If you've owned your S-Type long enough, you already know about the deteriorating grey foam insulation in the engine compartment underneath the cowl. After a few years it tends to sporadically flake off and float all around the engine compartment, making a general mess....

This past Saturday I was using my electric leaf blower to blow debris off the car (less debris means fewer chances to clog the moonroof drains). While blowing around the windshield and cowl area, I noticed some of the very small grey foam insulation flakes being whooshed up into the air. So I opened the hood, pointed my leaf blower underneath the cowl area, and gradually blew off all of the remaining deteriorated insulation. Took me two or three minutes until no more insulation flakes were floating out of the area....

I think that effort finally removed all of the remaining insulation that has continued to sporadically flake off during the past couple of years. We'll see....

One word of caution: A gas-powered leaf blower may be too powerful so if you opt to use one, keep the speed low. You don't want to be blowing off any trim pieces or brittle hose connections. My electric leaf blower was perfect for the job....

 

I know what you mean, that stuff gets everywhere, and lord help you if you touch it.

 

Good call Jon on the leaf blower a lot less chance of breaking something that you really don't want too.

As you may remember I used a shop vac many years ago when I had the cowl off.

Just a note to the new guys, there is no harm with the insulation missing from the cowl.

 

What's it for, then?

 

Sound deadening? I dunno, but I do know that ours has been cleaned out for well over 4 years without any adverse effects.

 

Well your way is better than how it normally goes!!

I had that crap all over the engine compartment before I found where it was coming from. First mistake was trying to remove the foam while it was still in the car. What a mess! Finally took the panel out and cleaned it all off with my hands and followed that with some solvent to get all the crumbs.
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Are we talking about the plastic cover on the engine? The foam type stuff is fine on mine

 

The cowl may be more familiar to some as a scuttle I think. It's the part the wipers are mounted over (well, through) if I've followed this OK.

 

I've not had that off mine but I don't have any bits of foam anywhere and I'm under the bonnet at least once a week checking oil and fluids even though I've never had to put any oil in it I still check it.

 

I am pretty sure that part was changed with the 2003 and up revision. So yours is different.

Yes the engine cover foam is holding up well on my 2005.
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Ahh, Ok that explains it.