Do you leave the engine cover on?

[zuper8]

yeah, that reminds me of something I read on a lexus forum, to explain all the plastic covering everything, "lexus owners like to believe that their cars are magical transportation pods with no ugly mechanical internals." lol. i hate having to take all that bullcrap off just to do basic maintenance. so many newer cars are like that.

[sandrock]

All that extra plastic adds $$ to the bottom line and beyond. Spend a few bucks on plastics to make the engine bay cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing, which will raise the base price a few grand. Not to mention the extra labor involved when taking the car to get a routine checkup...all that plastic should add an extra chargeable hour to the consumer in taking it off and putting it back together. But the moment those plastics come apart to reveal what they're covering, will be the moment they NEVER fit like they should again.

[SAMzGXP]

i used to have it off on my GP but always on on the Bonneville

[Skippy1827]

What's a Northstar look like under there? They're always covered...

What would I really gain by leaving it off? Would my AC cool any faster? Would I get better gas mileage? Would it be louder? How much cooler would it run with the cover off?

[kmalinich]

What would I really gain by leaving it off? Would my AC cool any faster? Would I get better gas mileage? Would it be louder? How much cooler would it run with thecover off?

Nothing. No. No. No. A little.

But it looks sweet if your bay is clean. Or if you have custom paint

[J Wikoff]

The cover on my G8 traps A TON of heat. It's big and has insulation under it.Take it off on a summer day and you get hit with a blast of heat. Bad for heatsoak...

The Series II cover is bigger than the Series I. Does it have any insulation?

[WhiteArrow3800]

I know mine had some insulation underneath of it as well.

[Skippy1827]

yea, mine is insulated. I will test the sound with it off.

[Marik_bathory]

on the Buick it's always on... since it's not much of a cover anyway.
the pontiac it came off on day one and has been sitting in the garage.

[redbaron05]

WE KEEP OURS ON. WE BOUGHT CUSTOM LETTERING ON EBAY ...REALLY MAKES IT LOOK SHARP

[labonnevillastrangiato]

Always off. I like to gaze at the S/C plus it makes it easier to make sure everything is connected where it should be.
I've heard to keeps the S/C cooler too.

Adam

[Turbosax2005]

I leave it on, it looks nice with or without so why not leave it on?

[enslow]

yea, mine is insulated. I will test the sound with it off.

Alright, quit boasting with your Northstar V8.

I personally don't care to hear a V6. Now give me a 350 pushrod V8 in my Buick, that's worth hearing. My Grand Marquis is an overhead cam and while smooth, sounds almost as tinny as a V6.

[CMNTMXR57]

What's a Northstar look like under there? They're always covered...

What would I really gain by leaving it off? Would my AC cool any faster? Would I get better gas mileage? Would it be louder? How much cooler would it run with the cover off?

Lower underhood temps. Not any performance gain, Other than maybe quicker cooling of the air intake once you start moving as it's not subjected to all that radiant heat, but moreso, part longevity. Lots of stuff, particularly stuff made of rubber, don't take to kindly to lots of high heat over extended periods of time, especially when it heats to those temps, then cools over night (in winter in colder climates). That constant swing of temps reduces longevity too.

GM runs things so hot from the factory for emissions purposes. They believe a A hotter engine is better for emissions.

On another note, I see someone complain that the N* isn't a good looking engine, I think it looks great without the cover. With the big OHC covers, it looks like a big, old school, 500 cube monster. :D Also, GXP cam covers are black compared to the silver/aluminum looking ones you've got.

[ChilinMichael]

I think it looks great as well, just re-paint those valve covers black and I think it would look even better.

[The_Maniac]

I leave the cover on "just because" that's the way it was when I got it.

Personally, I like the look of the engine without (only because I know that cover is not a "functional" requirement). I think it's silly that a cover with insulation sits right on top of the intake (as I thought you want the engine to not retain heat when possible). But I also consider all my freeway driving and that uper intake being plastic. It may not be much, but that silly cover probably offers a little protection to debris that flies through the engine compartment.

The other reason it's probably there.... It probably helps offer a sound deading quality....

[ron350]

Do not forget that on L36 motors the engine cover is also a scatter shield to retain the plastic manifold pieces when it explodes.

[J Wikoff]

There was a recall to replace the fuel pressure regulators that caused that.