Should a New Car Be Equipped with an Engine Guard Plate?

[StAlaina]

Whether a new car needs an engine guard plate is introduced as follows: 1. Choose based on daily usage: The installation of an engine guard plate can be selected according to the condition of the road surface used daily. Generally, for commuting on well-paved urban asphalt roads, installation is unnecessary, or the original plastic guard plate can be replaced with other materials. If the car is used in rural areas with unpaved roads, mostly dirt roads or bumpy conditions, it is recommended to install or replace with a harder material guard plate. Common materials include iron and aluminum-magnesium alloy. Iron plates are heavier and prone to rust, while alloy plates are less likely to rust, making them a preferable choice. 2. Pros and cons of the guard plate: The engine guard plate can effectively reduce damage to the engine from hard object impacts, as the impact can be absorbed and blocked by the guard plate, which is an advantage. The disadvantage is that noise may increase slightly after installation, but it should remain within an acceptable range, so this issue can be largely ignored. Overall, the benefits of installing a guard plate outweigh the drawbacks.

[DelRafael]

I also struggled with the engine guard plate when I picked up my new car. This thing is like putting armor on the underside of the car, mainly to protect against stone impacts and scraping the chassis. But for city driving, it's actually unnecessary to install one, as it might affect engine cooling and hinder the safety drop during a bottom-out. Last time, my friend installed a plastic-steel guard plate, and it made a scraping noise over speed bumps. If you really want to install one, consider the material: steel plates are too heavy and increase fuel consumption, aluminum alloy is prone to deformation, and now magnesium-aluminum alloy composite plates are popular—lightweight and rustproof. I suggest observing the road conditions you frequently drive on first; if there are many rough roads in the suburbs, then consider installing one. Remember to choose a model with cooling holes.

[LeviAnn]

As a car owner who frequently drives on construction sites, I believe skid plates are crucial. Last month, I installed a manganese steel skid plate on my new car, and now I have no worries when driving on gravel roads. However, there are three key points to note: avoid resin materials as they can shatter when hitting rocks; ensure the installation doesn’t block the oil pan drain plug, or else maintenance will become a hassle requiring removal; and maintain a thickness of 2-3 mm for optimal balance—too thick adds weight and affects handling. Recently, I discovered that skid plates with airflow channels can also optimize underbody aerodynamics, which was an unexpected bonus.