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Plastic splash guard under engine, Is it necessary?

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Old 10-21-2007, 09:54 PM
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Default Plastic splash guard under engine, Is it necessary?

So, i replaced my oil pressure gauge and sender with a real analog (freakin sweet btw ) and when i was finishing up i was looking at the plastic shield under the motor. Is this really necessary or can i just leave it off? It is actually pretty annoying when you drop tools onto it or when you have to remove it to get to something.
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Old 10-21-2007, 09:59 PM
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That bellypan actually helps with cooling and aero. The benefits of it are supposedly worth keeping it.
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Old 10-21-2007, 10:51 PM
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i see, well then i should probably put that back on next weekend.
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Old 10-22-2007, 12:16 AM
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i guess it makes a difference...i sometime overheat on the freeway when i have that peace off...it runs better now that i have it on...i have friends with FCs yeah they overheat alot without that thing...
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Old 10-22-2007, 12:54 AM
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well, maybe, i can leave it off until spring. makes winter projects easier. and by winter projects i mean turbo install
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Old 10-22-2007, 02:50 AM
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i took that thing off a long time ago and ive never had any over heating issues. and its alot ore convenient, but yeah i have heard of guys that have overheating issues (especially for RE's) but water wetter definitely helps.
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Old 10-22-2007, 07:36 AM
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Mine has been off since I bought the car yearrs ago. We just put a Greddy kit into a Buddys car and took it off his one as well.
I never had any overheating issues......but I'm in Ireland where all the rain clouds are born
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:29 AM
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Mine's currently off, same reason you are thinking, because of projects. However on the track I would quickly overheat >100mph. The next time I ran the same track with more boost (>120mph) I had no heat issues with it installed.
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:34 AM
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I had airflow related cooling issues before going turbo, which the undertray helped fix immensely. The car still runs hotter than I'd like though (~211°F).
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Old 10-23-2007, 12:03 AM
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run your AC fan to your original fan if you don't have AC...it works great!
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Old 10-23-2007, 10:43 AM
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I've had it off for years, and don't have any overheating issues, but I run 6psi and have a big oil cooler.


I run on track and around town with this car.

Last edited by BenR; 10-23-2007 at 03:00 PM.
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Old 10-23-2007, 10:52 AM
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I've had mine off for two years also. No overheating problems.
Stephanie
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Old 10-23-2007, 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Stephanie Turner
I've had mine off for two years also. No overheating problems.
Stephanie
but you also have an air scooper...right?
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Old 10-23-2007, 01:57 PM
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Pretty sure an M.net search will tell you the same things:

1. You will overheat on track without it
2. Some people overheat on the highway without it
3. It helps with aerodynamics
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Old 10-23-2007, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by hustler
but you also have an air scooper...right?
And a better radiator.
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Old 10-23-2007, 11:39 PM
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took it off when i did my first oil change on my car when i first got it...... 2 years later 12psi. Never had any problems. Run a full day of drifting in 90 deg heat. No problems.
Some say keep it, some say ditch it.
You make the decision
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Old 10-24-2007, 12:27 AM
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I ripped that junk off... I must have gained 15hp in doing so, just gotta get a hold of those nawz stickers now
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Old 10-24-2007, 07:17 AM
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I live in Florida, I haven't had mine on for a couple of year, and no overheating issues. (That was with a JR SC, and NA.)
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Old 10-24-2007, 07:23 AM
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My suspicion is that the cars that have cooling issues without it (including mine) have something else in common about their cooling system, but we haven't figured it out yet. But the fact that those cars have less trouble with the shield on would indicate that it helps with airflow.
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Old 10-24-2007, 08:44 AM
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another benefit = less drag.

suckle on that one.
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