Does the Engine Guard Plate Affect Heat Dissipation?
4 Answers
Engine guard plates have an impact on vehicle heat dissipation, but the effect is minimal. The heat dissipation performance of an engine is mainly reflected in the front grille, engine compartment design, water pipes, and radiator design, with only a small portion being dissipated through the chassis. Engine guard plates are customized protective devices designed for various vehicle models. Their primary purpose is to prevent mud from enveloping the engine, which could lead to poor heat dissipation, and secondly, to protect the engine from damage caused by impacts from uneven road surfaces during driving. Through a series of designs, they aim to extend the engine's service life and avoid vehicle breakdowns due to external factors causing engine damage during travel.
As a seasoned long-distance driver, I've installed engine underguards twice. The first time I went with a steel one, but noticed the engine bay ran hotter, especially during summer highway drives when the temperature gauge would rise one notch. Later, upon a mechanic friend's advice, I switched to a resin model with honeycomb cooling vents. The temperature stayed nearly the same as without any guard, and scraping it on rough roads didn't hurt as much. The key lies in material and cooling design—solid metal plates block airflow most, while perforated plastic ones barely affect it. Consider your engine bay layout when choosing, especially for turbocharged models where ventilation is critical. Regularly cleaning mud and leaves trapped under the guard is equally important.
Over the years working at the auto repair shop, I've handled hundreds of vehicles with underbody protection plates. Honestly, there are impacts, but it depends on the specific situation. For example, cars with steel plates—after long-distance driving, we check the exhaust pipe area and it's always scalding hot, whereas those with plastic-steel mesh plates fare much better. During installation, it's crucial to maintain cooling channels, especially keeping a distance from the engine. One off-road vehicle had a coolant temperature warning after modification, and after a long inspection, we found the protection plate was blocking the cooling air intake. Nowadays, standard protection plates come with airflow designs, with cooling holes covering about 30% of the surface. I recommend average car owners opt for resin materials, avoid full-coverage steel plates in humid southern regions, and just regularly remove them to clean off mud.
Last month I just installed an engine guard plate on my car, made of plastic-steel composite material which cost me 500 yuan. As a daily commuter, I haven't noticed any cooling issues while driving in the city - the coolant temperature gauge never exceeds the midpoint. I consulted the auto repair shop owner, who said as long as it's not a thick solid metal plate, most mainstream guards nowadays come with ventilation groove designs. The radiator fan can handle cooling during idling and low-speed driving. On weekend highway drives, I keep an eye on the coolant temperature and it's basically the same as before installation. Once I hit a rock and the guard got dented - without it, the oil pan might have been damaged. For urban driving, installing a lightweight guard seems perfectly fine.
