4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Pretty hefty aluminum shield on Tahoe …
Note drain and filter not covered by it …
Note drain and filter not covered by it …
Has anybody removed there 'splash shield' aka 'belly pan' permanently
- Thread starter pbm
- Start date
Hated that on mine and it was just close enough to drain plug to let it drip on it. Same thing with the round access hole for the filter. I used to put paper towels along edge by oil pan so it would run down.
Mine stayed on for as long as I owned it, 220k and about 14 years. I did cut a small section right by the drain plug and then later put a Fumoto on it. The "sagging" part I fixed with thin piece of threaded rod and zip ties, it kept it back in shape flat and higher.
Accord has a much nicer piece of aluminum plate. 5-6 quarter turn screws and it comes off that you need to do for filter anyway.
Pilot got a J-sport aluminum skid plate added with a small access for the oil drain so I guess you could say no on that. Removing it is a bit of a PITA.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
I leave those things in place.
- Joined
- May 31, 2024
- Messages
- 516
The manufacturers make millions of cars a year.
Even if they only cost a couple dollars per vehicle, just think of the money they could save leaving them off.
Apparently the engineers think they're worth the money.
Even if they only cost a couple dollars per vehicle, just think of the money they could save leaving them off.
Apparently the engineers think they're worth the money.
Not intentionally.
The aero is worse without, especially at highway speeds.
The aero is worse without, especially at highway speeds.
Kudos to companies that put a little door on the splash shield to remove the oil filter and drain plug so you don't have to remove the entire shield. The volvo has a shield but no clips but easily removed screws. It's not as bad as some. I can usually remove and reinstall the screws by hand. They have a very aggressive thread and only take a few turns to get in.
OP here....I am grateful for all the replies as it's good to hear the opinion of 'car guys' on such topics.
I think I'll compromise and cut a hole for access to the drain plug and oil filter.
PS: Our Mazda CX-30 has an 'access panel' that makes oil changes a breeze.....Ford (and others) should take a lesson from them.
I bet that the lack of access panel is due to dealers service departments input to manufacturer knowing it will increase visits to the Service Dept.
Also, my original 'splash shield' was replaced by a $50 Amazon replacement that was of much lighter (and less durable) construction which is already deteriorating. I'll probably do the cut out on the OE shield which I kept because it's 'deterioration' was only around the screw holes which I can remedy with washers. Thanks again BITOG brothers....
I think I'll compromise and cut a hole for access to the drain plug and oil filter.
PS: Our Mazda CX-30 has an 'access panel' that makes oil changes a breeze.....Ford (and others) should take a lesson from them.
I bet that the lack of access panel is due to dealers service departments input to manufacturer knowing it will increase visits to the Service Dept.
Also, my original 'splash shield' was replaced by a $50 Amazon replacement that was of much lighter (and less durable) construction which is already deteriorating. I'll probably do the cut out on the OE shield which I kept because it's 'deterioration' was only around the screw holes which I can remedy with washers. Thanks again BITOG brothers....
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I had to repair the belly pan on my old Mazda 3 about two years into the ownership because it was broken up by running over some snow. I managed to fix it up with some flat aluminum pieces and rivets. I enlarged the oil filter hole so I didn't have to take it off for oil changes.
It lasted another 5 years or so, but I had toss it away eventually. Nothing changed after that.
It lasted another 5 years or so, but I had toss it away eventually. Nothing changed after that.
Neighbor had me take there’s off there F150 after it was hanging down and zip ties weren’t working.
No. I think they are essential in newer vehicles. My 2016 VW Passat has a beefy plastic shield with metal shields available as aftermarket options
I don’t believe these plastic belly pans do much of anything important… Unless maybe someone lives up north in the rust aka salt belt where it would keep that from going up into areas in the suspension and metal inside the wheels and motor. Then maybe up in places like that I could see them being helpful.
Took mine off the Honda and the lady’s RAV.
Took mine off the Honda and the lady’s RAV.
- Joined
- May 31, 2024
- Messages
- 516
Nobody has ever bought a vehicle because "It has those cool splash shields."
They aren't designed, manufactured and installed to serve no purpose.
The cars that are a PITA to service because of them, is because the manufacturer decided to save money by not building in easy access.
They aren't designed, manufactured and installed to serve no purpose.
The cars that are a PITA to service because of them, is because the manufacturer decided to save money by not building in easy access.
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To be blunt, if 9 screws in a belly pan is such a big deal, it is time to hang up the tools.
and no I haven't left one off.
and no I haven't left one off.
I don't think there's a better example of that point than current Nissan vehicles. They use a flimsy fiberglass/fiber type "engine protector" materiel and attach it with 18-19 plastic push pin clips and 2-4 bolts up front. To access drain plug and filter, all must be removed. No real way to cut a hole in it either, there'd be lots of stuff flapping in the breeze while in use. Terrible design, imo.
As for topic, while 9 metal screws seemingly less than ideal, think I'd just have to learn to learn to live with it.
On my ‘19 Rogue, I reach in behind the shield and can get the filter off. There is enough give that I can do that.
Triple_Se7en
$50 Site Donor 2024
Very few owners have a handle case assortment of maintenance tools these days. Even fewer have air tools or battery operated screwdrivers. The amount of -40 year-olds that never worked on a vehicle is staggering..... unbelievable.
So yes, it is a big deal to those that have to unscrew & reinstall nine long screws with a manual screwdriver and aren't really polished in how to use that screwdriver, in the first place. They might be faced with a current financial crisis and need to try to do the odd, easy jobs like shields and oil changes, to save money they no longer have.
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