What are the effects of a missing car underbody shield?
3 Answers
Without an underbody shield, it cannot effectively prevent road water, mud, and other debris from entering the engine compartment. Here is relevant information about engine underbody shields: 1. Engine underbody shield: Whether it is necessary to install an engine underbody shield depends on different situations: If you frequently drive on low-lying roads or gravel roads, it is necessary to install an engine underbody shield; if you usually only use the car for urban commuting, it is not necessary to install an engine underbody shield. 2. Function: The engine underbody shield is used to protect the engine and is generally installed under the chassis at the front of the car to prevent the engine from being bumped. Depending on the vehicle brand and model, whether a new car comes with an engine underbody shield pre-installed from the factory also varies.
Last time my underbody shield fell off and almost caused a disaster! I didn't notice while driving on rough roads, and a few days later I kept hearing clanking noises from underneath. Turned out the shield was hanging by just one screw. The mechanic said it was extremely dangerous: First, gravel could directly hit the oil pan - if it leaks, the engine would be ruined. Second, muddy water could cover the wiring harness, risking a short circuit that would leave me stranded. The scariest part was going through puddles - without the shield, water splashed directly onto the hot exhaust manifold, causing loud hissing and white smoke. Now I instinctively duck when seeing speed bumps. My advice: Tighten loose shield screws immediately, and replace plastic clips with metal ones if they break.
Last month, the skid plate on my SUV got knocked loose and I didn't fix it in time. Now the undercarriage is suffering all kinds of damage. The mudguard function failed first - after driving through puddles post-rain, the engine bay got splattered with mud spots. When the radiator grille got clogged, even the AC stopped cooling. Last week I discovered the exhaust pipe's heat insulation wrapping had become completely encased in mud like a zongzi (sticky rice dumpling). The mechanic warned it could self-ignite if left unattended. The rubber casings on the undercarriage wiring have also turned white from water exposure. I recommend checking the skid plate during every maintenance service - if two of the four mounting screws come loose, that's already a warning sign. By the way, if the plastic skid plate gets damaged, replace it with aluminum-magnesium alloy. After my last replacement, fuel consumption actually dropped by 0.2L/100km.
