I did the search on "engine tray" and on 'tray" -- got a million hits with two of them discussing the engine tray. The Search function can be frustrating at times.

Anyway, I know many remove their engine tray for better cooling. My question is "Why did Porsche add the tray?" Surely it has some engineering purpose.

I know that driving my car from Miami to Dallas in 90 degrees plus, I had no cooling problems. I'd like to understand better why some remove it.

Thanks!

 

my understanding of the addition of it was for noise dampening (strict european country codes)

 

It was put on primarily to reduce engine noise (problem with air-cooled engines). To quote Bruce Anderson
"For the 993, I recommend removing the engine sound trays. Even though they are not as restrictive as those on the 964, I feel that they will be responsible for the 993 running too hot. We have seen indications that the 964 run too hot with these sound trays, because all of the engines that we have seen apart have had excessively worn exhaust guides."

 

I would say the tray was added both for protection of the engine and for aerodynamics. However, with both the 964 and 993 there has been evidence of overheating in the heads with the tray in place. The oil temperature sensor cannot tell you whether the heads are overheating, so even if the temp looks ok, you may have a problem. Bruce Anderson in the 911 Performance Handbook recommends removing the tray.

Edit: doh, someone beat me to it.

 

Sound issues. Take it off and make your engine happier!

 

By the way: 996 no longer has an engine tray because it no longer has a sound problem, so if there had been any other reason Porsche would have kept it.

 

Good info. Thanks!

 

Sure it does, it sounds like crap

 

Agro1,
Yikes, you got me there... Meant to say decibel problem...

 

Yea Agro, please tell us how you really feel about the 996