I have, yet again, water in scuttle area...do I really need these boots? (no 5 in the pic) I cleaned them out last year to fix a water ingress issue and they are blocked again causing condensation.

So can I just leave them out and let the water and leaves fall through the openings left.

underlay underlay said:

I have, yet again, water in scuttle area...do I really need these boots? (no 5 in the pic) I cleaned them out last year to fix a water ingress issue and they are blocked again causing condensation.

So can I just leave them out and let the water and leaves fall through the openings left.

Click to expand...

I assume you mean the "duckbills"

I've never removed them - as I think they serve a purpose , keeping engine bay fumes from the cabin,
and a squeeze of them every couple of months keeps them clear.

but of course I NEVER park under trees - so all the channels under the bonnet actually function as they should

Charlie - Oxford

Cheers Charlie, I do suppose they look like duckbills. Ref the exhaust fumes entering the car ....these duckbills already have holes to drain water so I assume when empty they could also leak the fumes. Anyway It's my wife's car so I think I'll take a chance on the carbon monoxide.
Seriously on my Fiat 500 1.4 sport the holes in the scuttle area just go from the top into the engine bay area...I cannot see how this could enter the car as anything that goes into the car has gromits etc. I'll post again if she starts falling over or slurring her words.

They may be there to stop larger bits of debris falling into and blocking the drains further down - easier to clear out something at the top of the engine bay than "down in the bowels".

The chamber above feeds the heater, so engine fumes passing up through the duckbills will be drawn into the cabin.
They resist this, and also direct the drain away from any vulnerable areas, such as electrical stuff or insulation material.

Needs to be a regular maintenance job, to clear them out. Can be a good source of compost/leaf mould. After 5 years you'll have enough for a small plant pot!