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When I first purchased my MAZDA I did not realize until after a week that for whatever reason mine was missing the engine cover? I contacted my dealership and talked to the line of people, salesman's who transferred my to service who transferred me back to sales, and then to the parts depart and finally the general sales manager that tried to tell me all vehicles are inspected and that I must have lost the engine cover. REALLY? After he was done talking, I said how exactly could I have LOST the engine cover as large as it is? After looking at me with the deer in the headlight look, he said as a curtesy he would just this once give me a engine cover. Now it gets really funny, and I think you will see the humor as well. The manager walked me to the parts departs and told the parts manager to give me a engine cover. I thanked the sales manager for his help and he walked away. The parts manager looked on his computer and said hmm we dont even stock one? He would have to order it and that would be about 3-5 days because of which warehouse that cover was being shipped from. I didn't say a word and just went into a poker face stare at the guy for semed 5 minutes not saying a word or blinking an eye. Suddenly he was graced with an epiphany, the word from on high entered his thoughts, he would pull one off one of the NEW MAZDA in the sales lot. LOL my problem resolved I was happy and also wondering about the next person buying his new MAZDA if after opening the hood realizes there is no engine cover.
SO why this thread. Well As you all can look on my Mazda thread, I have done a few upgrades with at least 3 MAZDA engine covers. Thinking that each one was going to improve something other than looks. Mostly to insult and reduce the heat on the hood and to lower the db's decibels of sound from the engine.
My MAZDA thread: Mazda3 Things I like to do - Page 19 - Mazda Forum - Mazda Enthusiast Forums
The last 2 months I did a series of tests to see exactly what that engine cover actually did. Using all my engine temperature reading from my Ultra Gauge and my oil and transmission gauge as well handheld thermal temperature reader, a decibel meter I ran test on 3 differ covers. The stock, the insulted and the insulted and modified Mazda Cover.
Over 356 miles of varies driving condition and the ambient outside temperature's ranging from 47F to 112F days driving this is what I learned.
Not one of my engine operating temperatures changed even by 1 degree not in the IAT (intake air temperature) or coolant or any oils.
The sound level did not change one point while driving or static parked in the garage idling.
The hood temperature did show a decrease in temperature only while in the garage of 15 degrees but a short drive and pull over and check revealed not temperature reduction with or without the engine cover.
The next test was to drive without the engine cover. This reviled a little different result. The coolant temperature's and all the oil temperatures remained the same, but the IAT dropped 4 degrees. I replaced the cover and did a short drive and repeated the runs. It seems the benefit of not having the engine cover on my Mazda showed a 4 degree drop in IAT .
So, except for special events or car club shows and gatherings I will not be using my engine cover. This not to say anyone else should do the same and I am not saying that this generic testing is empirical.
I did find this interesting not really what I would consider empirical, or test proven and more entertaining article that may have you smiling as well.
That Engine Cover It so pretty and useless
