Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Engine cover plus 4 2020 trad model

Thanks for the heads up on the special engine bay.... Had it been mine with money to burn or the skill to create it, I would perhaps have had the alloy cover decorated with engine turning similar to that found on type 35`s and other of Bugatti`s wonderful creations...

These engine covers crafted with such love and attention to detail and appearance are amazing and impressive!

However for some of us mere mortals they seem rather intimidating and beyond our workshop skills to emulate them...

So to maybe add some balance and inspire others, here is my plain but functional effort!





I went for a very simple flat panel to maximise the coverage/protective function for the engine, but set it fairly high allowing lots of air flow and slanted to shed water towards the right side so it falls onto the exhaust manifold side where there is far less electrical stuff than around the inlet side.

I used existing fixings, just like everyone else and made it very easy to remove for checking oil level etc - just two wing-bolts (with shake-proof washers) into rivnuts in the support struts on the right side; left side support struts are a snug slide-fit into the inlet manifold slots. Finished with high temp black spray paint.

Sometimes people can get a little hung up on form over function, it won't be seen with the engine bonnets closed and most importantly does it work and you have the satisfaction of having made it yourself! It might be worth considering putting a bead around the edges to protect against the edges and to give a nice finish to it

I made a flat cover that connected to the studs on the top of the engine with standoffs, I did give it a slight curve but it still vibrated such that I could hear it while driving.

On it's 1st run out it snapped the top of the stud off, I haven't attempted another yet.

On the face of it the case for a cover seems common sense but I am now not convinced a cover is worth it. There must me lots of GDI's out there with no cover that have no issues, mine included which has done 40k miles, I am sensible when washing it and put something between the louvers and the engine but when driving in rain the heat from the engine will burn off any water that gets in.

Likewise me.
However, I still get a couple of plugs showing surface rust when I remove them for checking each year. It has always surprised me that water can even get down the plug holes as the plug leads are always a really tight fit to remove.
When you say “no issues” are you saying your plugs are in “like new” condition?

Not "like new" just as I would expect for 40k miles but no rust on them..

IMHO the plug sealing of the GDI cop coil is a lot better than the plug lead of the Duratec. I made a cover for my Duratec but I shall not be making one for my GDI. Also my car does a lot of miles per wash of the car. LoL.
YMMV
Cheers
John.

I'm going to make an engine cover for mine - this is what I found on my 2020 GDi with 9300 miles on the clock! The rusted plug is at the radiator end of the engine. I always put an old heavy towel on the engine when washing tha car and try to minimise the amount of water getting through the louvres. Part of me thinks the rusted plug wasn't fitted correctly at manufacture.

An engine cover is certainly a smart move to protect the most vulnerable bits from the wet. I have a plan for some protection for mine when I get some time. However I’m still not convinced yet of the commonly held louver/rusty plug theory.

I can’t comment on the GDI but having owned a Duratec without bonnet louvers and still suffered rusty plugs, I can’t help thinking that there is something else going on. My money is on condensation on the plugs owing to internal engine gases breaching the less than perfect internal cam cover sealing around the plug cavities. Paradoxically a well thought out vent hole/tube next to the plugs in the plastic cover might help.
Just a theroy but perhaps something to consider. A previous rant starts on this page...

I agree the plug can't have been fitted correctly but there must have been some water ingress to get rust, very odd it's only the 1st plug. Other than washing the worst time for water getting in via the louvers is when the car is parked especially for long periods say in Hotel car park, I use a Storm cover when parking overnight and there is a chance of rain. The only other thought I had was maybe condensation but I'm guessing, others may be able to say if that's a possibility.