New owner (as of 7/4/7). Great car.

Only have 50 miles on it so far.

One question. With a lot of heat under the hood is it ok to remove plastic covers in engine bay?. Did a search, maybe I didnt input the right key words, so please excuse if this has been anwered a lot.

Thanks

You dont drive this car, you wear it. :)

Some people run with it some without. Look at this way it's 2.5 pounds on unneeded plastic.

This topic has definitly been discussed a lot. A lot of people remove it.

I leave it on. I like how it looks.

i took mine off, didnt like how it looked. id rather see the engine.

I left mine on. I figure Mazda—always looking to save a few pennies whenever possible—put it there for a reason.

I left mine on. I figure Mazda—always looking to save a few pennies whenever possible—put it there for a reason.

for looks I know, most new car these days have this kind of engine cover.

Summer, I keep it off

Winter I keep it on

I like the looks, but I hate heat more

Mine stays on. It will keep the engine dry if the hood ever blows off while driving in the rain.

Ken

Mine is off (so is the battery cover), just becasue one day I took it off and didn't feel like putting it back on.

It is a random rumor that I read somewhere on the baords that the covers help aim airflow over the engine. But who knows if it's true or not.

Definitely at low speeds it's just a cover.

I left mine on. I figure Mazda—always looking to save a few pennies whenever possible—put it there for a reason.

There are other reasons why they could have put it there. Our engines get HOT and you have to check the oil a lot. So, to keep people from just reach in and burning themselves. With the cover you have to take it off and you'd feel if you'd burn yourself.

(Unless you use the twist arm method or whatever it's really called.)

Also, this subject has been covered a ridiculous number of times. Please search next time. :)

i read somewhere too that the cover diverts hot air to the side vents

i read somewhere too that the cover diverts hot air to the side vents

The side vents are not functional. They do not communicate with the engine compartment. To get them to vent the engine compartment, you would have to cut through structural steel. <-- NOT recommended. :)

They can communicate with the wheel well if you cut or remove the plastic well liner.

They can communicate with the wheel well if you cut or remove the plastic well liner.

Also, NOT recommended.


Oh, I forgot to say I leave em on. Cause I don't have a good reason to make a choice.

The only time it will really make a difference is if you are often stuck in stop and go traffic AND have a vented hood.

Mine stays on. It will keep the engine dry if the hood ever blows off while driving in the rain.

Ken

If that happens, I would guess you will have bigger problems then you engine getting wet :)

I believe that Ken's comment is what we like to refer to as a "joke" :p:

It's easier to wipe down the smooth plastic than to get into all the nooks and corners to clean the engine bay.

it covers up the dirty engine bay.

^ + 1 :yesnod: and don't forget you get 2 hp with it j/k :D:

Well if you put on the Mazdaspeed strut brace you have to remove the cover so I figure it's not TOO important or they would have made the Mazdaspeed to work with it.

This topic has definitly been discussed a lot. A lot of people remove it.

I leave it on. I like how it looks.


Truly a "personal" thing.

Removed mine the first minute it arrived home. Has not been back on since. Engine bay appears cooler as a result.

REgards

Well if you put on the Mazdaspeed strut brace you have to remove the cover so I figure it's not TOO important or they would have made the Mazdaspeed to work with it.

Good point

I leave it on cause the engine looks cold without it's blankie

I believe that Ken's comment is what we like to refer to as a "joke" :p:

D'oh

Custom paint it.

Then it looks nice so you can keep it on.