Hello,
I recently bought an '87 911 and I just suddenly came to thinking this car has no real rain/dirt protection for the enginge.
The cooling grating/grille in the back sits right over the engine block but it has no 'tiled' design so itis basically open to pouring rain, wet snow, de-icing salt, you name it. Does anyone know if this is harmful to the engine in any way, or why it isengineered like this? I can imagine very cold rain suddenly falling on a (very) hot engine is not good? btw, my car does not have a whaletail.

thanks!

 

It is not harmful in any way, that is how it is designed. You can wash the car with a fully hot engine, and while it will steam a little, it will not hurt it.