Is that good or bad? Any risk to bonnet paint with cover off? You've had your cover off for awhile, guess you could tell. Bonnet gets much warmer?

 

I'll take hood temps with/without the cover and let you know. Tomorrow will still be hot out, so a good time to test.


So far, no noticeable damage, and the XPel wrap has been unaffected.

 

Thanks, Unhinged. Looks like potential damage to hood paint is the only remaining question. I'll look for your measurements.

 

The mesh vents let in enough sun that I've got faded spots on the cover. Without the cover I think I'd start getting UV damage to some of the plastic fittings that would be exposed, and I don't want those fittings to crack. I already pulled the foam off the underside of the cover because mice chewed on it and was thinking about cutting out the center and replacing with mesh. Then I could keep the sections that protect from sun exposure but still get most of the benefit of removal.

 

Please take this seriously, as you likely just had a close call. Peppermint oil, pine-sol, or laundry dryer sheets. Put them ALL_OVER_THE_PLACE. And get a cat (furry one).

 

I agree removing the cover makes sense, but on my god, it really is one of the ugliest engines ever. It sort of needs to be covered up so your eyes don't hurt when looking at it.

 

+1. The LS3 engine in my Land Cruiser is Rodin by comparison.

 

So it seems SVR's bonnet has some kind of additional deflector (maybe to protect the paint?).

http://images.car.bauercdn.com/pagef...jpg?scale=down

 

I have seen F-Types fresh from a hard track session parked in the sun (admittedly only British sunshine) with the engines running, without any paint issues.

The only thing I noticed was that the PPF smelt a bit more 'plasticky' than normal!

No tacky engine covers were fitted. These were in storage and make excellent toboggans come winter time!

 

With cover:



Without cover:



Similar conditions for both tests and after car sat for an additional 2-3 minutes. The temperature right after a drive appears to be very close to ambient, but the temperature rises rapidly as the car sits. Even the higher temperature does not approach the temperatures experienced by a dark colored car just sitting in the sunlight.

 

Just put a paper bag over it when making love to it.

 

1) Mr. SinF - you have been cracking me up lately!!

2) I'm ripping the cover off now...maybe it'll give me the few hundredths I need to go from 11.02 to 10.9x on boost alone

 

Thanks Unhinged; the only thing preventing me was the spectre of paint or XPel damage....but I think that we can safely dismiss that now.

Cheers,
Dave

 

As noted previously, everything under the bonnet is weatherproof. Over time, the surface of the Intercooler will fur up, but plastic pan scourers will sort that.

If you're worried about the cosmetics, the V8 vents are better at keeping the elements out than the honeycomb items on the V6.

I shall not mention the carbonfibre-wrapped engine cover again, nor it's ludicrous price tag...

 

I , however, could argue that the honeycombed vents will allow better airflow through the engine compartment for cooling.

 

I agree with you. But, some of our fellow owners are more concerned with validation of their purchasing choices than what will make the car perform at its best. This is okay - it's all about enjoying your purchase.

 

...but it's not required.

Just look at the front of any F-Type (not including the SVR). All possible air entry points, apart from the centre 'mouth' are blocked off with plastic behind them!

If airflow (thus cooling) was an issue at any point, then surely these would have been allowed to let air in and thus cool the engine bay, and the bonnet vents would be far less restrictive.

Although I took my cover off, the change if any in working temperature is negligible and has, (unless proven) a knat's **** difference in increasing engine efficiency. To my eyes, it just looks better to see a lump of ugly alloominum, rather than a sheet of plastic!

 

I don't think that color needs ANY protection whatsoever...

 

Huh?

 

We logged a 19 degree F IAT differential (about the same as what I saw on the surface of the hood). That is substantial! Can't say how much additional hp that relates to, but it will be something.