re Under engine cowling

["Smith, Kirby A" <kirby.a.smith@lmco.com>]

"Weeks, Chet" <Chet.Weeks@standardregister.com> asked:

Listers:
89 90FWD , There is (was) an under engine "cover" . This has been a PITA for
normal mtc -oil changes, dropping screws, etc. Is there really any purpose
for this cover (I can understand it might protect some parts of the engine
from road hazards,etc) or have most of you experienced audi pilots removed
it as superfulous(sp).
Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>>

I've gone out of my way to get one to replace one previously removed from
one of my 90qs.  The annoyance of removal and replacement, while on my back
doing oil changes, is worth, in my opinion, keeping salt and grunge off the
engine.  Its function is supposed to be reduction of noise, but this feature
isn't obvious to me.  It probably lowers drag at triple digit speeds, but I
haven't tested that out in a comparison test either.

Kirby A. Smith   New Hampshire USA
1988 90q Titanium gray, 182 kmi
1988 90q Stone gray, 187 kmi 
1995 S6 Pearl effect, 82 kmi