i was just wondering, does anyone leave their engine cover off?

 

Along these lines, if you put on something like the K&N do you have to leave off the cover?

 

see i was just wondering if it had a specific function like keeping sand or something out of the engine ( that probably sounds stupid)

 

Remember there is no stupid questions only stupid answers.

 

That should read "there are no stupid questions, just stupid people!" J/K. I don't think there is any real reason to leave the cover on. Autos seemed to do just fine for years before the factory trend to cover the engines with plastic started in the 90's. I always thought the factories invented them to try to keep out amatuer mechanics. I am sure there is some technical reason they would say though.

 

I took mine off the day I brought it home, 7300 miles ago. The sand and dirt comes from under the car and the cover in my opinion only keeps heat around the engine. I'm pretty sure that the only reason it was made was to hide the small engine from traditional "displacement" minded buyers.

CWB

 

I've been runing without the cover for a few thousand miles now and am glad to be rid of it. Looks pretty, sure, but it gets in the way constantly and I noticed nothing different with it on or off.

 

yea i thought about the heat issue too, especially with the summer comen...let the engine breate more

 

have the typhoon intake on the 8 with the cove ron. runs fien with it on but why not have it off? to each his own

 

I would have to wonder how negligible of a difference it makes to engine temps, and how much of a difference (if any) it makes to the hood paint...

 

Personally I like how the covers look. The RX-8 has to be one of the cleanest looking cars I have ever seen. Very simplistic design yet very modern looking.

I plan to keep my covers on.

 

After the second time I checked my oil the engine cover found a new home..Garage wall art! It looks nice there too.

Hey B-Nez,

Is that an RG in your avatar? I just traded my RG560 in for a SZ520. Ibanez rocks! :D

 

Mine is always on.. I take it off and clean under it about once a week.

 

I'm having all my engine covers painted..this week..covers will be sunlight silver like the car and then the engine cover silver near the bottom and fade to black speed lines toward the top. I'll post some pics when I get it back...also the rotors and brake calipers are getting powder coated tuesday....gonna miss the 8,,she's in pieces...o well ,,,It'll be worth it..

 

A few friends have RX-8's. They all run without the cover. Reckon they constrict the engine too much & box in the heat.

Plus, when your popping the bonnet to show the enthusiasts the latest 13B-MSP engine, that cover sure gets in the way every time.

 

Engine covers are the thing to do for manufacturers these days. They keep the engine bay looking uncluttered and they're a lot less expensive aesthetically than chroming parts to make the engine look nice.

-Eric

 

I leave mine off. I figure that it traps in more heat and also the car sounds a little louder to me with it off.

Edit: I remember showing the engine to some people. When I took the cover off they were like, "where is the engine", so I think that it is mainly there to make it look less cluttered and so people don't say "where's the engine?"

 

i agree its probably all in my head but i think it sounds a little louder with it off too