I am thinking of leaving the two side engine shroud covers off for two main reasons:

1) easier to check fluid levels and battery.
2) quicker dissipation of engine heat after driving. I live in So. Cal. and summer is coming. The car really heats up the garage.

In addition, every time the car is serviced, the tech either forget to put a fastener back on or he breaks the fastener tension prongs.

Any issues with the side covers off? I know the battery cover needs to stay on to prevent water damaging the battery.

 

I never really thought about it until just now. What's so special about our batteries or their configs? I mean why can water effect them? Every other car has exposed batteries under their hoods, whats with ours?

 

Don't know, there's a warning label on the cover, and also stated in the manual if I remember correctly.

 

this is a big V8 which will generate plenty of heat regardless...and those covers are there for a reason. I don't think you'll see a difference. if heat was a major concern, the engineers at Lex would of left them out of the design. Whenever my car gets serviced, if I am missing a fastener, it gets replaced by the tech..maybe i have been lucky i guess.

 

My trucks got a bigger V8, and its exposed battery has no issues with the "heat." Ive seen the warning on the cover, but it just doesnt make sense.

 

i was going to ask about this because when i first bought my car a few months ago about all of the fasteners are either broken or missing which worried me a bit...as mentioned they are on there for a reason and i wouldnt personally take it off unless approved by lexus tech or if they are rattling around because they are loose and what not... but i thinks its kinda stupid that the techs at lexus arent careful with these clips...to me its just one of those little things that bug me... but anyways does anyone here have any other insight on whether to take them off or not??

 

I believe those engine covers give better survival to pedestrians if you hit someone.

Saw that on Top Gear/Fifth Gear where the jagged edges underneath the bonnet made a difference to the pedestrian survival when hit.

This is especially true in UK and Europe where there are more pedestrians of course.

 

You need to make sure that heat doesn't cause the hood to burn from inside.

I wouldn't experiment on my LS460. I'd consult mama Lex first.

 

You know Jeremy Clarkson was joking about this, right?

 

There might be some truth to it:

http://www.wikilaw3k.org/forum/Cars-...ans-477732.htm

But it probably applies more in UK/Europe, than in the US.

 

Oh wow....makes sense....I never even thought of that.

 

Yea, but you don't get as many points if they survive, right?

 

Those covers solo purpose is to keep non service technician's finger massing with it in LS460. Lexus is the first auto maker to put cover on engine to make it look pretty. It started with 1990 LS400. "Better survival to pedestrians" is build-in to hood and fender's support(If you look under the fender, there are a 1 1/2"-2" gap between fender and the frame. That's what there for.) Keeping those cover off for better cooling is pointless. Because hood have seals all way around. Hot air can't pass thought it anyway. Unless those seals are removed, it won't make a different. But then you'll run in to another problem, Wind Noise.

 

That is exactly why I think they are there now.

 

this just made me LOL xD