Cowl panel drain holes — winter icing

Tags: #winter · #conflict

On the restyle X80, the right-side drain holes in the cowl panel/scuttle (жабо, under the windshield) appear sealed/blocked from the factory on at least some cars. One owner reports the holes on his car were indeed sealed on the right side; he drilled them open about two weeks prior (relative to the report) because, when blocked, a substantial ice slab builds up there in winter ¹².

Conflict — possible reason for the factory sealing: a second owner questions whether the holes should be opened at all, reasoning that the factory may have sealed them deliberately to prevent water from entering the cabin through the heater box (печка) — i.e. the drain path could double as a water-intrusion path if left open. No resolution was reached in this exchange; the community has not confirmed which approach (drilled open vs. left sealed) is correct for avoiding both ice buildup and water intrusion ³.

Related pages

• Winter tires — studded vs. studless
• Fuel filler door freezing shut in winter
• Trunk lid panel thinness — denting and care
• Cowl panel scuttle (жабо) — removal
• Burning-oil smell in winter climate mode

Sources

This page is compiled from 3 community messages. Every fact carries a numbered reference to its original author and message.

Last updated: 2026-09-10