kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i searched but i didnt find anything on this.

besides looks, what good does it do?

laythor

makes a good hat in an emergency

rollerbldes

You can paint it for dashing good looks.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Mostly esthetic. But notice the dust/sand on the cover after just a short period of driving. It does help to keep the engine bay itself cleaner.

mysql101

it's supposed to route air through the engine bay, though I don't know how effective it is. your car will be fine without it too.

savedsol

You did a search and found nothing? Seriously???

Click Search > Advanced Search > Type in "engine +cover" > select thread titles only and voila > two pages worth of threads: https://www.rx8club.com/search.php?searchid=3214436

I 100% disagree with Mysql. It is a purely cosmetic addition so an engine doesn't look like, well, an engine to the avg car buyer. There is no possibility that it directs heat, moves air, etc.

mysql101

You can't 100% disagree with me. Because you're agreeing with me. I never made a claim towards the cover. The only use I've seen is the possibility that it directs airflow in the engine bay. Someone once posted about taking underhood temps and reporting a cooler engine bay with it installed. I don't use the OEM airbox, so it can't fit on my car. I've not seen any negative effects with it removed.

mysql101

better thread on the subject: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/do-you-guys-keep-your-engine-cover-102417/

ken-x8

IMHO, it's part of the oil prank. They make a car that uses oil, so it needs to be checked more often than on lesser cars. So they put the dipstick in the back, down low - hard to reach, hard to see. Then they put a cover on the engine, and tell us we have to remove it to check the oil.

A Mazda design team is sitting back laughing their asses off.

Ken

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

yay! i spent 30 minutes reading all those threads you guys nicely posted. and i still dont know anymore than i did 30 minutes ago!

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

it is not drastic that air flow would make you think that hard about putting it on or not. it is said to disperse the heat around the engine bay to help lower temp a lil. on or off won't make a big difference.

laythor

It's true that you'll find dust on the engine cover when it's installed. It's also true that this dust does not fall down ontop of the engine cover, you're hood is in the way. This comes from air passing through the engine compartment below the cover.

It's really just an asthetic choice. If you have an AEM or MS CAI installed it's not really going to fit anymore. If you have an aftermarket strut bar installed it's also not going to fit without heaving cutting.

DarkBrew

That's the best explanation yet!

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

You get an extra 1 hp when u remove it.

tiltmode43

iTrader: (15)

Will we ever get a solid answer/explanation for this?

I think not.

laythor

car and driver had a funny write up in response to a reader's question regarding engine covers.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

you have a link for it?

DOMINION

What I think about the Engine cover:

Matter has three states. Solid, Liquid and Gas.

The Engine Cover traps the heat, thus the molecules with "Charles' Law" that have a "higher molecular mass gases" will find a way out once they have filled the "space" why?
As with any gas, the air (a generic term for the mixture of the gasses in our atmosphere), contains molecules that move (or agitate). This movement (or agitation) is greater as the temperature rises. The molecules move in ever greater orbits, taking up more space (Just like heat over brake rotors and other serfice heat spred). This causes the mass of the air to expand and the only way out would be up right? well you would think so how ever it has to "find" a way out so with "agitation" it finds a way out and the "way out(s)" can be: down and out the back of the engine bay or, by the fire wall where the back of the Hood meet the Windshield, the sides of the Engine by the wheel wells, (Vented Hood? at slow speeds or a stand still) and so on.

I also feel the Engine Cover helps keep the hot Air from reaching the serfice of the Hood that is close to the Engine. So the out side Air will not get charged with serfice heat and the hot Air under the Hood will be push down and back onto our Engien bay disputing its own law and at the same time may heat the cold Air that flows in from the front vent and gap under the AC condenser and raidiator. Wow...

On the other hand if thats how the Engine bay was designed then the hot Air moving down and out will heat the cold air and rise the car at high speeds. Why? the air under the car can be traped in pockets and heated. Its also less "agitation" under there.
So thats why when a friend of mine said he was going 155 was moved by slow moving molicues and the front felt like it went up. I'll have to look into how wind moves hot and cold.

I feel if there is too much hot Air, the Engine Cover can prove to be more difficult to serve its purpose (If in fact thats what its there for right? I think). However in NASCAR racing out in the 120+ heat with no Engine Covers and a sealed hood with low positioned front inlets (for max cold Air) it has served no conflict on the serfice heat of the Hood. Aerodynamics have porved this.

My conclusion: the dam thing (Engine Cover) dont work.

Not 100% yet but I plan on getting a small yet cristal clear thermo reader with my tax return to see if I'm right or not and if not well I'll use it for ***** and giggles

-Gil

dazed01

My 90 rx7 don't have one and the engines looks damn pretty in there and I'm sure the 13b in the rx8 I get will be missing it's cover shortly.

DOMINION

I saved mine + When I go FI I dont think it will fit any way

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

just get ViceGrip to airbrush it for ya

Razz1

I don't think it works. do a search for thermal I think you find some nice pictures of heat in the engine bay.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

yeah, I remember those thermal pics! Only problem is I think the cover is designed to flow air while the car is moving (more air being introduced)
I'm sure while it's moving, that heat would have not been so concentrated.

Razz1

If the heat is forced down under the car..........

The faster you go the more lift. At 185mph you can take off and fly.

We all know the side vents holes are too small to have any effect on heat flow.

1/2" hole?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

RX-8 + 185 mph don't go in the same sentence.