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

I see lots of cars down here with plastic splash shields hanging down and dragging on the roadway.

Seems like the lube tech only installed a few screws during oil change.
 
I take them off and leave off. I’ve yet to see vehicles stranded all over the highway because of a missing splash shield
The absence of stranded vehicles proves nothing.

Clearly, you could not tell if a missing pan was at fault when you drive by.

The pans serve to keep water, and debris, out of rotating parts.

That’s a good thing.
 
Plenty of vehicles come to me with them missing or in shambles. I can't believe most indys and LOF places don't see the same.

Somehow, life goes on and 95% of these owners would not pay to replace it.
 
Plenty of vehicles come to me with them missing or in shambles. I can't believe most indys and LOF places don't see the same.

Somehow, life goes on and 95% of these owners would not pay to replace it.
Those aren’t the owners that are taking the vehicle to 200,000+ miles, though.

So, sure, most folks neglect that bit of care, just as they cut corners elsewhere.

I have two cars that are over 250,000 miles. I have replaced the belly pan on both.

Even to a more sturdy, aluminum one (that allows oil changes with it in place) on a couple of the Volvos.

Coincidence?
 
Those aren’t the owners that are taking the vehicle to 200,000+ miles, though.

So, sure, most folks neglect that bit of care, just as they cut corners elsewhere.

I have two cars that are over 250,000 miles. I have replaced the belly pan on both.

Even to a more sturdy, aluminum one (that allows oil changes with it in place) on a couple of the Volvos.

Coincidence?
Yes??
 
No I always put them back. But, someone did what you say to my mom’s Acura. I noticed when I changed the oil for her.

I would leave it and deal with the inconvenience. Funny how BMW has a trap door. Lexus has one bend the plastic out of shape.
 
No.

Of course not.

Those pans aren’t just for CAFE/Drag. They keep junk out of the engine. They were on 4WD and cars from northern climates long before CAFE, to keep junk out of the engine.

You won’t see an immediate effect from having the thing torn off.

Any more than there will be an immediate effect from a piece of missing weatherstripping.

But eventually, the exposure to the extra junk, water, and everything else, shortens the life for the component that had been protected.
 
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+1 Astro14. The car makers put the under-shield on for two reasons. 1. Keeps the engine bay cleaner and #2. Funnels air to the engine bay for cooling.
Difficult for me to understand why "self-appointed experts" would remove something that preforms a positive purpose.











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No.

Of course not.

Those pans aren’t just for CAFE/Drag. They keep junk out of the engine. They were on 4WD and cars from northern climates long before CAFE, to keep junk out of the engine.

You won’t see an immediate effect from having the thing torn off.

Any more than there will be an immediate effect from a piece of missing weatherstripping.

But eventually, the exposure to the extra junk, water, and everything else, shortens the life for the component that had been protected.
Welp you've surely convinced me! You're absolutely correct about it all! Have a great Saturday! :D
 
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?
Do not remove the belly pan. It will mess with your aero and possibly cooling depending on the model. For example, on my Flex, removal of the belly pan will cause overheating of the rear turbo and the PTU. Yes it will hurt mileage significantly as well.
I tried removing all the underbody plastics on an old Saturn I owned years ago, thinking I would cut weight and make it perform better. Car started running hot on the highway and mileage went down significantly. All of those pieces are there for a specific reason. My advice is to leave them where they are.
 
Everything is done for the CAFE standards . All the [stupid] stuff adds up the mpgs.
Really? CAFE? Is that why European cars had it 30yrs ago? If that why off road vehicles have one? Is that why police vehicles come with one?
Have you ever checked how many rotating parts you have at the bottom that are just exposed to elements or debris without shield?
I would say it tells a lot about companies that put oil filters at the bottom of an engine and do not provide splash shields, like the Honda Pilot we have.
 
Today it’s mostly for improved aerodynamics and therefore better MPG at highways speeds. Higher end models use thicker and padded materials to also improve the noise levels.

But I like how the “not self appointed” experts, I wonder who appointed them 🤔, claim it’s to keep the engine bay clean.
Oh yeah, that’s a priority for automakers for sure 🤣
 
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Today it’s mostly for improved aerodynamics and therefore better MPG at highways speeds. Higher end models use thicker and padded materials to also improve the noise levels.

But I like how the “not self appointed” experts, I wonder who appointed them 🤔, claim it’s to keep the engine bay clean.
Oh yeah, that’s a priority for automakers for sure 🤣
The belly pans on my V-12s are absolutely essential.

There is ducting that takes cool air up to just below the turbos. That ducting rises about 12” above the pan. This wasn’t cheap to engineer or manufacture.

There are also airflow exit vents that isolate the oil cooler.

Remove the belly pans, and both the turbos, and oil cooler, won’t get the airflow they were designed to get. That cannot be good for the car.

It’s my belief that the turbo ducting aids in keeping the engine mounts from cooking at highway speed, that’s where they are aimed - just below the turbos, right at the mounts.

On both cars, engine mount replacement requires removing the engine. That’s a $5,000 job, and it’s all labor

So, pull the belly pan off because “cafe” - and set yourself up for an expensive repair because the cooling airflow was altered.
 
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