are the plastic covers under the hood restricting air flow?
#1
are the plastic covers under the hood restricting air flow?
well i recently looked under my hood and had a bit of a brain teaser to solve... where the hell is the air coming from?!
i mean... i saw the intake for the engine but nowhere for the air to come from! then i realized that its probably the three dainty vents in this picture
so my question is... why not just get rid of that plastic cover? then the air flowing in should look something more like this
wouldnt that be much less restrictive and allow more air to flow into the engine? or do i have this all backward and the air is restricted for a reason
i mean... i saw the intake for the engine but nowhere for the air to come from! then i realized that its probably the three dainty vents in this picture
so my question is... why not just get rid of that plastic cover? then the air flowing in should look something more like this
wouldnt that be much less restrictive and allow more air to flow into the engine? or do i have this all backward and the air is restricted for a reason
#3
#4
If you look at the inside of the hood you can see a piece of rubber weather stripping that isolates the engine bay's hot air from being pulled in from the intake. You can also see it as the dirt line on the front cover in the pics.
Also I think it helps keep the hot air rising from the radiator out of the intake path.
When I was at the dragstip earlier in the year, I removed all the covers except for this one based on the statments above.
My two cents
Also I think it helps keep the hot air rising from the radiator out of the intake path.
When I was at the dragstip earlier in the year, I removed all the covers except for this one based on the statments above.
My two cents
#5
Those covers were placed there for a reason. Maybe since they knew our engines are ugly, or maybe it does serve some functional purpose.
Be as it may, I would find it hard to believe that Lexus would leave in something that would restrict the flow of air coming into the engine.
Be as it may, I would find it hard to believe that Lexus would leave in something that would restrict the flow of air coming into the engine.
#6
If you look at the inside of the hood you can see a piece of rubber weather stripping that isolates the engine bay's hot air from being pulled in from the intake. You can also see it as the dirt line on the front cover in the pics.
Also I think it helps keep the hot air rising from the radiator out of the intake path.
When I was at the dragstip earlier in the year, I removed all the covers except for this one based on the statments above.
My two cents
Also I think it helps keep the hot air rising from the radiator out of the intake path.
When I was at the dragstip earlier in the year, I removed all the covers except for this one based on the statments above.
My two cents
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#8
Those covers were placed there for a reason. Maybe since they knew our engines are ugly, or maybe it does serve some functional purpose.
Be as it may, I would find it hard to believe that Lexus would leave in something that would restrict the flow of air coming into the engine.
Be as it may, I would find it hard to believe that Lexus would leave in something that would restrict the flow of air coming into the engine.
#9
I heard its to cut down the engine noise.. i could be wrong though. Either way just leave it on, it makes it look better and if anything it would make such a minimal difference that you wont even notice any power gains
#10
i removed all the covers except the front one as well.
The hood is already the best cosmetic cover to the ugly engine, why putting extra pieces of plastic to capture heat.
and i "feel" the car sounds better without the covers, and the car lighter by 0.5lbs
The hood is already the best cosmetic cover to the ugly engine, why putting extra pieces of plastic to capture heat.
and i "feel" the car sounds better without the covers, and the car lighter by 0.5lbs
Last edited by file82; 06-25-08 at 06:03 PM.
#11
I drive with no engine covers at the track and I'm currently running without them as I'm too lazy to put them back on while testing out different exhaust configs. Those clips that hold it down are weak and the more you pop them in and out the more they need to be replaced. Not to mention the engine covers add an unwanted 7lbs to the car.
#12
OK so i took them off and went down side streets for 10 mins then about 10 on the highway. the only noticeable difference would be the sound. the engine sounds louder and a bit meaner (which might b good lol) and you can hear the road more clearly, such as just the weals rolling along the pavement or going over a pebble or the wind on the highway etc... so if lexus put thows in to dampen sound then they did a pretty good job. other than that their was no noticeable power increase at any point other than gear 2 at around 3000rpm which is odd but kinda good because i never was too fond of gear 2 below 4000rpm but it seemed to have a slight increase in power this point. other than that, every other gear... well i haven't really tested 6 because i didnt want to go too far over the speed limit... well the other gears seemed the same so ultimately i think that sticking with the covers is the wiser decision unless you are prone to tinkering with what ever and need to constantly remove the things.
#13
I would be happy to bet my car no human on earth will be able to notice any power difference with the covers on or off.
Any difference you notice is entirely in your head and likely a result of the car being louder.
This is why people with hot-air short ram intakes think their car is "faster" with them on when it measurably is not.
Any difference you notice is entirely in your head and likely a result of the car being louder.
This is why people with hot-air short ram intakes think their car is "faster" with them on when it measurably is not.
#14
I pulled the plastic side covers off as well; it is more aggressive looking when hood is open and easier to clean the parts.
But before I did that I called Lexus to find out what's the purpose of the plastic side covers. Technician said it really doesnt serve any purpose (doesn't even reduce engine noise that much). They all think its just part of the engine design...to have cleaner look.
But before I did that I called Lexus to find out what's the purpose of the plastic side covers. Technician said it really doesnt serve any purpose (doesn't even reduce engine noise that much). They all think its just part of the engine design...to have cleaner look.