Cam Gear Covers... Good? Bad? Ugly?

[Zmann42087]

Is the the plastic cam gear cover to the right of the valve cover really neccessary? Does it have any functional role?

 

[kingGSX]

Yes, just so things don't get caught in the gears while the engine is running. Like your fingers for example.. But I have seen some dsms without it.

 

[ndilo21]

It protects things from getting in there or under the belt. It a rock or some other foreign object were to make its way up there it could cause some serious problems and damage.

 

[DSM91]

It serves two very functional roles.


1. It stops debris or tools from falling into the oh-so-important timing belt, possibly causing catastrophic engine failure.

2. It stops you from losing fingers when working on a running engine.

 

[Enki]

You should definitely leave the covers on unless you're not going to be driving the car around much (show car, etc.).

If a rock or something get's caught in there your engine will grenade itself more then likely...

 

[marcmsj]

i had mine off for a while but decided to put one back on after seeing on here several people get things caught in there... it's just not worth it, so leave it on.

only advantage of leaving it off is quick inspection of the timing belt to see if it's loose, cracked, or what not. but just leave the 2 bolts on the top of the valve cover with the timing belt cover on and it's a snap to take off if you need to.

 

[tstkl]

shep runs his car without one,... then again... shep knows what hes doing... just leave it on for safty reasons...

 

[marcmsj]

shep runs his car without one,... then again... shep knows what hes doing... just leave it on for safty reasons...

shep also has the money to fix anything that might break....