifically-designed, Honda Pioneer Heat Shield Kit starts with reducing the bottom seat temperatures, then goes on to block heat radiating from the seat belt holes. The rear seat footwell is the other source of heat to passengers and this kit includes two additional shields that can protect those areas for passengers. Installation is straight forward, and these durable shields can be easily removed when it’s time for service or cleaning. This kit will increase the riding comfort for you and your passengers by blocking excessive heat from the engine bay and lowering temperatures on the seat and even the middle plastic panel. The kit includes front seat and rear footwell heat shields and fits 2015 – 2018 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 and 1000-3 models.
If your Honda Pioneer SxS needs more cooling, specifically for the engine compartment, DEI can help there, too. They offer their Honda Pioneer Auxiliary Fan Kit to help evacuate the hot air that generates and gets trapped in the engine compartment. A digital display with programmable thermostat reads real-time temperature and allows for setting fan activation temperatures. The compact and durable, three-inch, marine-grade fan quickly draws down the excessive heat generated by the engine and exhaust, removing it from the engine area. The kit includes an OEM-quality plug and play wire harness, so no cutting or splicing is needed for installation. This kit fits 2015 and up Honda Pioneers and is easy to install.
Can-Am Commanders also have been known for throwing too much heat to riders and passengers. DEI’s Can-Am Commander Heat Shield Kit is the best solution to block the heat that builds up in the cockpit area, roasting riders. The kit creates a cooler and more comfortable ride and offers more benefits as it also reduces engine noise and vibrations – something DEI has already taken to world class standards. There are no modifications needed for installation and the kit offers precision cut, adhesive backed, easy-to-fit components. Model years from 2011-2017 are designed for this one.
An ATV sprays mud as it zips around a corner in a dirt road rally
Are you rocking a Polaris RZR but it’s cooking you? The cargo bed and compact space around the engine and headers can get pretty toasty on those models; especially when running for an extended number of hours/miles. DEI has developed an inexpensive and easy solution to help avoid melted plastic and keep heat away from the passenger and cargo bed. The Polaris RZR Heat Shield is a precision cut heat shield made of heavy-duty, 10 mil aluminum with dense, 1/8” glass mat barrier material, pre-cut to the correct size for RZR 800s from 2008 to 2014. Mounting hardware is also included to make installation a breeze.
If you’re riding other models and having heat problems, the same materials used in the above kits are available in uncut sheets, giving you a great way to make your own, custom fitted kit. Check in with DEI as their R&D Department is constantly creating new kits. You can get started on a custom cut kit today with the aid of their in-house CNC cutter. They also have other products that can help keep you and your rig cool. Bottom line: you can have a hot time without having a hot ride!
