Why did I clean my engine?

[Mark_T]

All it needs now is a flux capacitor! Definitely one of the coolest mods yet. I think I like the blue light the best.

[Shehadehd]

Here's a video to give you an idea of what it's like. My rear window has a substantial rip in it so I get a lot of wind noise at high speeds. I'll take another one with the hard top on to give you a better idea. I also have a friend with a decibel meter so if he lets me borrow it, I'll be able to do an object test that can actually be quantified.

Let me supplement that video by saying that this is under hard acceleration.... Like flooring it to 6k through 1st and 2nd, then into third.

http://youtu.be/E5LlE-M0MXI

[linderpat]

love it. How long does it stay clean? Do you have to clean the dirt out every year? Not sure if the dust and dirt gets sucked up into the engine bay and all over everything.

[Shehadehd]

Originally Posted by linderpat

love it. How long does it stay clean? Do you have to clean the dirt out every year? Not sure if the dust and dirt gets sucked up into the engine bay and all over everything.

So I've been using it for almost two weeks now and is say I collect more dirt from cabin side of the screen rather than the engine side. When you're driving all of the dirt from the engine side get blown away. And anything left is few and far in between that it doesn't detract from the engine cover.

I haven't ran with the cleaned engine yet but I imagine you might want to just give it a once over every oil change to keep it's shine. Unless you have a leak, moisture should evaporate with engine heat and so dirt should just blow off. But, of course, I don't know yet.

The main concern here is that plexiglass and lexan aren't hard surfaces like glass. They are scratch prone. I'm currently looking for somewhere to buy a clear plastic cover (like what you put on your phone and tablet screen) to protect it. This way, wiping off the dust won't cause small scratches in the cover.

FOR EVERYONE: since there is an appreciable interest in the cover, I'm going to try and get things together to offer some for sale. I want to tweak it some such that installation and maintenance will be straight forward and to refine some points like seals, mounting hardware, etc...

Once again, thank you to everyone for the compliments and positive remarks

[Mark_T]

Unfortunately, keeping the engine clean is going to be a major time suck. It will only take a few days to get all dusty again. But at least it is easier to get to!

Is that stock exhaust?

[Shehadehd]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

Unfortunately, keeping the engine clean is going to be a major time suck. It will only take a few days to get all dusty again. But at least it is easier to get to!

Is that stock exhaust?

Stock exhaust but with the drill hole.

[jb92563]

Very cool and the lights are absolutely necessary otherwise its not showing near as interesting.

1 question though about the heat in the engine bay and the plexi. Will the plexi reach the temperature at which it becomes flexible, will it sag?

Living in the hotter climates, this could be an issue?

I also had an idea about using grey tinted plexi so that the engine is fairly invisible UNTIL you turn the lights on.

That way if the bay is dirty it wont be noticed until you turn on the lights

[Shehadehd]

Originally Posted by jb92563

Very cool and the lights are absolutely necessary otherwise its not showing near as interesting.

1 question though about the heat in the engine bay and the plexi. Will the plexi reach the temperature at which it becomes flexible, will it sag?

Living in the hotter climates, this could be an issue?

I also had an idea about using grey tinted plexi so that the engine is fairly invisible UNTIL you turn the lights on.

That way if the bay is dirty it wont be noticed until you turn on the lights

I haven't noticed any problem with heat for the duration I've used it. I've driven with it in traffic on a ~75 degree day with the hard top on for about a half hour. The engine fan came on during this trip which indicates engine temps did get up to 180 ferenheit. With all this, the cover never got more than warm to touch. It's pretty thick and with the engine fan on, it stays pretty cool. I think temperatures need to be north of 200 degrees before any forming takes place.

I just bought some stick on thermometers that I'm gonna attach to both sides of the cover to see what the temperatures get to and if heat will be an issue. So in short, I haven't had that issue and I've put around 800 miles so far.

The gray tinted idea sounds pretty cool, like using really light window tint.

[jb92563]

Originally Posted by Shehadehd

I haven't noticed any problem with heat for the duration I've used it. I've driven with it in traffic on a ~75 degree day with the hard top on for about a half hour. The engine fan came on during this trip which indicates engine temps did get up to 180 ferenheit. With all this, the cover never got more than warm to touch. It's pretty thick and with the engine fan on, it stays pretty cool. I think temperatures need to be north of 200 degrees before any forming takes place.

I just bought some stick on thermometers that I'm gonna attach to both sides of the cover to see what the temperatures get to and if heat will be an issue. So in short, I haven't had that issue and I've put around 800 miles so far.

The gray tinted idea sounds pretty cool, like using really light window tint.

The Plexi will need a bit of a heat margin because after a hot Auto-X run and with the engine sitting after the car is off and the fan not running it could get quite a bit hotter in the engine compartment. Perhaps a plastic with a higher temp range. Lexan? Plexi softens at 210F and Lexan 257F

If you use the tint that you apply yourself then you will have that protective coating as well that you were considering for the engine side.

So if I get one of these I'll have to start carrying a feather duster in the trunk as well.
Not sure what the guys or wife will make of that when they see feathers in the trunk.
I'll just have to tell the guys that the french maid uses it to clean my engine bay
and the wife, that its a special surprise

[Perfectlap]

Very cool. I saw this on a Cayman (black/tan). The owner did some nice engine painting.

[driftguy]

This thread is filled with so much win, it's practically earned a trophy. Really good work Shehadehd!

[dghii]

Very cool but 200 lbs? How? Isn't there just a carpet pad and aluminum cover? It's been a while but what am I missing.

BTW, not dissing your cover or estimate pricing...just thinking about the weight and can't remember any items adding to ~200 lbs.

[Shehadehd]

Originally Posted by dghii

Very cool but 200 lbs? How? Isn't there just a carpet pad and aluminum cover? It's been a while but what am I missing.



BTW, not dissing your cover or estimate pricing...just thinking about the weight and can't remember any items adding to ~200 lbs.

I can't find that comment on the tapatalk app. Not sure if it was deleted but I was trying to say ~20lbs. If I wrote ~200lbs that is definitely a typo lol. The engine cover is 7lbs, sound carpet is like 6lbs and self was another 6lbs.

[dghii]

Heck. I might have misread the quote. 20lbs sound about right.

[driftguy]

Beat to the punch.

[epapp]

I think you said YOLO at one point in reference to this engine cover. Just for that, I think I'm required to order 10 minimum.

When we waited in Taco Bell drive through line, the cover warmed up, BUT it wasn't hot. The thermometer readings will put this concern to rest.

The sound increased, because the heavy sound and heat damping carpet was removed. The sound level equivalent would be to remove the rear shelf and remove the carpet cover while leaving the engine hatch cover sealed. Shehadehd's engine cover seals the compartment just like the oem hatch cover.

Would your kit come with the lights? I need me some of those


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BIGJake111]

I have started saving money for a slightly larger project on my boxster, I think I found a Winner! Keep us updated on the temps, living in the Deep South with lots of expected city traffic may be a problem haha.

[Chuck W.]

Evidently, this is not uncharted territory. I have never heard of it but there are a number of posting on Caymen owners doing this mod with great results. I am guessing they have worked out the material and heat issues. Below is a link to Google Imagines with a number of photos.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cayman+clear+engine+cover&client=firefox-a&hs=DmI&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=FkbdUsrRFM-woQTe24H4Bw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=582

[rp17]

Without a doubt, this isn't new. Peeps been doing this on Caymans for a while. So worry not too much about the heat thing. Don't think those can fit a 987 Boxster though and definitely not a 986. I think they were priced ridiculously high also which I never even bothered looking into any further.

[BYprodriver]

How about a mod with dual payoff?

Heat reflecting gold foil. Makes engine look better & keeps intake air cooler.