Engine Cover on your 8
 

Okay so whats up with mazda and the engine cover , i noticed that on very hot days the engine boils under that cover so i decided to drive without it during the summer months, seems to cool of the engine a lil better plus i got some mesh grills on my oil coolers, have u guys taken urs off????

Yep, I drive commando when it's hot.

I haven't had my engine cover on for almost 4 years now.

Should I take mine off?? Would it benefit the engine?

Cosmetic thing until proven otherwise.

I don't think it will "benefit" the engine, but it certainly doesn't appear to be hurting it either.

I didn't think it would make such a big difference, but I'll do it now!

TeamRx8 does auto-x racing and found that mesh grills seem to raise temperatures significantly.

Also, someone said that (his brothers uncles friends j/king) Mazda said that the cover directs air over the engine at speed. If you spend lots of time at low speeds (stop-and-go etc) then you might be better loosing the covers.

Tears, the beauty of your engine bay brings a tear to my eye!

I havent had my engine cover on in over a year. I'm happy to run without it. No negative side effects whatsoever.

Besides just think of that 2lbs you are saving -- better gas mileage and acceleration! haha

awww, thanks.................

I also read in one of the previous threads that the engine cover was actually designed to direct air flow over the engine, but i dont remember if that was proven, does anyone else know?

Like I said, I haven't had mine on in almost 4 years. I spent 3 summers in the desert of El Paso with no problems at all.

I know this is off topic, but how is that intake? Loud? I almost bought it last summer.

For the thread. I've had mine off since day 1.

I keep mine on. I like the look of it when I pop the hood. Makes me all fuzzy inside.

Even after the turbo goes on I will try to keep it on.

Is this even a Question ? I mean MOST new cars today comes with some sort of *engine* cover. Its there to make it look nice.

I took it out for more than a year. big deal.

I took mine off. Service advisor at the Mazda dealer actually recommended that I take it off, to help keep the engine a little cooler.

Mazda put it there purely for cosmetic reasons. It serves no purpose other than to look pretty.

Now I don't know if there really is a benefit to taking it off, who knows how much, if at all, cooler the engine is without it. But I know it's not hurting anything by not being there. And like toxin440 said, it saves 2 lbs. by leaving it in your garage!

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...hermal+imaging
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...=thermographic

Those both show that the engine cover keeps the heat somewhat localized to the area around your alternator and the actual engine.

The engine cover might keep intake temps lower?

My covers are on. The cover can't create a big difference in temperature especially being stock.

Someone should just take the temp. with and without it on. Settle this.

i read some were, i forget were, that in the unlikely event of an engine fire, the engine cover, when melting actually can put out the fire. it has like fire retardent meterials in it.


i dont know if its true.

I'll get the thermal cam on it...I'll even do video...

^ Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No offense...but that sounds slightly rediculous

Would the cover help the AC?
Looks like most like it off.

if they're the RB oil cooler screens i'll take them off your hands. :)

Always listen to the peeps on the site with rebuilt engines, Mazda had no clue when they built this car.

Agreed but I've heard the same thing as well. Also heard the story about directing airflow over the engine. All I know is after a long hard run or stop and go freeway traffic I pop the hood and remove the cover when I get home. As it is the electric fans kick in after I park it, draining the battery to boot.

I would really like to know if this cover is really necessary once and for all.

let's just have the mythbusters do a test on it!

hmmmm i am getting very worried about the rx8 engine , so i drove without the cover today it was around 26 degrees Celsius and after i parked and opened the hood the engine was so friggin hot even the bar was so hot too compared to my moms camaro z28 5.7 liter which run the whole day too it was like hot and cold compared to the rx8 engine, i think soon i am going to start driving with an open hood lol

^^ Wow, Thats the NMOTD (Newbie message of the day)

Rotary Engine runs HOT - FACT

I need to do the cooling mod and ditch the cover apparently. Its gonna be a hot summer in DC.

I don't think it would make much of a difference, but someone should test.

I think the thing is useless, but I keep it on for looks.

But can you also do it while traveling at speed? Otherwise we just now what effect it will have for people who are often stuck in stop-an-go traffic.

Get a hood scoop. Problem solved. :p:

I think I'm going to join the sans engine cover club...

Heck no...the price of the cam is worth more than my car...I havent been able to do it as we got a group in from overseas in training and they are using the lab...sooon...

I'd take it off, but then I'd have to store it.

My spare bedroom looks like an RX8 exploded in it, thanks to all the stock parts sitting around in it.

Whatsss has the preciouse in itsss spare bedroomses?

Yeah.....mine too! Well, if you get the Mazdaspeed strut bar(as you know), you won't be having the cover on unless you modify it. Too bad, cause I actually like the look with the cover. Would hide the new pullies that are coming as well.....so I'll leave it off.

I like the cover, keeps my car stock looking and hides the goodies.