Splash guard underneath engine is cracked and hanging a bit...

[etschell]

it is not dragging, looks like it got sliced and is some what hanging. i want to replace the part because it is causing my car to pull to the right at highway speeds and is probably screwing up my aerodynamics. how feasible is this diy if i have a lift? any suggestions on where to buy the part? fyi i have a 2004 coupe.

[gwoods]

Take it of and throw it away!!!

I removed mine when I did the first oil change and stuck it up in the attic.

It does provide some undercar aerodynamics but it also traps heat. You'll create some air flow through the engine compartment without it.

I think its primary purpose is to keep the engine compartment quite and clean!

[TeflonG35]

Yeah. The long bolts pissed me off so I just ripped off the plastic.

[Sentientbydesign]

Take it of and throw it away!!!

I removed mine when I did the first oil change and stuck it up in the attic.

It does provide some undercar aerodynamics but it also traps heat. You'll create some air flow through the engine compartment without it.

I think its primary purpose is to keep the engine compartment quite and clean!

This isn't necessarily true. You can actually create a high pressure flow that prevents the radiator from working properly by "throw(ing) it away".

I was quoted $100 for that part. It's probably a little more retail.

The underbody cover and that stupid little spoiler are probably very important for aero and getting a couple of MPG. I wouldn't just toss them because they're annoying.

What would be smarter is to install 2 or 3 hinges on one side to make oil changes easier.

OP,

The plastic piece can "easily" be replaced with a 14mm(?) wrench. I think there are like 12-14 screws that have to removed and you'll also want to keep the little hanging "spoiler" I mentioned.

Just to prove it's importance. I saw a huge (3"+) hanging spoiler on a vette recently. I'm sure it serves a purpose.

[gwoods]

Hmm might be talking about 2 different parts,

I'm talking about the 3' long by 4' wide sheet of plastic that runs the length of the motor/transmission

[rebg]

I would definitely leave the plastic under the motor/transmission - I'm certain it smooths air flow under the car and adds a bit of MPG on the hwy. May also reduce lift and generally improve high-speed road manners.

[bentrod]

My wife's 2003 had the same issue. Come to find out, the tech that changed the oil only hand tightened the bolts and they fell out. 2 bolts - 2 minutes and it was fine.

[Sentientbydesign]

Hmm might be talking about 2 different parts,

I'm talking about the 3' long by 4' wide sheet of plastic that runs the length of the motor/transmission

Yeah, we're talking about the same thing. There's the plastic tray and there's a little hanging "spoiler". Both of those help to improve the flow under the vehicle.

If air wasn't rushing under the car, then having a high pressure area at the radiator and a lower pressure below the car would be great, but having air rushing under the car can cause high pressure without that tray.

I don't want to speculate too much as to how the air is flowing down there because engineers do computer models that aren't always accurate, but my research so far shows that underbody turbulence is HORRIBLE and should be minimized as much as possible.

[telcoman]

Take it of and throw it away!!!

I removed mine when I did the first oil change and stuck it up in the attic.

It does provide some undercar aerodynamics but it also traps heat. You'll create some air flow through the engine compartment without it.

I think its primary purpose is to keep the engine compartment quite and clean!

I disagree

If you drive in the rain water is going to splash up on your belts and the alternator

I use my portable drill with a 10mm socket to remove the 14 bolts.Takes less than 3 minutes.





Telcoman

[gwoods]

If you drive in the rain water is going to splash up on your belts and the alternator

What is this 'rain water' you speak of?? I hate to burst your bubble but if its wet enough to submerge your alternator ect that little plastic sheet isn't going to protect much. Who cares if the serpentine belt gets wet?

I get up to 130 mph once in a while and the car feels solid. I've had it up just past 150 mph before I removed the plastic tray and off the speedometer after removing the tray. It handles fine at speed. I removed the tray at 14,000 miles and now have over 40,000 miles if it was necessary the problem would have surfaced already.

IMO its weight, its in the way and its purpose is to keep the motor clean. I removed the plastic Infiniti motor cover too for a while but put it back on cause it is pretty :-) It is in my attic with the stock air filters and all the hardware. It will be re installed when I sell the car.

Sidenote, the first time I had Infiniti change the oil they noted it was missing on the oil change but suggested no action?

[Sentientbydesign]

I did a lot of research on aero for fuel economy. What I mentioned is from that.

I'm not telling you what to do, Jeff. I'm just saying it has a purpose other than to add a pound and keep the oil pan clean.

I plan on stripping the G of unecessary weight. That piece is not on my list...

[gwoods]

What is the 07+ G sedan drag coefficent? .27?

For weight reduction,

Stage 1

1 quart of oilall the windshield washer fluideverything inside the car that you put in it, glove box ectGut the trunkFloor matsrear seat, 2 clips on my G

Stage 2

Rear bumperfront bumperTrunkhood

Stage 3 dashinterior door panelswindows (except windsheildhole saw the interior to remove mass

Yes I'm crazy but can you imagine how much faster 306 hp would be if it were only pushing 2000 lbs around the track



I am SO tempted to remove my trunk and hood at the track!! If I had someplace safe to keep them it would have happened already I need my my wife to come to the drag strip on a test and tune Sunday with the Suckoia so I can store removed parts inside

[Sentientbydesign]