What's an Engine Splash shield and What does it do?

It can be confusing to know the functions of each component when there are so many parts in your vehicle. What is the engine splash shield? You'll want to learn more about this one. 

This guide will explain what an engine splash guard is. This guide will also discuss all aspects of the engine splash shield and how to replace it. 

What exactly is an Engine Splash Shield (also known as an Engine Splash Shield)?

The car’s engine splash shield is known by many names. Automakers refer to it as an engine splash shield, skid plate or lower engine cover. The panel can be found under the engine. It protects it from potential road dangers. The panel can also catch any fluids leaking from the engine compartment.

The engine splash shield protects the engine from debris, water, and rocks. Its purpose can mean that the shield is easily damaged. It might need to be replaced occasionally. However, it is better to replace the engine shield than to change an engine or transmission due road damage. 

An Engine Splash Shield offers many benefits

1. Protects against dust

Dust can be a problem for most parts of a car, particularly the engine or transmission. Efficiency would suffer if dust got into these critical components. Water can get into these components if it isn't removed. This could lead to corrosion and rust.

You should also be aware of salt and sand exposure. This is especially common in the winter months. The splash shield prevents these from entering the engine. 

2. Protects Against Impact

You will soon see that many things are out there that could cause serious damage to your vehicle's parts. You will need the shield for the lower part of your engine. The hood provides protection to the top portion.

If there wasn’t a shield in place, you would do serious damage every time you hit a curb or pothole. Additionally, any stones that are thrown on the road could cause engine damage and create a problem. The engine could leak and you may end up on the other side of the road, with an inoperable automobile.

However, most engine splash shields today are made of plastic if you don’t have an offroad vehicle, so the protection against hard objects is limited.

3. Protection Off-road

You can get the protection that you need if you intend to drive your car off-road. Be aware of the rocks, logs, and boulders you may encounter while on the trail.

With a splash shield on the engine, these dangerous hazards won’t harm the powertrain. That’s why most off-road vehicles use beefed-up skid plates and equipment for maximum protection. 

4. Reducing Corrosion

The engine and other critical parts can be infected by water or dust. This will lead to corrosion. Rusty engine parts are not something you should be dealing with. 

To protect the engine's top, the hood must be covered with a splash guard. As you drive across wet or snowy roads, the moisture won’t end up inside the engine, ensuring that it lasts as long as possible. 

5. Catches leaking fluids

Today's splash guards have special materials that can absorb liquids from your engine. This may be obvious if you have ever removed a splash shield and were shocked at how heavy it was. You can let fluids leak out of the engine compartment, including engine oil and coolant.

It is temporary and will not fix your engine's leaking problem permanently. However, liquids can no longer leak onto roads where they could be dangerous for the road, the environment, or safety.

RELATED: Car Leaking Fluid? How to identify the liquid

6. Simple to Replace

It is not difficult to change the engine or transmission. But, it's easy to add a engine splash shield. Although there are many types, installation is easy for all cars.

There are two options for splash shields: metal or plastic. The same installation process applies. Once you have a few screws, it is done. 

However, if your vehicle didn’t come with a splash shield, you may have to perform some welding to get an aftermarket skid plate installed. It can be complicated and quite expensive. 

Metal vs. Metal vs.

What is the best way to determine if a plastic or metal engine splash shield will work for you? There are advantages and disadvantages for both options. 

A plastic splash shield for the engine is a more economical option. Most newer vehicles come equipped with one. However, it’s not going to be nearly as strong as a metal shield. Plastic, being a soft material is much more vulnerable to damage. A plastic shield can be damaged more often than a metal one. This is a factor to consider if you don’t want to pay for another shield or deal with another installation down the road. You might save more money if you have multiple protective plastic covers over the lifetime of your vehicle.

Because of its high-quality material, the metal engine splash shield will be more expensive. These skid plates last a lot longer than the plastic ones. You will need a metal shield to protect your engine when you're driving on dirt roads or rough terrain. In these cases, it’s often worth the added cost to ensure the precious components are protected. These components are usually much more heavy than you might think.

Price of Engine Splash Shield Replacement

A plastic engine splash shield can cost anywhere from $25 to $150. A metal engine splash guard will cost you $75 to $250.

This is a small cost, but it's worth it when you consider the critical components that the transmission protects. You don’t really want to skimp when trying to keep the engine or transmission protected. Consider purchasing a metal shield for your vehicle model.

If you can replace the engine splash shield on your own, you won’t be responsible for any labor costs. The new shield can be installed in as little as an hour with a car jack and jack stands. If you can’t do it on your own, you might spend another $65 to $200 in labor charges. This estimate doesn’t factor in the cost to weld if there isn’t an existing splash shield in place. However, you shouldn’t have to replace the engine skid plate often.