Hello Scotty, hope you're doing well. I just received my 2024 Corolla SE Sedan, and was very surprised to see that the M20A-FKS engine does not come with a plastic engine cover, leaving all the electronics, ignition coils and wires vulnerable to dirt and water splash. Do you know why Toyota no longer provides an engine cover anymore, is it about saving money? Thanks in advance. CR
Probably to save money. It should not be a problem, cars came without engine covers for decades and some (like Subaru) still don't have them. I've never owned a car that had a plastic engine cover.
@chucktobias
Hey Chuck, indeed the older engines did not need a cover, but the new engines which are filled with electronics and wires of all kinds are vulnerable to road dirt which seeps, over time, into the engine compartment. My 2018 RAV4 2AR-FE engine came with one. It looks like Toyota is starting to get stingy!
@cooper-riggs Those covers are decorative for the most part. As I said, Subarus still don't have engine covers and are not particularly known for electronic problems as a result. Scotty has referred to the covers being useless many times. I really think you're making too much of it.
@chucktobias
Ya, guess I'm getting a bit too anal! Thanks!