Run WITHOUT hood ...Problems ..???

I was talking with a fella while at the local mower junkyard, (he's lookin for a hood for his machine ) anyway he asked if it would hurt to use the machine without the hood.

My Murray is my first riding mower and I really don't know the answer to that ...... seems other than the dust and dirt , it should'nt be a problem , he stated he read somewhere it would cause over-heating problems , HUH ??? Anyone know anything about this .......... ???? ......... :confused: ........... Thanks much, .......Boobala