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I don't think you'll see much but please report back. I jet washed the car last Friday, popped the hood up and could see water droplets on the usual places on top of the cover. I took the cover off and tried as much as possible with a torch look between the rubber inserts that sit on the sides of the supercharger pipes and it all seemed dry. I didn't have my borescope camera with me otherwise I'd taken some pictures.
Without the cover on though I can see a much bigger possibility of water sitting on the sides of the supercharger and reaching the coils, etc. I guess that scenario added to short drives and long sits could create problems but I plan on keeping mine long-term, it sits outside all year long (it was more of a garage queen before I bought it, not anymore) the mod is inexpensive and looks OK compared to other alternatives like duct tape so I gave it a go.
Without the cover it's not just a possibility, but a certainty that water will end up in the V of the engine. I expect to find no water when I check because I think the cover will do one of its three (?) jobs when fitted. I see those as:
- protection - keep water away from the top of the engine, also stop sun-bleaching and embrittlement of those plastic pipes
- dampen the sound (rodents nibbled on the foam underneath of mine, but I doubt it was very effective anyway)
- hide the top of the engine so that the parts don't need extra work (cost) to finish
That last one is probably the major factor for the factory. Once motorcycles started getting full coverage bodywork, polished engine parts went the way of the dodo. It's extra cost to finish something no one sees.
I ran much of the year without the cover, as I forgot to put it on after changing the oil. I did notice a bit more S/C whine without it.
I never tried running mine without it as I might like it and living in the UK where rain is always a possibility... I wonder if the horror stories we hear about corroded injectors are from cars that run without the cover for extra S/C whine.
Maybe I will get this, look for some glue and give it a try. 75% 5 star. Negative reviews says it comes creased and has a 'sticky' surface and collects all kinds of dust/hair/lint/fuzz. Guess I'll keep looking.
I never tried running mine without it as I might like it and living in the UK where rain is always a possibility... I wonder if the horror stories we hear about corroded injectors are from cars that run without the cover for extra S/C whine.
I also thought that I could see more shimmering from heat coming out of the hood vents than I remember seeing with the cover installed. (This is typically why people remove the cover in the first place - less heat retention.)
I don't think you'll see much but please report back.
I'm here to report that I took a long lunch break and ran some errands and am only now remembering that I should have checked first, not after 20 miles of driving. My findings are "inconclusive."
I'm here to report that I took a long lunch break and ran some errands and am only now remembering that I should have checked first, not after 20 miles of driving. My findings are "inconclusive."
I'm not sure if I'm more annoyed by you failing your duty or enjoying your car while mine's been sat for days as we power through yet another storm in the UK....
I'm not sure if I'm more annoyed by you failing your duty or enjoying your car while mine's been sat for days as we power through yet another storm in the UK....
No special enjoyment. I restocked on kitty litter and bird seed for the indoor and outdoor wildlife, so it wasn't that special. I mean, I *was* in the F-Type, so there's that.
This morning I pulled the engine cover out of storage and enhanced it with duct tape as several others have done (maybe I'll get around to doing the fancy silicone job at some point).
As a test I parked outside this afternoon, in the rain again. Results below:
Bone-dry, as you can see (I removed the cover again to record the second video).
So that's the solution: modified engine cover for the rainy season. I just keep it in the closet by the front door and take it to the car if the weather calls for it. I call it "Jojo's umbrella" (Jojo is my wife's name for the car; it's long since stuck).
Last edited by Luc Lapierre; Sep 30, 2025 at 03:38 AM.
Nice one. Yeah, a modded engine cover for rainy weather is a no brainer.
Speaking of rain - if you have a coupé - also check the trunk if you leave the car out in heavy rain. The plastic clips that sit under the rubber strips along the sides of the trunk opening can also start letting rain water in which worst case seeps down to the electronics down under the trunk floor.
