Are Engine Covers Important?

The engine cover is a plastic component that covers the engine compartment under the hood of a vehicle. Engine covers serve a cosmetic purpose and offer a clean appearance by hiding the complex engine wiring and components situated in the engine bay. Some engine covers also protect the car owner from moving parts, such as rotating drive belts and pulleys, while performing vehicle maintenance. Apart from aesthetic functions, engine covers also help in improving the engine bay acoustics by dampening the noise generated by the engine. Some multifunctional engine covers are equipped with heat reflective shields and sound dampening materials, which help in cutting down the noise and prevent it from entering the passenger compartment. These linings on the inside of the engine cover help in acoustic and thermal management and are very useful in high compression engines, which create more noise.

Engine covers serve a lot of functions. They help in improving the underhood aesthetics of your vehicle. These covers can be found on most cars today with the manufacturer's badge or the technology used in the engines. Made from plastic, these engine covers are decent insulators of sound and make the car a little quieter. They also protect from other elements like dust, sand, and water and prevent them from entering every nook and cranny of the engine, like the fuel injectors or the air intake. In some vehicles, they are also designed to hold wires and other lines and prevent them from rattling.

The place beneath the hood of an automobile is very harsh and with constant high temperatures and constant vibrations,  a lot of stress is generated in parts located in the engine bay. Exposed to elements like oil, grease, transmission fluid, brake fluid, water, road salt, and dust, these parts have to be wear-resistant to withstand tough conditions. Traditionally, using any other material than metal in the engine bay was unthinkable. However, with changing trends and developments, automobile manufacturers have started using plastics such as nylon, polyphenylene, and polypropylene for reduced weight, corrosion-resistant characteristics, and low production costs. As a result, it’s no longer unusual to see plastic air intakes, valve covers, fluid reservoirs, and engine covers as well.

You can drive your car without an engine cover, but over a long time, it may damage electronics or invite a rat infestation, causing driveability problems. With the advanced electronics and sensors used in modern cars today, it’s recommended to avoid risks by driving around without an engine cover. Other than accessing the engine or getting a better look at it, there’s no reason to remove these covers, as they do not add much weight and serve an important function.

A car's engine splash shield is also known as the lower engine cover or the skid plate. It is a rigid panel secured right below the engine bay and is designed to protect parts like the oil pan and the transmission from road debris, water, rocks, and other elements. An engine splash shield is constantly exposed to harsher conditions compared to an engine cover. Therefore, they are usually made from tough fiberglass plastic, aluminum, or steel. Metal engine splash shields last long, are durable and protect your engine and vulnerable parts from impacts. Engine splash shields are a must for off-road enthusiasts because rough terrains can cause damage to the unprotected undersides of your vehicle.