Petrol/Gas Can one leave the engine cover off safely?

[scottg]

Is there any reason to *not* keep the engine cover on generally? I changed my oil at 700 miles, left the cover off until I'd driven and gotten the oil level to read ok in both on road and off road modes (it took 6.5 liters, then another 200 ml to get there), and have left it off for the past few days driving.

With the engine cover off, the engine didn't seem louder to me (or I'm going deaf). The engine cooling system will keep the temp the same with or without the engine cover I assume (though maybe less load on the cooling system w/o the cover?), so the only reasons to keep it on that I can see are if the engine noise is too much, or the heat from the engine without the engine cover would heat the hood and hood paint to too high a temperature.

Thoughts on this from anyone? B58 petrol engine here.

/s.

 

[C-Mack]

The cover helps attenuate some noise from the High Pressure Fuel Pump and direct injection lines across the top of the engine. It also helps keep engine heat from cooking the underside of the hood, probably not by much, but worth some measure of protection for the paint. It’s literally 10 to 20 second job to lift it off or snap it back in place on the rubber grommets and stud mounts so not putting it back in place isn’t saving you much if any time.

 

[scottg]

The cover helps attenuate some noise from the High Pressure Fuel Pump and direct injection lines across the top of the engine. It also helps keep engine heat from cooking the underside of the hood, probably not by much, but worth some measure of protection for the paint. It’s literally 10 to 20 second job to lift it off or snap it back in place on the rubber grommets and stud mounts so not putting it back in place isn’t saving you much if any time.

Thanks, C-Mack. Wasn't looking at my own laziness as to whether I kept it on or off (though yes, I am quite lazy in many other areas), only if there were any benefits to leaving it off, and any downsides. Sure, I'm splitting hairs here, but generally speaking, heat kills mechanical systems faster than they'd fail otherwise, and multiple small improvements can have significant positive impacts, just thought this might be one small improvement. And as a retired NASA engineer, I have time on my hands

/s.

 

[C-Mack]

Hey, let’s cool the Grenadier’s engine cover by using the same method employed on rocket engine exhaust bells by running fuel through fine tubes… I always thought that was such an elegant engineering solution. I figure with your NASA know how we could pull that off easily and relieve some of that retirement malaise… speaking as an equally retired person that is.

 

[Nocrays]

I left my old defender engine cover off for years. But one thing I did see was a more rapid deterioration of the paint work in the Center of the bonnet compared to the rest of the car.

Could be just the crap paint work ?

But I’ll be leaving it on the Grenadier.

 

[Zimm]

Running at the wrong temp kills mechanical systems. Heat is one, but being too cool is also. I’m assuming after this engine being out for a decade and many other versions producing many more watts than this is tuned for, the cooling system is just fine and can deal with the shrouds presence.

 

[CRH]

If you had involvement with Elon's rockets, I suggest you get your car to the dealer ASAP for a check over. Did you suggest leaving a heat shield off the rocket 'just to see if it made a difference?'