run cooler.

After adding Redline Water Wetter my temp gauge dropped to about half way from being a little higher even on the hottest days. But after removing the plastic engine cover it dropped almost one full bar on the temp gauge. It's been in the 90's here in Hotlanta lately and it still won't go much higher than one line below half on the gauge with the cover off.

It looks like the cover reflects heat back into the engine. While it's not the prettiest to look at, if your not going to a show or something, removing this really seems to help in these hot months.

 

Mine hasn't been on for over a year....

 

mine is on for 2 year now since i got the car and no probs with the temp gauge

 

I'm not implying there's a problem per say. But a cooler running engine lasts longer... This definately helps the engine run cooler.

 

Mine's off. These engines really make a lot of heat so any lil bit should help.

 

since your not using yours, can i have it?

 

I just took mine off right now. Damn it was dirty underneath it. I'll find out soon if my engine still pings after this free mod

 

I took mine off about 2 months ago. Yeah, it was pretty dirty/dusty too. The 3.5 sure looks ugly without that cover, but if it runs cooler I'll live with it.

 

How does one take it out? is it just those four nuts on the top?

 

Yep, that's all it is.

 

Thanks

 

I took the 4 cover screws and used them on my HID's. They might be a bit harder to remove if someone wants to steal them with the tabs intact.

 

hmm.. what size of the wrench do you guys use to take it off? I have one that's one size too small so it doesn't hook up pretty well.

 

It's a 5mm allen wrench.

 

just my luck... the one that came in a kit i bought comes in increments of 2

 

For u, u can have it for 100 bucks.

 

Funny, as I was changing the oil this weekend I got the urge to take the cover off and see what it looked like under there. So I took it off, and I agree that it's much prettier with the cover but no one sees under my hood anyway so I was going to leave it off. But then I got to thinking...does the cover in fact hold heat in the engine or is it there to reflect heat away from the engine? A certain amount of heat is going to be generated under the hood with or without the cover, so I started thinking that maybe it was there to keep that heat away once it's under the hood. But now, having read some realworld experiences with the cover removed maybe I'll take it off for a while and see if I notice a difference.

 

I stripped one of the nuts while trying to take it off... anyone know how i can take it off now?

 

it will take a while but file grooves deeper and wider and use a flat head screw driver and take it out. It takes time but works

 

Good idea! Thanks for the tip.

 

Is there a way you can Paint that Cover. Maybe Black or even a Chrome Look. I am going to leave that cover on anyways as from what i was told it protects the engine and the wires that are under there. So I thought maybe of painting it Black or painting it Chrome. Can you paint that Plastic and if so has anyone dones it?

 

Easiest way to get a black one is to swap with a 3.5 Alti owner. Some org members have done that.

 

Mine is off and it does hold heat on the engine, NOT keep it away from it as stated above a few posts. I added Red Line WaterWetter and I can say it runs cooler.

 

Read my post again, in no way was I stating it as fact. I said the thought crossed my mind, that's all.

 

OK, peace-out bro.

 

this is interesting..how about cutting two say 4x4 holes in there, and putting the grill tech type grill insterts there...s othe cover would still be there but would not keep any heat in????


i might just tackle this project on my own

 

Running out of mods to buy? LOL!

 

I"m going to take mine off for the summer, then put it back on in the winter. Sort of like the theory of 10w-30 in the summer and 5w-30 in the winter I'm in chicago

 

is anyone conserned about cooking the paint on the hood, we don't exactly have the best paint on our cars.

 

That's my plan.

firebirdss, not only has this thought never crossed my mind, mine has been off long enough that if it were going to have done anything it would have by now.

jeepik, as much as I'd like to I won't throw a rofl up here on ya. Yes it would help some but it will still reflect heat back into the motor. How often do you have your hood up?

 

I did.

 

I took mine off today when I changed the oil. I hope to see a reduction in engine temp...

 

Will this help on the 3.0 and does it come off the same way??
Thanks

 

I and other .Org members have actually found that the cover robs ~3hp. When I took it off and re-dynoed i found that i gained about 3hp. Its climate dependent I think. Its hot as hell here in FL, so the added heat does make a diff. Maybe not so much up north.

 

I agree 100% with this statement since I took my cover off.

 

Shouldn't be an issue due to the hood insulation.

 

i clean the engine compartment out once a week, but thats beside the point..

i would like to keep the engine bay as stock as possible, with the cover being gone it looks like it was messed with

 

Man, it's got to be hard to see that engine cover while you're driving down the street...

 

no but its really easy to notice when you have it taken in to get warranty work done

 

how hard is it too put 4 screws back on? Do you think they will not notice 2 big holes in the plastic?