engine cover functionality/uselessness revisited
 

I'm still wondering about whether or not the engine cover is useful... especially in light of the ease of periodic oil checks.

Have any of you lucky owners noticed any rock dings on the top or bottom of the engine cover? Have you noticed anything else that might suggest it to be useful in the slightest?

I can get the dipstick out and in just fine with the engine cover in place. What is the problem with periodic oil checks with the cover?

Regards,
Gordon

I cannot see anyway it would be useful at all.

The engine covers function seems to be to hide the lack-of-engine from view. Car owners, and especially sports car owners, like to gaze at their "powerplant". However, in the case of the RX8, the freaking alternator looks bigger than the engine. The cover just hides this fact. The combination of a compact design and placement that is abmormally low and rearward makes for a less-than-impressive underhood hardware display.

The only other functions that I can imagine is that the cover may direct airflow for better engine cooling, or it may shield the precious hood paint from heat damage? For these reasons, I am leaving my cover in place. If someone can rule these out, then I would like to remove the cover for weight reduction (albeit negligible)...

I believe some folks have discovered that under the covers are fins that direct air to necessary places.

---jps

Weight reduction is NEVER negligible :)

My friend removed his. Like 1600 miles with no problems. I mean it's plasic. It hides the engine like the z and everything else coming out. (minus my precious rex :D )

Can't comment one way or another on the functionality of the cover.

But I kind of like that you can't really see the engine. When I was still in High School, all the rednecks used to flip out over my TII because the engine was so small. I can only imagine what those idiots would say if they saw the RX-8. The size just blows people's minds.

The first "mod" I did was to remove that cover. I did reinstall it to study its function. But all it did was trapped heat. The engine bay seems much cooler with it off. It's now a nice garage decoration.

I, for one, enjoyed showing off the engine and its small size. People who never seen a rotary engine are constantly amazed at its compactness.