Engine compartment heat dissipation structure and methods for its provision

Abstract

Engine compartment heat dissipation structure configured to dissipate heat from an engine compartment (1), comprising: an engine compartment (1) that accommodates an engine (3); a wheel arch (6) which is provided outside the engine compartment (1) in one direction across the width of the vehicle; an exhaust emission control device (7) which is arranged between the engine (3) and the wheel arch (6); a splash guard (12) configured to intercept water entering the engine compartment (1) from the wheel arch (6); and a discharge part (20) which is provided on the splash guard (12) at a location behind the exhaust emission control device (7) and is configured to discharge a portion of the air that cooled the exhaust emission control device (7) into the wheel well (6), wherein the discharge part (20) is provided on the splash guard (12) at a location which is at least partially behind a front end of an engine mount (18) supporting the engine (3) and at least partially below the exhaust emission control device (7), wherein the engine mounting (18) comprises a cylindrical body part (18a), an upper mounting part (18b) for attaching the cylindrical body part (18a) to a front side frame (2), a mounting part (18c) of the front lower part configured to direct some of the cooling air from the front of the vehicle to the exhaust emission control device (7), and a mounting part (18d) of the rear lower part, which is configured to direct the portion of the cooling air that has cooled the exhaust emission control device (7) to the delivery part (20), and wherein the fastening part (18c) of the front lower part and the fastening part (18d) of the rear lower part are designed to spread out in the front-to-back direction as it goes downwards from the upper fastening part (18b) to fasten the cylindrical body part (18a) to the subframe (8).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an engine compartment heat dissipation structure that dissipates heat from an engine compartment of a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for providing or forming an engine compartment heat dissipation structure. BACKGROUND OF REVELATION

[0002] Conventionally, an engine compartment, which houses a heat-generating engine, is provided in a front part of a vehicle. The engine compartment is defined by a bulkhead, front inner panels, and a hood. The bulkhead defines a rear part of the engine compartment, the front inner panels define both sides in the vehicle width direction, and the hood defines an upper part. Heat generated in the engine compartment is dissipated in front of a windshield window, into wheel arches, and below the engine compartment, while air introduced into the engine compartment by airstream (i.e., wind caused by the moving vehicle) or a forced draft fan is used for cooling.

[0003] The engine can be covered by an engine cover, primarily to improve sound insulation. To protect the engine, etc., from colliding with a pebble while the vehicle is moving, and to direct air flowing through a space beneath the vehicle, a sub-cover can also be installed to cover the engine compartment from below.

[0004] Since the engine cover and undercover make it difficult to dissipate heat from the engine compartment, structures for stimulating heat dissipation from the engine compartment have been investigated in such cases. For example, there is a known technology, such as JP 6 091 782 B2, that defines the engine compartment by an engine encapsulation structure covering the engine. Cooling air is introduced into the engine encapsulation structure from the front and flows to the rear. Thus, the structure stimulates heat dissipation and improves sound insulation, thermal insulation, and pedestrian protection when the vehicle collides with a pedestrian.

[0005] However, when a power transmission mechanism, such as the transmission, is arranged behind a lower part of the engine as in JP 6 091 782 B2, the power transmission mechanism may overheat because the cooling air that cooled the engine and became hot reaches the periphery of the power transmission mechanism. In particular, since the cooling air flowing around the engine's exhaust system becomes hot, it is necessary to prevent the hot cooling air from reaching the periphery of the power transmission mechanism behind a lower part of the engine while stimulating heat dissipation.

[0006] JP 2020-1425A discloses a vehicle body front portion structure that suppresses disturbance of a vehicle body side surface airflow at the rear portion of a front wheel housing only by constructing a shape of a fender.

[0007] DE 10 2008 039 726 A1 discloses an air ducting device. A motor vehicle with a heat exchanger for a drive unit, which is encapsulated from the rest of the engine compartment by an exhaust air hood, has at least one air duct that directs the exhaust air downstream of the heat exchanger into a wheelhouse of the motor vehicle. This creates a pressure increase within the wheelhouse, which influences the flow conditions within the wheelhouse and / or the conditions between the underbody flow and the flow in the wheelhouse and / or the conditions between the lateral flow around the motor vehicle and the flow in the wheelhouse, thereby reducing air resistance.

[0008] DE 20 2008 009 178 U1 discloses a fan unit for the radiator of a motor vehicle, comprising a fan and a fan frame supporting the fan, wherein the fan frame has a supporting grille with openings, wherein the openings are filled with an acoustically damping and heat-insulating material.

[0009] JP 2012-236570 A discloses a vehicle having an engine disposed in an engine compartment, wheel houses disposed on one side of the engine 1 and provided such that an outer portion in which a wheel is disposed is separated from the engine compartment. An electrical device is disposed on a side of the vehicle further rearward than the wheel houses. Furthermore, connection holes for communication between the engine compartment and the outer portion are formed in the wheel houses. SUMMARY OF REVELATION

[0010] The present disclosure is made with a view to coping with the situations described above, and a purpose thereof is to provide an engine room heat dissipation structure capable of preventing overheating of a drive force transmission mechanism arranged rearward of a lower part of the engine while stimulating heat dissipation from an engine room.

[0011] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an engine compartment heat dissipation structure is provided, which is configured to dissipate heat from an engine compartment. The structure includes an engine compartment housing an engine having cylinders preferably arranged in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, a wheel house provided outside the engine compartment in a vehicle width direction, an exhaust emission control device disposed between the engine and the wheel house, a splash guard configured to intercept water entering the engine compartment from the wheel house, and a discharging part provided on the splash guard at a location rearward of the exhaust emission control device and configured to discharge a portion of the air that cools the exhaust emission control device into the wheel house.

[0013] According to this structure, in general, the exhaust emission control device and an exhaust passage connected to / from the exhaust emission control device, whose temperature has become particularly high due to hot exhaust gas passing therethrough after combustion, are cooled from the outside by cooling air introduced into the engine compartment from the front. The portion of the cooling air whose temperature has become high after the exhaust emission control device has cooled is discharged into the wheel house from the discharge part provided on the splash guard at a location rearward of the exhaust emission control device. Thus, heat dissipation from the engine compartment can be stimulated, and overheating of a drive transmission mechanism located rearward of a lower part of the engine can be prevented.

[0014] According to the invention, the discharge part is provided on the splash guard at a location at least partly behind a front end of an engine mount supporting the engine and at least partly below the exhaust emission control device, the engine mount comprising a cylindrical body part, an upper attachment part for attaching the cylindrical body part to a front side frame, a front lower part attachment part configured to direct a part of the cooling air from a front of the vehicle to the exhaust emission control device, and a rear lower part attachment part configured to direct the part of the cooling air that reaches the exhaust emission control device.-control device to the discharge part, and wherein the front lower part fixing part and the rear lower part fixing part are formed to expand in the front-rear direction as it descends from the upper fixing part to fix the cylindrical body part to the subframe. According to this structure, by using the engine mount, a part of the cooling air can be directed to the exhaust emission control device, and the cooling air whose temperature has become high can be directed to the discharge part. Therefore, heat dissipation from the engine compartment can be stimulated.

[0015] The engine compartment heat dissipation structure may further include a heat shield covering an upper surface part, side surface parts, and a rear surface part of the engine within the engine compartment, and an under cover covering the engine compartment from below. The discharging part may be provided on the splash guard at a location between a lower end of a side surface part of the heat shield and the under cover. According to this structure, the part of the cooling air introduced into the interior of the heat shield from the front is discharged into the wheel house from the discharging part provided on the splash guard at a location at least partially rearward of the exhaust emission control device and between the lower end of the side surface part of the heat shield and the under cover.Therefore, heat dissipation from the engine compartment can be stimulated and overheating of the drive transmission mechanism located behind the lower part of the engine can be prevented.

[0016] The air can be introduced into the engine compartment from the front through a front opening of the vehicle by airflow or a blower fan.

[0017] The wheel house may be one of a pair of left and right wheel houses that accommodate front wheels, and may be provided outside the engine compartment in the vehicle width direction. A respective wheel house liner configured to protect an inner wall of each of the wheel houses and improve sound insulation may be attached to each of the wheel houses. The splash guard may be attached to the front side frame and / or the wheel house liners. The discharge part may be formed by notching a part that is a rear part of one of the splash guards and is at least partially behind and at least partially below the exhaust emission control device, and / or by providing (making) a hole in the part.

[0018] The engine compartment heat dissipation structure may further include a heat shield covering an upper surface and side surface portions of the engine. Air drawn from the engine compartment into the heat shield may flow behind a lower portion of the engine, below the heat shield, and along an upper portion or a side portion of the engine. The air that has contacted the exhaust emission control device may be discharged into a rear portion of the wheel house through the discharge portion provided at an intermediate location of a duct where air flows behind the lower portion of the engine.

[0019] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of providing an engine compartment heat dissipation structure configured to dissipate heat from an engine compartment, comprising the steps of: Providing a splash guard in a wheel arch to catch water entering the engine compartment from the wheel arch; and Forming a discharge portion on the splash guard at a location rearward of an exhaust emission control device to discharge a portion of the air that cooled the exhaust emission control device into the wheel house.

[0020] According to the invention, the discharge part is provided on the splash guard at a position at least partly rearward of a front end of an engine mount supporting the engine and at least partly below the exhaust emission control device, the engine mount being formed with a cylindrical body part, an upper fixing part for fixing the cylindrical body part to a front side frame, a front lower part fixing part configured to guide a part of the cooling air from a front of the vehicle to the exhaust emission control device, and a rear lower part fixing part configured to direct the part of the cooling air reaching the exhaust emission control device.-regulating device, to the discharge part, and wherein the front lower part fixing part and the rear lower part fixing part are formed to spread in the front-rear direction as it goes down from the upper fixing part to fix the cylindrical body part to the subframe. .

[0021] Further preferably, the method preferably comprises: covering an upper surface part, side surface parts, and a rear surface part of the engine within the engine compartment with a heat shield cover; and covering the engine compartment from below with an under cover, wherein the discharge part is provided on the splash guard at a location between a lower end of a side surface part of the heat shield cover and the under cover.

[0022] Preferably, the wheel house is one of a pair of left and right wheel houses that accommodate front wheels and are provided outside the engine compartment in the vehicle width direction, wherein each of the wheel arches has a respective wheel arch liner mounted thereon, configured to protect an inner wall of each of the wheel arches and improve sound insulation; wherein the splash guard is one of a pair of splash guards each attached to the front side frame and / or the respective wheel house liner, and wherein the discharge part is formed by notching a part which is a rear part of one of the splash guards and is at least partly behind and at least partly below the exhaust emission control device, and / or by providing a hole in the part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a front part of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a side view showing an essential part of a wheel house in a state where a wheel house liner is attached. Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating a spatial relationship of a wheel house and an exhaust emission control device. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a line IV-IV in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view schematically illustrating a discharge part of a splash guard. Fig. 6 is a side view of an engine mount. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REVELATION

[0023] An embodiment for implementing the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following preferred embodiment is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the present disclosure and its applications.

[0024] As in Fig. 1, an engine compartment 1 is provided in a front part of a vehicle V. Hereinafter, an arrow F, an arrow L, and an arrow U in the drawings indicate the front, left, and upper parts of the vehicle, respectively. Within the engine compartment 1, a multi-cylinder engine 3 in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged in a front-rear direction (a so-called "longitudinal engine") is housed between a pair of front side frames 2 extending substantially in the front-rear direction of the vehicle V. The engine 3 is covered by an engine cover (hereinafter referred to as "heat shield cover 4") at an upper surface part, a rear surface part, and left and right side surface parts, and the part covering the upper surface part can be opened and closed.

[0025] The engine compartment 1 is defined in a vehicle width direction by front inner panels (outside the figure) coupled to the pair of front side frames 2, and is defined in the front-rear direction by a partition wall (outside the figure) located between the engine compartment 1 and a cabin behind the engine compartment 1. A drive power transmission mechanism 5 including a transmission is arranged behind a lower part of the engine 3, and in order to transmit drive power to the rear wheels, the drive power transmission mechanism 5 extends rearward along a floor tunnel provided in a floor panel extending rearward from the partition wall (outside the figure). An upper part of the engine compartment 1 is covered by an openable and closeable hood (outside the figure).

[0026] The heat shield 4 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material having a heat insulation function, and divides an interior of the engine compartment 1 into a high-temperature region inside the heat shield 4 and a low-temperature region outside the heat shield 4. In addition, it protects components (e.g., a battery) arranged outside the heat shield 4 from the heat of the engine 3. In addition, the heat shield 4 has a sound insulation function that covers the engine 3 and improves sound insulation, and a protection function that reduces an impact to a pedestrian between the pedestrian and the engine 3 when the vehicle collides with the pedestrian.

[0027] A radiator and a blower fan (both outside the figure) are arranged in front of the engine 3, and cooling air indicated by arrows is normally introduced into the engine compartment 1 from the front through a front opening of the vehicle V by running wind (i.e., wind caused by the moving vehicle) or the blower fan. The cooling air introduced into the heat shield 4 between or under the cooling air introduced into the engine compartment 1 flows toward the drive force transmission mechanism 5 behind the lower part of the engine 3 between the engine 3 and the heat shield 4. The cooling air not introduced into the heat shield 4 cools the components (e.g., the battery) outside the heat shield 4.

[0028] A pair of left and right wheel houses 6 for accommodating front wheels are provided outside the engine compartment 1 in the vehicle width direction. Between the engine 3 and one of the wheel houses 6, an exhaust emission control device 7 for purifying exhaust gas from the engine 3 is arranged. For example, an intake system for supplying air for combustion to the engine 3 is arranged on the left side of the engine 3, an exhaust system is arranged on the right side of the engine 3, and the exhaust emission control device 7 is arranged between the wheel house 6 of the right front wheel and the engine 3. Hereinafter, the wheel house 6 of the right front wheel and the exhaust emission control device 7 will be mainly described, but the left and right wheel houses 6 are largely symmetrical, and much of the redundant description will be omitted.

[0029] As in Fig. 1 to 5, a wheel house liner 11 is attached to the wheel house 6 for protecting an inner wall of the wheel house 6 from collision with a pebble, etc., and for improving sound insulation. Furthermore, a splash guard 12 is attached to the front side frame 2 or the wheel house liner 11 with bolts, pressure rivets, etc., for intercepting water, a pebble, etc., that leak from the wheel house 6 into the engine compartment 1 when the front wheels of the running vehicle V rotate. The wheel house liner 11 and the splash guard 12 are made of, for example, a synthetic resin material to reduce weight while reducing noise caused by collision with the pebble, etc.

[0030] In a lower part of the wheel house 6, a lower arm 14, which is rotatably supported by a subframe 8 extending substantially in the front-rear direction below the front side frame 2, and a tie rod 15 constituting a steering mechanism extend from the center side in the vehicle width direction. A damper 16 having a coil spring is fixed at an upper part, for example, at a predetermined position of a front inner panel 1a. A lower part of the damper 16 is attached to the lower arm 14, and they constitute a suspension mechanism. An engine mount 18 for mounting the engine 3 is fixed to the subframe 8 and / or the front side frame 2.

[0031] As in Fig. 6, the engine mount 18 preferably includes a cylindrical body portion 18a, an upper attachment portion 18b for attaching the body portion 18a to the front side frame 2, and a front lower attachment portion 18c and a rear lower attachment portion 18d that are formed to expand in the front-rear direction as it descends from the upper attachment portion 18b to attach the body portion 18a to the subframe 8. The engine 3 is attached to the body portion 18a by a bracket 18e. The cylindrical body portion 18a inclines such that an upper surface of the body portion 18a, to which the bracket 18e is attached, faces substantially upward and substantially inward in the vehicle width direction (see Fig. 4). The rear lower part attachment part 18d inclines substantially downward and substantially outward in the vehicle width direction so as to follow the inclination of the body part 18a.

[0032] As in Fig. 5, the wheel house liner 11 is notched at a center portion in the front-rear direction from an upper portion to a lower end of an inward portion in the vehicle width direction for the suspension mechanism, the steering mechanism, etc. The notched center portion of the wheel house liner 11 is coupled by the splash guard 12, and an upper portion above the center portion is coupled by a link 13.

[0033] As in Fig. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, water entering the engine compartment 1 is intercepted above the splash guard 12 because the wheel house 6 and the engine compartment 1 are divided by the front side frame 2 and the front inner panel 1a, which extends substantially upward from the front side frame. The exhaust emission control device 7 between the wheel house 6 and the engine 3 is arranged above the splash guard 12.

[0034] The exhaust emission control device 7 purifies exhaust gas of the engine 3, which is introduced from a front upper part thereof, and discharges the purified exhaust gas to an exhaust passage 7a extending substantially rearward from a rear lower part thereof. A lower end of a side surface portion of the heat shield cover 4 covering the engine 3 extends to a position to cover the lower end of the exhaust emission control device 7 and is fixed to the front side frame 2. A lower part of the engine compartment 1 is covered by an under cover 19 fixed to the subframe 8, so that it prevents the collision of the exhaust with the engine 3 and rectifies air flowing through a space below the vehicle V during travel.

[0035] As in Fig. 5, the splash guard 12 is provided with a discharge portion 20 for communicating the engine compartment 1 with a rear portion of the interior of the wheel house 6 via a hatched portion E. This hatched portion E is an opening portion between the splash guard 12 and the attachment portion 18d of the rear lower portion of the engine mount 18, and is a portion conventionally covered by the splash guard 12 to prevent water from entering the engine compartment 1. Discharge of cooling air from the discharge portion 20 stimulates heat dissipation and suppresses water from entering the engine compartment 1 through the discharge portion 20. In this embodiment, the discharge portion 20 may be provided only on the wheel house 6 of the right front wheel and not on the wheel house 6 of the left front wheel, since the exhaust emission control device 7 is provided on the right side of the vehicle.

[0036] This discharge portion 20 is formed by notching a portion that is a rear portion of the splash guard 12 and behind and below the exhaust emission control device 7, but it may also be formed by making a hole in this portion of the splash guard 12. Furthermore, the discharge portion 20 is provided substantially behind a front end of the body portion 18a of the engine mount 18. Additionally, the discharge portion 20 is provided in a portion between the lower end of the side surface portion of the heat shield cover 4 and the under cover 19.

[0037] The operation and effects of the engine compartment heat dissipation structure of this embodiment will be described. Cooling air is introduced into the engine compartment 1 from the front by the airflow or the blower fan. The cooling air is divided into that which is discharged in front of a windshield, that which is discharged into the wheel house 6, and that which is discharged below the rear of the vehicle through the floor tunnel.

[0038] The cooling air introduced from the engine compartment 1 into the heat protection cover 4 flows essentially behind the lower part of the engine 3 along the upper part or the side part of the engine 3. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the cooling air flowing along the side part of the engine 3 on the exhaust system side flows near the exhaust emission control device 7 and cools the exhaust emission control device 7.

[0039] A part of the cooling air, whose temperature has become high after cooling the exhaust emission control device 7, flows substantially behind the lower part of the engine 3 and flows into the engine compartment 1 from inside the heat shield 4. Then, the cooling air is discharged to the rear part of the wheel house 6 through the discharge part 20 provided at the intermediate point of the cooling air flow behind the lower part of the engine 3.

[0040] Since a portion of the cooling air whose temperature has become high after cooling the exhaust emission control device 7 is discharged from the discharge part 20 into the wheel house 6, heat dissipation from the engine compartment 1 can be stimulated. Although the cooling air not discharged from the discharge part 20 is discharged substantially below the rear of the vehicle through the floor tunnel (outside the figure) where the drive power transmission mechanism 5 is housed, overheating of the drive power transmission mechanism 5 can be prevented because the hot cooling air that cooled the exhaust emission control device 7 and flows toward the drive power transmission mechanism 5 is reduced.

[0041] At this time, by using the attachment part 18c of the front lower part of the engine mount 18 to direct part of the cooling air flowing from the front to the exhaust emission control device 7 above, cooling of the exhaust emission control device 7 is stimulated. Furthermore, by using the attachment part 18d of the rear lower part of the engine mount 18 to guide the cooling air, whose temperature has become high after the exhaust emission control device 7 has cooled, to the discharge part 20, heat dissipation from the engine compartment 1 can be stimulated.

[0042] In addition, the cooling air discharged from the heat shield 4 into the engine compartment 1 flows substantially behind the lower part of the engine 3 along the side part of the engine 3 without being discharged downward from the vehicle V due to the under cover 19. The part of the cooling air is discharged into the wheel house 6 along the flow route from the discharge part 20 provided in the part of the splash guard 12 between the lower end of the side surface part of the heat shield 4 and the under cover. Therefore, heat dissipation from the engine compartment 1 can be stimulated.

[0043] The above description concerns a configuration in which the exhaust emission control device 7 is provided between the engine 3 and the wheel house 6 of the right front wheel. However, the exhaust emission control device 7 may be disposed between the wheel house 6 of the left front wheel and the engine 3, and if, for example, the engine 3 is a V-type engine, it may be disposed on either the left or right. In these cases, heat dissipation from the engine compartment 1 can be similarly stimulated by providing the dissipation part 20 on the wheel house(s) 6 corresponding to the exhaust emission control device(s) 7. DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 engine compartment 2 front side frames 3 Engine 4 Heat protection cover 5 Drive transmission mechanism 6 wheel arch 7 Exhaust emission control or regulating device 8 subframes 11 Wheel arch lining 12 Splash guard 14 lower arm 15 Tie rod 16 dampers 18 Engine mount 18c Fastening part of the front lower part 18d Fastening part of the rear lower part 19 Undercover 20 delivery part

Claims

[1] An engine compartment heat dissipation structure configured to dissipate heat from an engine compartment (1), comprising: an engine compartment (1) accommodating an engine (3); a wheel house (6) provided outside the engine compartment (1) in a vehicle width direction; an exhaust emission control device (7) arranged between the engine (3) and the wheel house (6); a splash guard (12) configured to catch water penetrating from the wheel house (6) into the engine compartment (1); and a discharge part (20) provided on the splash guard (12) at a location behind the exhaust emission control device (7) and configured to discharge a part of the air that cooled the exhaust emission control device (7) into the wheel house (6), the discharge part (20) being provided on the splash guard (12) at a location at least partially behind a front end of an engine mount (18) supporting the engine (3) and at least partially below the exhaust emission control device (7), wherein the engine mount (18) comprises a cylindrical body part (18a), an upper fastening part (18b) for fastening the cylindrical body part (18a) to a front side frame (2), a front lower part fastening part (18c) configured to guide a part of the cooling air from a front of the vehicle to the exhaust emission control device (7), and a rear lower part fastening part (18d), which is configured to guide the part of the cooling air which has cooled the exhaust emission control device (7) to the discharge part (20), and wherein the front lower part fastening part (18c) and the rear lower part fastening part (18d) are formed to expand in the front-rear direction as it goes down from the upper fastening part (18b) to fix the cylindrical body part (18a) to the subframe (8). [2] The engine compartment heat dissipation structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a heat protection cover (4) which forms an upper surface or surface part, side surface parts and a rear surface part of the engine (3) within the engine compartment (3); and a sub-cover (19) that covers the engine compartment from below, wherein the discharge part (20) is attached to the splash guard (12) at a location between a lower end of a side surface part of the heat protection cover (4) and the sub-cover (19) is provided. [3] An engine compartment heat dissipation structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the engine (3) comprises cylinders aligned in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and / or the air is introduced into the engine compartment (1) from the front through a front opening of the vehicle by airflow or a blower fan. [4] An engine compartment heat dissipation structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the wheel house (6) is one of a pair of left and right wheel houses accommodating front wheels and is provided outside the engine compartment (1) in the vehicle width direction, wherein a respective wheel house lining (11) configured to protect an inner wall of each of the wheel houses (6) and to improve sound insulation is attached to each of the wheel houses (6), wherein the splash guard (12) is one of a pair of splash guards (12) each secured to the front side frame (2) and / or the respective wheel house linings (11), and wherein the discharge part (20) is formed by notching a part which is a rear part of one of the splash guards (12) and is at least partly behind and at least partly below the exhaust emission control device (7), and / or by providing a hole in the part. [5] An engine compartment heat dissipation structure according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a heat shield cover (4) covering an upper surface part and side surface parts of the engine (3), wherein the air introduced from the engine compartment (1) into the heat protection cover (4) flows behind a lower part of the engine (3), below the heat protection cover (4) and along an upper part or a side part of the engine (3), and wherein the air that comes into contact with the exhaust emission control device (7) is discharged into a rear part of the wheel house (6) through the discharge part (20) provided at an intermediate position of a duct where the air flows behind the lower part of the engine (3). [6] A method of providing or forming an engine compartment heat dissipation structure configured to dissipate heat from an engine compartment (1), comprising the steps of: Providing a splash guard (12) in a wheel house (6) to catch water penetrating from the wheel house (6) into the engine compartment (1); and Forming a discharge part (20) on the splash guard (12) at a location behind an exhaust emission control device (7) to discharge a part of the air, which cooled the exhaust emission control device (7) into the wheel house (6), wherein the discharge part (20) is provided on the splash guard (12) at a location which is at least partly behind a front end of an engine mount (18) supporting the engine (3) and at least partially below the exhaust emission control or regulating device (7), wherein the engine mount (18) is formed with a cylindrical body part (18a), an upper fastening part (18b) for fastening the cylindrical body part (18a) to a front side frame (2), a front lower part fastening part (18c) configured to guide a part of the cooling air from a front of the vehicle to the exhaust emission control device (7), and a rear lower part fastening part (18d) configured to guide the part of the cooling air that has cooled the exhaust emission control device (7) to the discharge part (20), and wherein the front lower part fastening part (18c) and the rear lower part fastening part (18d) are formed to expand in the front-rear direction as it goes down from the upper fastening part (18b) to fix the cylindrical body part (18a) to the subframe (8). [7] The method of claim 6, further comprising: Covering an upper surface part, side surface parts and a rear surface part of the engine (3) within the engine compartment (1) by means of a heat protection cover (4); and covering the engine compartment (1) from below by means of a sub-cover (19), wherein the discharge part (20) is provided on the splash guard (12) at a location between a lower end of a side surface part of the heat shield cover (4) and the under cover (19). [8] Method according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the wheel house (6) is one of a pair of left and right wheel houses (6) which accommodate front wheels and are provided outside the engine compartment (1) in the vehicle width direction, wherein each of the wheel arches (6) has attached thereto a respective wheel arch liner (11) configured to protect an inner wall of each of the wheel arches (6) and to improve sound insulation; wherein the splash guard (12) is one of a pair of splash guards (12) each attached to the front side frame (2) and / or the respective wheel house lining (11), and wherein the discharge part (20) is formed by notching a part which is a rear part of one of the splash guards (12) and is at least partly behind and at least partly below the exhaust emission control device (7), and / or by making a hole in the part.

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