Aftermarket engine cover

[TVRangerSTX]

I'm not a metallurgist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night - it had to be a harmonic vibration that caused this to snap like this right? It looks like all the cut out pieces created too much of a weak area around the rigid bolt.

In hindsight what would you say the odds are that you over-torqued?

Well I am a metallurgist and I'd say fatigue crack propagating from a stress raiser in the stamping, aka sharp corner. Aluminum, especially cold rolled, or not properly heat treated is already brittle. Are you sure the hood was not putting pressure on the front?

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[RedDakooter05]

Blue locktit and minimal torque goes a long way with these covers.

 

[Jacob]

Blue locktit and minimal torque goes a long way with these covers.

I prefer orange on things I’m not touching often.

 

[Jacob]

Well I am a metallurgist and I'd say fatigue crack propagating from a stress raiser in the stamping, aka sharp corner. Aluminum, especially cold rolled, or not properly heat treated is already brittle. Are you sure the hood was not putting pressure on the front?

Honestly this could be a cause. I have not seen if the hood goes up against the cover. I want to try to come up with a solution before I start reaching out to the company. Like use a few extra screws, two pieces of sheet steel, and perhaps some rubber or foam lining like someone suggested

 

[Grumpaw]

Any kind of "warranty" on it ?
Have you contacted to company to see if they'll replace it ?

 

[RedDakooter05]

Honestly this could be a cause. I have not seen if the hood goes up against the cover. I want to try to come up with a solution before I start reaching out to the company. Like use a few extra screws, two pieces of sheet steel, and perhaps some rubber or foam lining like someone suggested

Jb weld exhaust puddy works pretty damn good as long as you follow the directions.

Are you sure the cover seats in the brackets evenly?

For me I had issues with the bracket thats under the cowl area, the threaded hole doesn't line up 100% with the drilled hole of the cover so I left it somewhat loose to manipulate it during the install, but it does sit flush on 3 brackets.

 

[TVRangerSTX]

Honestly this could be a cause. I have not seen if the hood goes up against the cover. I want to try to come up with a solution before I start reaching out to the company. Like use a few extra screws, two pieces of sheet steel, and perhaps some rubber or foam lining like someone suggested

Yeah that cover seems just flat, whereas the Ford cover is contoured to the engine ups and downs. SO I thought it looks like the front edge sits up and might hit the hood insulation. That would flex the cover at that corner when you are beating the crap out of the 2.3 turbo, under heavy acceleration or just sitting there revving the engine... the thrust would cause flexing of the sheet metal. That leads to cyclic fatigue and failure/cracking. Again, just 14 years of colege and my 2 cents.

 

[seanellaz]

Well better late than never. I told a few members awhile back I’d post updates on the aftermarket engine cover and well…… it’s already broken…. From just sitting in the engine bay…. Yeah…..

silver lining it definitely helped keep water away from the plugs.

Maybe JB Weld fender washers on top of each bolt hole to reinforce.

 

[LawnMM]

Did you contact JCR?

 

[Jacob]

Did you contact JCR?

Yeah they are sending me a replacement.

 

[LawnMM]

Yeah they are sending me a replacement.

Glad they're taking care of you

 

[airline tech]

From the pic - I am thinking it needs to have a rubber washer below and above each mounting point.
Then only tighten to snug.
Reason to allow for metal expansion and contraction- the rubber washer will absorb this.
As mounted in the pic - cover gets hot and expands and it had nowhere to flex at the mount point and thus cracked

 

[Jacob]

From the pic - I am thinking it needs to have a rubber washer below and above each mounting point.
Then only tighten to snug.
Reason to allow for metal expansion and contraction- the rubber washer will absorb this.
As mounted in the pic - cover gets hot and expands and it had nowhere to flex at the mount point and thus cracked

Yeah for the next one I’m going to make a run down to Ace before I install it

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