Question about unkown engine part.

[stoymigo]

Good day, there is an engine part of my car that I don't know which I
circled in the image below.(It's a Toyota conquest 2E Engine)


https://imageshack.com/i/f05wf17Vj

I've zoomed into the image part in the following pic:

https://imageshack.com/i/eyCTIHJHj

The part seems related to the air filter and/or hot air intake.
In another picture of another similar engine it shows the same part is fully taped unlike mine:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Toyota_2E_engine_2.jpg

Do you know what it is and is it bad that it's not taped properly.

 

[Stokstert]

That is the hot air intake for pre-heating intake air in cold conditions. The cover over the exhaust and the aircleaner intake should be connected by a corrugated ( concertina) aluminium pipe (part of it is still visible on the exhaust cover). This is not a critical condition, but if you reside in a very cold area you should replace the connecting aluminium pipe to enhance cold operating of your engine just after start-up.