ive personally never seen an engine die from no timing belt cover.ive killed an engine from having the air filter pop off.someone else on the board has murdered their compression from losing an air filter too..
Don't worry, he has a timing cover (finally)
i was running 30psi+ for a good while till i got my boost controller now its around 25psi.i've been running mine without a filter since i put the engine in over a year ago and had no problems what so ever. kept meaning to put one on but never got round to it and very much doubt i ever will. I also ran my old td scirocco for a year without one, both cars had plenty of abuse and were driven in all weathers and on lots of different sufaces from tarmac to gravel.i've ran a few car's without cam belt covers and know many other's who have done the same and i have never heard of any engines being killed by it. whats supposed to be the danger?
With the timing belt, if ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING from a tiny little pebble, a twig, parts of a bird that just went through you grill, that zip tie you left sitting on top of the radiator, some random bolt, WHATEVER gets between the belt and a pulley (which the toothed belt will drag in there quite nicely) you've got a very good chance of throwing the belt. Once that happens you're rebuilding your head at a minimum since you just smashed your pistons into your valves. If you're lucky it's just the head, if you're unlucky you could be in for a whole bottom end. Personally I don't have an extra couple grand sitting around "just in case".With respect to the air filter, well... Someone once told me if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.