SEMA 2026 Heat-Management News: DEI Recognition & Mishimoto Coolant Options

Not every worthwhile performance story is about adding horsepower. At the November 3–6, 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, thermal protection earned a place in the New Product Awards: Design Engineering's Weld On Stainless Shield Insulation Kit & Welder was named a runner-up in the Performance–Racing Product category on November 3.

That announcement is a useful starting point for a bigger build-planning conversation: how are you addressing heat? At Merrick Motorsports, our existing Mishimoto Liquid Chill coolant listings offer a different part of that discussion. Exhaust heat shielding and engine coolant do different jobs. Below, we keep the show news and the catalog recommendations separate.

What Happened at SEMA 2026?

SEMA's official awards announcement names Design Engineering's weld-on stainless shield insulation kit and welder as one of two runners-up in the Performance–Racing category. FAST's LS XCR LS3 112mm intake manifold took the category win.

The recognition belongs to the specifically named Design Engineering system. It does not mean that the Mishimoto coolants featured here won a SEMA award, debuted at the show or are part of that insulation kit. We have not confirmed the award-recognized DEI system as an available item in our store.

Thermal Shielding and Engine Cooling Are Different Decisions

A shield or insulation system addresses heat transfer around hot components. Engine coolant belongs to the engine's cooling circuit. Neither should be presented as a substitute for the other, and choosing a coolant is not a diagnosis or repair for an overheating problem.

For a street, truck or project build, start with the vehicle manufacturer's coolant requirements and maintenance procedure. Select the correct formulation and concentration, and investigate a cooling fault rather than assuming a fluid change will solve it. We are not claiming a specific temperature reduction or horsepower gain from the products below.

Three Mishimoto Liquid Chill Options in Our Catalog

1. Liquid Chill Synthetic Engine Coolant, Full Strength Listing

This product's title and bottle image identify it as Full Strength. The current catalog description also contains premixed wording, so do not use that shared description to decide a dilution ratio. Verify the exact supplied product and its label instructions before ordering or filling the cooling system.

This is a separate listing from the premixed options below. Ask us to clarify the formulation if the product information leaves you unsure.

View the Full Strength Liquid Chill listing.

2. Liquid Chill Synthetic Engine Coolant, Premixed

The premixed listing and product image identify a ready-to-use formulation. Check compatibility with your vehicle's required coolant specification and confirm the system capacity before buying. Bottle size is not the same as the amount your particular cooling system requires.

Follow the product label and vehicle service procedure. Do not assume that a performance-branded fluid is interchangeable with every factory coolant or suitable for mixing with whatever is already in the system.

View the premixed Liquid Chill listing.

3. Liquid Chill Synthetic 64oz Engine Coolant, Premixed

The 64oz listing gives shoppers a smaller premixed container to consider when planning the quantity they need. A top-off is appropriate only when the fluid matches the system requirements and existing coolant, and any unexplained coolant loss should be investigated rather than repeatedly topped up.

Use the current product page and label to confirm the exact contents. Keep coolant away from children and pets, and follow the handling and disposal instructions on the container.

View the 64oz premixed Liquid Chill listing.

Use the Show as Inspiration, Then Plan the Details

SEMA's award recognition gives us a timely reason to discuss heat management. Your actual shopping decision still comes down to the problem you are addressing: thermal shielding around a hot component, coolant service, or a cooling-system fault that needs diagnosis. Those are different jobs.

When contacting Merrick Motorsports, have the year, model, engine and any major modifications ready, along with the coolant specification required by the vehicle. For engine swaps, identify the installed engine and cooling-system setup. Check each listing for current availability; the products above are catalog examples, not a claim of immediate stock or a pre-validated bundle.

Source and Photo Credits

News source: SEMA's official November 3, 2026 New Product Award announcement. Show photographs courtesy of SEMA, supplied with that release for editorial coverage; see the SEMA media toolkit. Mishimoto product photographs and catalog details come from the linked Merrick Motorsports listings.