Will installing an engine underguard affect engine sinking?
2 Answers
Engine underguards are installed on the engine brackets and do not affect engine sinking. In the event of a collision, the underguard will drop along with the engine brackets. Installed directly beneath the engine, the underguard protects the engine from damage during accidental underbody scraping while driving. Having an underguard prevents damage to the oil pan or other components. Below are relevant details: 1. For minor underbody scraping, the underguard acts as a buffer, absorbing all the impact and preventing damage to the oil pan. However, in cases of severe scraping, the underguard offers minimal protection. Besides acting as a buffer, the underguard also prevents damage to the engine or transmission from road debris like sand and stones. 2. After installing an underguard, the vehicle's weight increases slightly, which has a minor impact on fuel consumption. Although the effect is small, it is still a drawback. Additionally, there may be issues with noise and resonance, as aftermarket parts may not integrate perfectly with the original vehicle components.
Last time I heard from the mechanic, it depends on the specific situation. The original car design includes that sinking function to make the engine drop downward during a collision, preventing it from rushing into the cabin and causing injuries. If you install that kind of steel plate guard, it might indeed block the downward path. However, there are now custom resin guards for specific car models, which have pre-cracked grooves in the middle and will split open upon significant impact. My buddy, who has been repairing cars for over ten years, said before installation, make sure the bracket bolts aren’t too rigid; it’s best to tighten them to the factory-specified torque to leave room for deformation during sinking. If you’re really torn, just go for a honeycomb-structured aluminum alloy guard—lightweight and tough. The key is to remember not to randomly weld reinforcement ribs on the guard, as that would truly block the sinking channel.
