With your car having so many parts, it can be hard to know what any of them do. For example, your engine splash shield – what is it and what does it do? That is one part you may be interested in learning about.
In this guide, I will define an engine splash shield. I will also talk about how and what it protects, as well as the cost to replace it.
What is an Engine Splash Shield?
The car engine splash shield has many names. Some carmakers call it a skid plate, an engine splash guard or a lower engine cover.
The panel is mounted under the engine and protects the motor from hazards on the road. The panel is often designed to catch leaking fluids from your engine compartment.
With the engine splash shield mounted, rocks, dust, water, and debris are less damaging to the engine. But it can easily get damaged due to its purpose.
Depending on the situation, it may need to be replaced. However, a new engine splash shield is a much better situation than replacing an engine or transmission, due to hazards on the road.
Benefits of an Engine Splash Shield
#1. Protects Against Dust.
Dust is harmful for most car components, especially the transmission or engine. Dust will cause a loss in efficiency if it gets into either of these parts. In addition to the dust, water can and will enter with it and lead to corrosion or rust.
Also, you have to worry about sand or salt exposure, which is much more common in the colder months. Both of those are shielded from getting into the engine with the splash shield.
#2. Protects Against Impact.
As you’re rolling down the road, you already know that there are plenty of objects that are poised to build significant damage to the under parts of your vehicle. The top of the engine is covered and protected by the hood, so you just need a shield for the lower part.
If you didn’t have a shield in place, you would acutely damage the vehicle every time you ran up on a curb or a pothole. And throw in any of the random stones lifted up from the road surface, and you’re now hurling things at the engine that could create catastrophic problems.
Your engine could just begin to leak oil, and you could be left sitting on the side of the road with a car that won’t run.
Again today, most engine splash shields are plastic unless you have an offroad vehicle, so there is not as much protection against hard objects.
#3. Off-Road Protection.
Taking your vehicle off-road? Then you will need protection from damage. You will encounter rocks, boulders and logs while on the trail.
A splash shield on the engine will allow you to get past these treacherous obstacles without harm to your powertrain. That is why the majority of off-road vehicles come equipped with stout skid plates and other parts to maximize protection for your vehicle.
#4. Reduces Corrosion.
If dust and water are allowed to penetrate the engine or, for example, components, corrosion is inevitable, and the last thing you need to worry about is rust on the engine.
The hood protects the top of the engine, but you need a splash shield connecting the hood to the underside of the engine for protection. When you drive over wet or snowy roads, moisture will not enter the engine and will live a long time.
#5. Catches leaking fluids.
Nowadays, a lot of splash shields are made with a synthetic material that really absorbs liquids that leak from the engine. You might’ve noticed this if you ever took off a splash guard before and was amazed at how heavy it was.
It can actually soak up a lot of fluids like engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, etc. that leaks from the engine compartment.
While it’s not a permanent fix for your leaking engine, it will stop liquids from leaking onto the roadway, where it might be a hazard to the environment and road safety.
#6. Easy to Replace.
When you think about replacing the transmission or the engine, you’ll love how easy it is to put a new engine splash shield on. Even though there are different kinds of splash shields for all vehicles, it’s not that hard.
You can get a splash shield made of metal or plastic and it doesn’t matter on installation. Once you screw a couple of screws, you are done.
However, if your car does not have a splash shield, then you might have to weld to install an aftermarket skid plate. This process can be a bit cumbersome and expensive.
Metal vs. Plastic Engine Splash Shield
So, how do you decide if a plastic engine splash shield, or a metal engine splash shield is right for you? Both choices have pros and cons.
A plastic engine splash shield will be lower costs. Most newer cars get a plastic shield anyway. You shouldn’t expect it to be nearly as durable as a metal shield, however. Because plastic is a softer substance it is more susceptible to damage.
You should expect it to get damaged more often than with a metal shield. This is important to consider if you plan on not wanting to buy another shield, or go through the hassle of installation.
If you end up using multiple plastic shields throughout its life, you may have saved some money with a metal option.
A metal engine splash shield will cost more due to the more expensive nature of the material. However, the longevity of a metal skid plate far exceed its plastic counterparts.
If you are doing off-roading or riding on rough terrain you are protecting the engine better with a metal skid plate.
In these instances, the extra costs of a metal shield are well worth it to protect the valuable components of your engine. You may want to consider they typically are considerably heavier.
Engine Splash Shield Replacement Cost
The typical cost for an engine splash shield replacement is around $25 to $150 if you go with a plastic one. Metal engine splash shields typically run you $75 to $250 or so.
All of that added cost is definitely worth it when you consider all of the important parts that you are protecting with it.
You don’t really want to save a few dollars when you are trying to protect your engine or transmission. If there is a metal shield available for your vehicle’s make and model, you should consider it instead of plastic.
If you are able to change the engine splash shield yourself, you won’t have to pay for labor costs. With a car jack, jack stands, a socket wrench, a screwdriver, and the correct bolts, you could have your splash shield swapped out and installed in 1 hr or less.
If you are unable to install it yourself, you might have to pay an additional $65 to $200 in labor costs. This doesn’t include the welding cost if there is not a splash shield in place already. However, you shouldn’t have to replace the engine skid plate too often.