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.

 

That bellypan actually helps with cooling and aero. The benefits of it are supposedly worth keeping it.

 

i see, well then i should probably put that back on next weekend.

 

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...

 

well, maybe, i can leave it off until spring. makes winter projects easier. and by winter projects i mean turbo install

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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).

 

run your AC fan to your original fan if you don't have AC...it works great!

 

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.

 

I've had mine off for two years also. No overheating problems.
Stephanie

 

but you also have an air scooper...right?

 

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

 

And a better radiator.

 

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

 

I ripped that junk off... I must have gained 15hp in doing so, just gotta get a hold of those nawz stickers now

 

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.)

 

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.

 

another benefit = less drag.

suckle on that one.