RjT

What do you guys and girls (Kall and any others) (make urself known especially if your single and in queensland lol) with your engine covers? do you leave them on or take off? Wouldnt it retain quite alot of the heat? cause mine get frackin hot quickly.

EZZY

my engine cover has been sitting on the garage floor for the past 2.5 years.

Cromax

I was looking at it when I bought the car and came to the conclusion that it's there for the reason of airflow. Mazda tend not to put things like that in just to look good.

That and I think it'd be there to insulate the bonnet from heat ... as from memory without looking at the bonnet up, there's no insulation on the underside.

Revolver

AFAIK, the RX8 does not suffer from the kind of under-bonnet heat issues that could afflict past rotaries (especially the FD, which can often be found hood up after each track session). So I don't think you need be concerned about it causing that kind of problem.

I've left mine on. I think it improves the engine bay presentation. It does get in the way when checking oil but it only takes a second to remove.

I'm not aware of an air flow benefit but it wouldn't surprise me.

Cromax

Well ... it's unusual that Mazda would put it there if it wasn't needed. If it wasn't needed, they'd charge you $400 for it

Revolver

Yes but some engine covers perform a purely cosmetic role (hide something that looks average) and others have a functional purpose as well. I'm not disagreeing with the idea that the RX8 cover might do the latter, I just don't recall reading anything specific about it.

EZZY

im sure there is enough air flow either with the engine cover on or off when the car is in motion. by having the engine cover on doesnt give you any air flow when stationary.

it is more of an cosmetic issue imo..... (just like every other european cars)

Cromax

Well, I opened up my bonnet the other day to top up the oil, and I couldn't stand the heat coming from under it. With the cover on it was fine, with it off it was too hot to keep my face above it for more than half a minute or so.

In regard to european cars having it as a cosmetic option, Japanese cars aren't european.

Revolver

That sounds to me like you're talking more about a subjective personal comfort issue rather than something that will assist the car's performance and/or cooling.

Cromax

Well, I haven't seen it happen to an RX8, but I'd imagine the paint would peel off like it did on my mate's FD when he pulled off the insulation under his bonnet ... *shrugs*

Revolver

Oh, IC now. You're thinking that if the engine cover is removed, it'll allow heat to damage the inside of the bonnet. Is that what you mean by air flow?

I've not heard of any paint or heat damage being caused by leaving the cover off.

Cromax

Not really ... that's what I mean about it as a heat shield.

Heat damage to your paint won't be seen until around the 5-10 year mark ... you wouldn't have seen it yet if it's happening. I'd rather not find out to be perfectly honest.

Airflow ... well, it is essentially diverting air, but in my MX6 I had little ducts in the stone guards and things that pushed air against the transmission and stuff. I also had a little air deflector that kept the nose down, and it actually worked because I took it off and it caused the car to understeer a noticeable amount when travelling at speed (140+ especially). Which is why I think Mazda's put it htere for a good reason ... they don't add stuff like that on with the package otherwise.

Revolver

I really can't see the internal engine cover doing those latter things you mention but I could be wrong.

Never mind, it's an arid debate anyway.

takahashi

You may need one of these to measure the wind speed under your bonnet

http://www.kidwind.org/windshopfiles...rsloggers.html

RjT

Thanks for the replies, friggin i forgot to subscribe to the thread after creating it lol, wondering why noone had answered checked and theres like 14 replies.

Yeah i must admit it does make the bay look a lot nicer and cleaner, but i thought it would improve airflow if taken off.

EZZY

but the sad thing is that almost every jap company is moving towards european styling/setup.

Cromax

Umm ... you think that's sad? Japs have always copied off everyone else anyway.

EZZY

disagree (to a certain degree)..... whether it is automotive related or not.

Cromax

Oh, pish posh ... you can't disagree to a certain degree ... you're sitting on the fence!

I was talking in the context of automotive design.

DrewMan

sexeh?

RjT

Very nice Drewman

EZZY

the engine bay isnt sealed.... there are gaps between the front bar/bonnet, bonnet/guards & bonnet/windscreen, and when the car is in motion, there's air flow.
if the engine cover absorbs heat (& the engine can get very very hot at times), wouldnt it be a health & safety issue?

Rotor Convert

Rjt,

I not single, not in QLD....holidayed there and want to live. Love my engine cover....keeps the dust of the shiny stuff......

If you don't like it leave it off....if you like what Drewman did emulate that....who cares what it does......it doesn't change the performance none.....

RjT

Hi Rotor Convert,

Yeah its a lovely place and damn to the other two answers , but when i pop the hood you cant see the shiny stuff!!!!! and people dont get to see the engine and say where the FRACK does all the power come from? that little thing!

If only it did change the performance just think..... lol now thats over, its good to get other peoples opinions