Rolls Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 Just a newbie question - why do people use the engine cover? I love the look of a fully restored engine through the glass. does the area get particularly messy if one omits the cover? Noise? Heat? I was thinking of omitting the carpet in the engine area to minimise the aforementioned issues? Or maybe find something that is very easy to clean and highly durable. Any thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Escape Posted July 1, 2015 Moderator Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 My first Esprit (a later model, SE) came without the engine cover, and I also liked the look of the engine. So when I got another one, one of the first things I did was remove the cover. I do notice the glass gets greasy, and it's not that easy to clean. And (on the SE at least), the cover also provides the seal between the engine bay and the rear luggage space, so without it anything you carry will get hot and get an engine aroma. I am planning to address that issue. Filip Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanya Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I haven't noticed any downsides really - except more noise in the cabin....I've sometimes had the "grille" off to show off the chargecooler better. Quote Vanya Stanisavljevic '91 Esprit SE | '97 XK8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I would be concerned that the constant cleaning of the rear glass would eventually bugger the demister element. Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cammmy Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 (edited) I need to trim down sections that are rubbing on my dump valve hose and (temporarily) re-routed charge cooler hose. Without the cover there is a lot more cabin noise (could be a good thing depending on your opinion) but after washing the car there was some water in the boot. I'd also be a bit concerned about water getting onto electrical connections through the vents. Perhaps keep the cover for it's seal and to protect the electrics and cut a window that you can see through from the cabin? I'm talking about a Stevens car here though Edited July 1, 2015 by cammmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty123 Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I think it helps channel hot air to where it needs to go, plus water away from where it should be avoided. plus, it's quieter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Escape Posted July 1, 2015 Moderator Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 I would be concerned that the constant cleaning of the rear glass would eventually bugger the demister element. It's not the heated rear screen that gets noticeably dirty, it's the large glass plane on the tailgate, directly above the engine, that gets the vapours. I think it helps channel hot air to where it needs to go, plus water away from where it should be avoided. plus, it's quieter! On the Stevens, I don't think there would be much effect to cooling, as the only part that is open is directly above the slats in the cover. So the air has to follow the same route without the cover, with a little less guidance (because of the lack of slats) but also with less resistance. @Cammy, you are right about the water ingress. Never noticed it while driving in rain, but I do try to avoid opening the tailgate when there is water on it (either from rain or washing) because it flows directly towards the engine. And I didn't buy a Lotus for peace and quiet, so I don't mind a bit more engine sound. :-) Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike6 Posted July 1, 2015 Report Share Posted July 1, 2015 It has something to do with removing the heat from the turbo. In practice not sure how much difference it makes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Escape Posted July 2, 2015 Moderator Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 It has something to do with removing the heat from the turbo. In practice not sure how much difference it makes Not sure about the layout on other models, but on the SE the glass back will create low pressure pulling hot air from the engine bay through the opening located above the chargecooler. I think the slats would have a lot more effect without the glass back. Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilW Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 You must run the car with the cover although I can only comment on my experience with G cars. The hot air is drawn out through the hole in the engine bay cover then through the louvres. I recently ran a car around my village without the engine cover off. i found the body to be very hot in the area of the fuel caps. A long run and believe I could have damaged something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 2, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I would agree - I did run mine with the cover off last week. It got much much hotter in the whole area than normal - worried me a bit to be honest. Put the cover back on - and run out next day in hotter weather and it ran much much cooler Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty123 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Those buggers at Lotus eh, they know what they're doing! Has anyone made one out of carbon fibre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Escape Posted July 2, 2015 Moderator Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Barry & Phil, when you say the whole area got much hotter, do you mean the bodywork or between the engine and the rear quarter windows? I can understand the cover keeps the heat more local around the engine and exit via the slates, instead of having it spread out over the entire back of the car. I should find a solution for that... Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 2, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 My experience is that the exhaust and turbo got much much hotter Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8-ESPRITS3 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 It was fitted to hide the 4 pot engine, when you fit a V8 you dont need it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted July 2, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hehe rob - when you fit that v8 - there's no room left for a cover....... I'm happy to hide my cars dignity Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8-ESPRITS3 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I would say you need it, I have had loads of over heating issues without the cover. You could fit a polycarbonate window in the cover? or improve air flow in and out which is not easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilW Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Escape, The body work was hot. The whole area rear of the fuel cap. Lengthy run and I am sure I would have damaged the body or paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Escape Posted July 6, 2015 Moderator Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Escape, The body work was hot. The whole area rear of the fuel cap. Lengthy run and I am sure I would have damaged the body or paint. I'm still running my SE without the cover, but looking for any signs of excessive heat. I can't say I notice anything, and that's running in last weeks 30+°C, both city traffic to/from work and this weekends trip to UK. When refueling on the motorway the fuel cap area certainly didn't feel hotter than the rest of the car. The luggage did get warm, but nothing that had us worried. I do need to clean the rear windows... Filip Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8-ESPRITS3 Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 the original post was I think more relating to a G car (non turbo), they have less air intakes than other models, the non turbo body only has the little ears to scoop air in and out. With out the cover the stock setup has a near impossible route to exit hot air. The G turbo has scoops in the skirts like the Stevens cars so have much more air input to help cool the engine bay, and also a different tailgate setup. Mine ran very hot without a cover, the tailgate glass was very hot to touch! I have made my ears wider and for cold air intake only (top and bottom ducts) and tailgate is locked into a open/ajar placement to let hot air out. Still a work in progress and still looking for improvement. I would like to fit some intakes into the skirts and may do in the near future. I did have some turbo skirts but I just don't like the look of them and prefer the cleaner look of the N/A shape early cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger 912 Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 (edited) When I bought my 84 Red Esprit Turbo ten years ago, the engine cover was missing and I have driven it like that since with no problems. As I shall be taking my Esprit down to Cape Town to a car show in October, I thought that I should make one purely to stop the ingress of rain that could fill up the plug recesses if the car is parked outside a B&B. I fabricated my cover from a 3 mm laminated aluminium plate which is incredibly strong and cut it out to size with the cut out for the air flow. I had to raise the plate two inches using foam rubber and also used a half inch foam on top of the cut out to make a total seal to the luggage area. The difference that this has made to the cockpit noise is amazing. Edited July 24, 2015 by Roger 912 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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