Heat and UV rays from the sun will affect your paint FAR more than lack of the hood pad. Try this myth busting experiment during the hot summer months.

1. Remove hood pad.
2. Drive around at night for an hour, place palm on hood for one minute.
3. Reinstall hood pad, park in the noon sun for an hour, place palm on hood for one minute.
4. Hold a cold beer in your hand with the second degree burn and think, which did more damage?
5. Sun = worse, drink beer.

 

Fire fighters putting out a car fire a few years back (maybe 10 years or so?). I asked them about the hood insulation, and that was what they told me. Maybe its not specifically designed for that purpose (I doubt the aluminum one are designed for that) but the FF's said that the buttons melt and the fiberglass drops, snuffing the fire out. Or at least thats the concept.

If you do a google search, it seems it is at least a common thought.

 

Mine's been off for more than 5 years. the paint looks perfect.

 

What about FI??

 

Do you get noticeably more intake noise with it off?

 

when i used to work for chrystler the explaination i was given was exactly that. the buttons are supposed to melt off in intense heat and drop over the engine thus snuffing out any existing flames or preventing any fire that may have occured. . but that was chrystler and this is honda so it could be different but chances are they are there for the same reason.

 

i think it's either for noise/sound insulation or to help your hood from getting as hot. protecting it from water spots when it rains on your hood while enging temps are high. when the water dries will cause water spots but should be easier to get off than a hood without insulation. the hood without insulation will be way hotter really baking the water spots onto your paint making it harder to get off. maybe the water spot thing is just a benefit?