Don’t Let the Plastic Engine Cover Scare You Away
We have a few choice options for your car’s plastic engine cover
One of the biggest things discouraging DIY mechanics over the past 20 years isn’t the move toward electronic systems. It isn’t even the unceremonious end of the carburetor. Instead, the most common complaint over the past two decades is the adoption of the infamous plastic engine cover. Many newer cars have them, and some are designed to keep you from doing the simplest tasks, like checking your oil or changing your air filter.
Most manufacturers have started installing these engine covers for a cleaner look under the hood. Instead, it’s turned people away from working on their cars because they’re worried about breaking the cover and voiding their warranty. Don’t worry so much!
You shouldn’t let a plastic cover discourage you from working on your Mustang or any other car. You’re not at risk of voiding your warranty, even if you break the cover. These pieces of plastic are superficial. They don’t do anything beneficial for your car, so you can take it off and leave it off. And there are no negative side effects.
Once the cover is off, it’s no different than working on any other engine. Once you know where the parts are, you can get back to the job of repairing and maintaining your car. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and try some simple tasks like fixing a leak or changing the oil. Then If you really like the clean look of the engine cover, feel free to learn how to reinstall it once you’ve finished your repairs.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum!
Otherwise, recycle that plastic cover into something useful — like a litter box or a beer cooler. Or, hey, just toss it in the trash. You don’t need it, it doesn’t serve a purpose and it’s super-discouraging for DIY mechanics. It’s just there because some engineer somewhere thought it looked prettier, and somehow, it managed to catch on in the industry. Pull it off, toss it in the junk pile and jump into that new project. We’re all rooting for you.
Shoutout to Haynes Manuals for the idea!
