Engine cover

[touchcat]

Greetings

I drive a chevrolet sonic sedan, while I was driving on a gravel road I hit something and the plastic engine cover underneath the car came out .I completely took it and continued to drive .those who drive cars with such covers; mazda and toyota corrolla I want to know if its bad to drive the car without such cover I have noted that other brands dont have such covers like vw.and lastly how much can that cover cost me to get it repaired.
Thanks.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Its not an "engen" cover.. but more akin to a skid plate.

It won't harm your car to drive without it, as long as you don't hit anything that could damage the engine. The purpose of the cover is to try and protect the engine above it.

 

[HapticSimian]

It'll cost you a spoon or two of fuel per tank in lost aerodynamic efficiency, and your car's engine compartment will pick up dirt more quickly. Replacement cost would likely be in the R1k ballpark.

 

[Gadget Man]

It won't hurt to drive the car without the cover. The cover is meant to protect the engine and sump against damage from rocks and stones. Had you been travelling on the dirt road without the cover, you are likely to have damaged your sump. The cover took the beating and saved the engine.

Cheaper in the long run to replace it. Better than cracking your sump and risk seizing the engine.

 

[HapticSimian]

It won't hurt to drive the car without the cover. The cover is meant to protect the engine and sump against damage from rocks and stones. Had you been travelling on the dirt road without the cover, you are likely to have damaged your sump. The cover took the beating and saved the engine.

Cheaper in the long run to replace it. Better than cracking your sump and risk seizing the engine.

Most anything that'll do damage to a rather solid bit of metal will shred a flimsy plastic cover. A few bits of gravel flicking up won't leave more than a superficial scratch on the sump.

 

[Fox1]

Best to look around for a cover in the scrap heap. You can always match on from another car and cut it to size. You could also get someone that's into plastics to make you one.

 

[rrh]

If the cover is made out of plastic then the cover's purpose is to improve the airflow under the car, i.e. improve the car's aerodynamic efficiency.

If the cover is made from metal then it functions as a sump guard, i.e. protects the engine from damage by rocks etc.

Personally I wouldn't bother about replacing the cover. Or, if you frequently travel on gravel roads, I would have the cover refabricated in metal, e.g. aluminium.

 

[touchcat]

Thanks guys its a plastic cover.will have it replaced just to be safe.

 

[mintydroid]

My car has it and it occasionally gets ripped out but I normally tell the service guys to rebolt it. It also prevents the belts and other components from rain.