Should I take the "heat shield" off for the hotter months of the year? The purpose is to keep heat in right? I feel like with it on in the summer it will make the car over heat.

 

What?

 

The large piece of plastic and foam that covers the engine. What does it do?

 

No idea what heat shield youre talking about but normally they're installed to prevent heat from damaging electronics or heat soaking your engine bay.

And also these aren't the first cars ever made, engineers that design them put things in places for reasons. On an economy based car don't expect a lot of unnecessary parts

That is not a heat shield, that is an engine cover, it lowers the noise of the engine, and will not over heat your engine, but you can take it off it you want to

 

There was something on this no too long ago. If I remember correctly it mainly has to do with cutting down engine noise and for looks. Shouldn't harm anything to remove it.

 

Thank you. I'm not too good at explaining stuff.

 

Heat shields don't have plastic or foam like you just described.....and there should be no reason to take it off unless it's falling apart. It's there to help heat dissipation.

 

Photos always explain better.

I'm not sure the engine cover does much for heat dissipation can't remember how the cover on my old L61 looked as far as any channels for air to travel specifically. I do know the engine noise changed (became a bit louder) when I removed it.

 

OP was referring to his engine cover.
Engine cover is there solely to knock down the noise level, more specifically I would guess from the valvetrain and throttle body.

 

Just remove your hood for May-September...

 

hoodless mod, i like it
did you hear that someone made a transparent hood for the Cobalt???

 

Gross. Suppose that'd let car thieves get an inventory of parts to sell prior to actually stealing the car

 

i honestly never thought it was even functional in regards to heat/noise.... i allways assumed it was just manufacturers making the engine idiot proof/cosmetic.