the gray foam like stuff under the hood- does this have a function? heat wise or maybe noise? anybody know why its there and if i should take it off?

 

its there for a purpose....some of both that you mentioned....leave it.

 

Most likely is for the noise, the cushion between the passengers area and the engine (i think is called The Firewall) should be heat wise...

 

mazda wouldnt have waisted money to put a non functional foam under the hood. dont play with it.

 

i believe its function is in the purpose of a fire.... if somehow theres a fire under ur hood it melts down and covers the fire and extinguishes it....

 

the lil plastic clips that hold it up in the event of a fire melt causing the grey material to extingusih any enigne fire present. this is a very important safety feature. leave it on. dont remove

 

Yeah the foam is to stop a fire. Its a mazda safety part. When a fire happens under the hood the plastic holders will melt and the foam will drop to stop the fire. But leave it on man. it seems useless but if a fire were to happen then you can only blame yourself.

 

thanks guys. oh the problems i would have if i didnt know of this forum

 

well its not foam, its some wierd material, foam would melt 10X faster than the plastic clips that hold it on