Seems like the engine beauty cover traps heat that would otherwise escape from the intake manifold... anyone agree? I took mine off but the dummy engine temp gauge never changes once fully warmed up so it's no help.

 

Yeah, it traps heat. However a lot of people here like doing stealth mods ie; plenum spacer, z-tube, cold air box, etc and they leave their engine cover on so if they need to go to the dealership, the engine bay looks relatively untouched. But yeah, it definatley traps heat.

 

Thanks for the info... Does it look better with or without it?

 

It looks a lot "cleaner" with it on, but looks performance-orientated with it off, so it depends. I switch mine on and off from time to time, it's rediculously easy to get it on and off.

 

The engine cover doesnt trap much heat at all, it is designed to trap some residual heat so your hood does not lose its color or chip the clear coat too soon. When your car is moving the air passing by moves the heat out, you can see the front is curled down and the rear has more of an angle to block the heat from ultimately rising and enough incline to not restrict the passage of the air moving allowing the plenum to stay at normal operating temperature.

 

People seem to think it traps a lot of heat but tests have been done and it does not seem to change when you take it off. I put a 350Z style one on my car because it keeps the plenum open and IMO looks better.

 

well then, if it doesn't make a difference then might as well just leave her on

 

I would leave it on over not having one at all.

 

get a 1/2 cover.

 

our engines are ugly tho

 

thats not the engine but the plenums...

like ttrank said.. doesnt trap enuf heat to affect perfromance.. id keep it on for a few reasons


1. keeps the ugly plenum out of sight
2. stealth like
3. keeps the engine/plenum clean
4. doesnt affect performance

 

The best look IMO is either a painted/polished plenum and a 350Z cover (either oem with the Nissan emblem) or an aftermarket CF one like I have:

 

here's another example...

 

here's mine when I used to have the TN ST kit.

Some day I;ll get around to painting the engine cover....maybe black w/ some "real flames."

 

Well I disagree that the beauty cover keeps the plenum clean. The reason I took it off in the first place was to clean off the plenum and it was quite dirty after 45k miles. How much does the 350z cover cost?