What's the deal with engine covers?

[bpeckham]

Okay, I've been wondering this for 20ish years, since I got my G35. This is slightly related to the Z because it has one too. What is the deal with engine covers? Do they have a function, or are they simply useless weight?

 

[MHockey17]

Perhaps some covers with brackets or channels to route wiring are functional, but I think they’re honestly just for engine dressup and presentation purposes.

The plastic, blobby manifolds & rats nest of wires many modern engines have are pretty unsightly to the common car owner. I think Nissan even took it to extremes with the Infiniti M cars, has panels covering just about the entire engine bay.

 

[MCN1SMO]

agree its just a modern dress up trend. could prevent excess dust I guess

got to get on a soapbox rant for a second about why the hell nissan didnt do a NISMO engine cover for the Z NISMO. I mean that is a glaring omission. all you got to do it put a little red in the one you have now and stick a badge on it. at least you can buy the carbon one from NISMO USA that shows the intercoolers off but its expensive...

 

[StrikeS30]

agree its just a modern dress up trend. could prevent excess dust I guess

got to get on a soapbox rant for a second about why the hell nissan didnt do a NISMO engine cover for the Z NISMO. I mean that is a glaring omission. all you got to do it put a little red in the one you have now and stick a badge on it. at least you can buy the carbon one from NISMO USA that shows the intercoolers off but its expensive...

Oh wow, I figured they would have? Just the regular engine cover?

 

[MCN1SMO]

Oh wow, I figured they would have? Just the regular engine cover?

Yes everything in the engine bay looks identical even the strut bar

 

[MHockey17]

agree its just a modern dress up trend. could prevent excess dust I guess

got to get on a soapbox rant for a second about why the hell nissan didnt do a NISMO engine cover for the Z NISMO. I mean that is a glaring omission. all you got to do it put a little red in the one you have now and stick a badge on it. at least you can buy the carbon one from NISMO USA that shows the intercoolers off but its expensive...

I agree that would’ve looked incredible and should’ve been a gimme addon. Perhaps they just don’t like pulling from the. NISMO USA catalog

Though for me I figure if Nissan ever opens up online orders for the Z, I’d just tack the CF engine cover, track exhaust, and intakes onto a factory order as dealer-installed options so it’d (almost) be like it came with them