Hi I have been through the searches and cant find any conclusive evidence that the turbo heatshield has to go back on after de-cat. I have spoken to various mechanics and techs with conflicting opinions. I can see why it should be re-fitted and have just spent an hour butchering one to get it back on only to find I have another bracket missing which is gonna cost another £23 from breakers! The car runs great, has done for 6 months without it and the guy who fitted it owns a Scoob, runs a tuning shop and rallies various cars, he says not to bother putting it back on? Anyone agree with him I'm a bit confused.

 

If it's at all possible, I would put it back on.
It reduces the heat that soaks up into the intercooler (presuming that you still have a top mount), therefore keeping the intake charge temps. lower.
Afterall, Subaru put it there for a reason in the first place!

 

I do appreciate that its there for a reason, and I know its keeping some heat away from the intercooler but surely when the turbos hottest under load the air flow is taking the heat backwards anyway. The amount of the shield that is left after modification seems negligeable. I just wondered if anyone had actually suffered negative effects from leaving it off. I know 2 cars that have not suffered (to their owners knowledge) in 2 years of no shield.

 

The brake fluid resevoir is right above the downpipe - that is reason enough for me to keep mine in place

 

Just to try and put my mind at rest, been on a 50 mile blast, opened up the bonnet on return to the garage sure the engine was hot but no heat noticeable on the side of the intercooler and all brake equipment only slightly warm, able to touch no probs.

 

I put mine back on without having to modify it at all - OK I could only get 3 of the 7 screws back into it but it doesn't rattle and I figure it's better on than off even with just the 3 screws.

 

If you haven't increased boost and/or had an ECU remap, you'll probably be OK with it off. However, if you've raised boost (so the turbo's working harder and getting hotter), and/or you've had a remap (so ignition is more advanced taking the safety margins to the limit) I'd be seriously thinking about getting it back on. A knocklink would let you know for sure...

 

Impossible to put unmodified shield back on with Magnex m8. No remap or boost changes cars more or less standard, as I say I know a guy who rags the plumbs off his car without a shield and has done for 2 years, he looks after the car and has had no problems. I take things quite easy compared to him.

 

That's probably because nobody's bothered to run extensive temperature monitoring with/without the shield fitted. However, it's certainly good common sense to refit it, especially given the proximity of intercooler and brake system, and the dangers of heat soak if you end up sat in a queue of traffic after giving it some stick.

I'm not overly worried about what anyone else may say, but my own opinion is that these things are much better on the car than in your garage. Apart from sheer laziness, there is no reason whatsoever not to refit it.

 

Re-fit the shield or lag your turbo and downpipe.

I can't understand why anyone would leave the thing off, it's not rocket science is it.

Dipster

 

I did not expect to find results of extensive heat monitoring tests just a conclusive "I left off my heat shield and this happened" was what I was after, but thanks for the patronism, I am neither lazy or incapable (rocket science) just without the necessary bracket and before I went to the trouble and expense of obtaining it I thought I'd see what evidence there was of damage done.