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Helps keep the engine bay cleaner and marginally helps with aerodynamics. Not critical but I've replaced them when the same thing happened and the front mounting holes got destroyed in the process.
The plastic ones keep the engine cleaner, but really do not protect it from road hazards. Metal replacements, steel or aluminum, are available for many models. I have a heavy-duty aluminum skid plate on one of my cars; it has take a few good hits that otherwise might have damaged the oil pan. I got it soon after moving to the Snow Belt, as I think there is a greater risk of road hazards like big chunks of ice or frozen animal carcasses, or obstacles like concrete curbs hidden by piles of snow.
So ,the splash guard broke loose on the highway, lucky for me I had a spare speaker cables and managed to Jimmy it back to place.
How important is this large plastic cover? Should it be replaced?
It seems this plastic has flimsy bolts/screws holding ,and gets messed with during service.
You need to find a better garage. As others have said, it's not critical, but, the designers did spec it out, so it does provide a net benefit, or they wouldn't have put it on at the factory.
Besides all that, they also keep the airflow through the radiator smooth and tend to reduce the chance of overheating.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeWarren
totally unnecessary, really...non essential part
Tiffer is spot on. My coworker tore his off over the winter when he went off road by accident. His car had problems with the temps rising until he replaced it!
Unnecessary -- until something happens that makes you wish you had at least a little protection for the underside of the engine compartment.
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