First of all, I'm not a mechanic. My mechanical fettlings are very much limited to bikes, hence the daft question.

 

Anyhow, I replaced the crankcase breather (part number 06A103221AH) with one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360463283834?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Everything appears to be fine (the oft-broken lower fitting of the 'Y' is still intact) except I can't get the engine covers back on as they foul on the new pipe.

 

So I see I've got two options:

 

1. I trim the hose.

2. I leave the engine covers off.

 

So this leads into my daft question - what do the engine covers actually do? Other than tidying things up and keeping noise down a little, is there any reason to put them back on?

 

Thanks in advance!

Surprised you can't get cover on as the pipe is a reasonable fit to the oem one. Are you sure you fitted it ok. Perhaps post up a pic. Regarding the engine covers they are only for show and to tidy up the engine bay so no issues leaving them off. I removed mine long time ago when I polished the engine cover. I also trimmed one slightly when I fitted a aftermarket dump valve not long after I bought car. So you have options buddy.

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Am I sure I fitted it OK? There's a good chance I didn't... I'll get a photo today and pop it up. 

Mine didn't fit and iv got that exact one. was it the lower cover which goes around the dipstick which didn't line up so you couldn't fit the top engine cover? If so I just filed it down around the breather pipe with a rounded file until it lined up ok.

Mine didn't fit and iv got that exact one. was it the lower cover which goes around the dipstick which didn't line up so you couldn't fit the top engine cover? If so I just filed it down around the breather pipe with a rounded file until it lined up ok.

 

That's the one. I have got a jubilee clip on there which protrudes, but even with that on the 'inside' of the pipe (so to speak) it didn't fit.

Here are some pics - just to (hopefully) prove I haven't made a complete pig's ear of it!

 

For the record, I didn't try and fit the casing with the jubilee clip on the 'outside' of the lower join on the Y-section.

 

 

I fitted a creation Motorsport 1 to my vrs and the engine cover fitted fine.