Has anybody removed there 'splash shield' aka 'belly pan' permanently

[pbm]

Changing oil on my Fords is a PITA due to the 9 screws that need to be removed to remove the 'splash shield'.
I'm thinking of leaving them off permanently and wanted opinions on the negatives of doing so?
I drove cars for years that didn't have them but I've read that they help with MPG although I would think that gain would be negligible.
Thoughts?

 

[I<3oil]

Nope

 

[bovine1]

I did on my 05 Camry about 3 months ago. I hit a deer about 4 years ago and been zip tying it ever since. Rolled a raccoon and finished it off. My MPG hasn't dropped and I can't tell it's hurting anything underneath.

 

[Hermann]

Your engine bay will be a lot cleaner if you leave in on.

 

[Nick1994]

It hung down on my '07 Sonata, so I threw it away.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Well, let's see... Car makers generally want to cut costs... They included the pan for a reason. Just my 2 cents...

I recently helped a friend get a really clean 2012 Civic EX. I serviced all the fluids. I was disappointed to find the belly pan missing.
Anyone wanna send me theirs?

Perhaps get a MityVac to make services a snap? That's a whole 'nuther can of topic....

 

[Pew]

+1 for keeping it on. Mine got so dirty when I left it off one winter, I won the car forum contest for dirtiest engine bay.

 

[tig1]

I removed my shields on the first day I bought my Fusions.

 

[opus1]

No. The only vehicle I had where the shield was a hassle to deal with was my S-15 Jimmy - I think there were 13 bolts holding it on. But if it wasn't there, a frame crossmember would be exposed to scoop up snow in the winter so I dealt with the 13 bolts. Never truly took the thing off-road, but I imagine that crossmember would have scooped up brush as well.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I leave mine off after changing the oil & filter in the Spring. Then in the Fall, I put it back on for the winter OCI.

Our Kia hasn't a Shield. I has two openings - one for the drain plug and other for the filter.

 

[2009Caraman]

I wonder about gluing some magnets every 3 inches around those things. Good magnets would keep that in place no prob provided there is enough edge/lip to work with.

 

[hrv]

I look at it this way... If it was not needed the auto maker would not have spent the extra money on that shield and not install it...

 

[Elkins45]

The next time I change the filter on my Nissan I’m going to cut an access door in the plastic.

 

[CKN]

There are reports on some newer vehicles taking off pans increase noise and even some vibrations.

 

[JeffKeryk]

The next time I change the filter on my Nissan I’m going to cut an access door in the plastic.

1st gen Tundra owners are known to do just that.

 

[ammolab]

If you let the dealer or fast lube joint change your oil you don’t have to remove your splash shield…..

It will fall off on the highway all by itself!

 

[Sedin26]

On my old Tercel I left it off for a few years. I thought heavy rains here would be a problem for belts, etc....but it made no difference.

 

[RazorsEdge]

It fell off on the highway. Maybe I'll put another one on in the Fall, maybe.

 

[Lyman]

I cut two holes in the one on my Escape. Filter and drain plug access.

 

[Four Rings]

Most of my cars have had the shields tear off when driving through deep snow. The snow packs in behind the lower grilles and then pushes the shield down, tearing off at the fasteners then becoming a scoop until it finally bends backwards underneath the car and snaps off. The aforementioned scenario has happened on several of my cars, (all of them VAG family cars).

I don’t think my 2018 Sienna ever had one installed.