Can You Drive with a Dragging Splash Shield? Is it Recommended?
A splash shield or skid plate protects the underside of your vehicle’s engine from water and road debris. But we can all notice the shield getting ripped or damaged over time and stuck hanging while you drive.
In this case, can you drive with a dragging splash shield? Well, you can drive with a hanging splash shield. It won’t affect the car immediately, but slowly you’ll know the downside. Your engine won’t serve like usual if the splash shield is damaged. Moreover, you won’t be getting the desired speed from your car. This will raise the fuel consumption rate as well.
Now you understand the importance of a splash shield. Let’s find out all about it in detail in this article.
Can You Drive with a Dragging Splash Shield?
Yes, you can drive your car with a dragging splash shield. The shield keeps the dust and debris out of your car, right? It will do the same at any cost; just the fitness of the shield won’t be the same.
However, you’ll be hearing the dragging sound all the time. Thus, the car’s overall aerodynamic flow will be hampered. You won’t be getting the expected speed generated from your car, then. That’s why driving with a broken or hanging splash shield is not advisable.
Later on, this will cost you more fuel to rise to the desired speed. So, you can figure out that you’ll need more money to spend here.
Besides, keep in mind that your engine is also taking damage if your splash shield is dragging all the time. As time passes, you’ll get the symptoms. Scrapping noise disturbing your ears and hampering your driving concentrations and whatnot!
Check out this video to see what a cracked shield looks like.
Splash Shield in Your Car
The splash shield is your car’s engine covering shield, barrier, or protective layer. As it lies beneath the car, its primary role is to protect its engine and body from external dirt and debris.
Let’s see how the splash shield protects and serves your car.
1. Protects the Engine
That’s the main aim of the splash shield, to protect the engine at any cost. Whether driving over rocky areas or muddy roads, the splash shield refrains all kinds of odd impacts on the engine by giving an excellent protective layer on it.
2. Maintains Moderate Temperature of the Engine
Dirt and debris filling up your engine means the engine is getting stacked up. Airflow and passage restrictions increase the temperature of the engine.
And you know the problems that can arise next. Reflecting the heat away and ensuring a proper flow of the engine’s temperature is a prime task of the splash shield.
3. Protects from Dirt and Debris
The dirt and debris entering your car would be disturbing and stressful for you at some point using it. Also, at one point, the engine won’t function as it usually does if it becomes filled with unnecessary dirt. And you have the splash shield vows to protect the car from dirt.
4. Protects Important Parts of the Car
Don’t get into the delusional fact that the engine is the only important part of your car. There are many more. The oil pan, transmission, and other associate parts around the engine serve equally. And the splash guards remain active in protecting them all the time.
Why Your Car’s Splash Shield is Dragging?
Your car’s splash shield won’t be coming off just like that. As it maintains its service, it becomes weak at one point. Again, the associate parts holding the shield might also lose the capability to hold it.
From our observation, here are two reasons why we think the splash shield is unusual in its position.
1. Non-working Holders
Some holders hold and keep the splash shield in its position. For your convenience, you can say fasteners, to be specific, here.
The fasteners or holders include screws, bolts, nuts, and other essential components. As your car functions, there is vibration to all these fasteners consistently. At one point, the shaking removes the fasteners from their initial position. Thus your splash guard comes off its place.
2. Broken Splash Shield
When the splash shield is broken, what more can you do for it here? They get ripped at one point of serving you for their materials and composition.
Splash shields are made up of a composition of several materials that include metal and plastic. Getting over strong rocks or blocks causes good fatigue on the shield. And getting the same effect again and again rips off the shield.
The portion it gets ripped starts to drag. And you get to experience all the possible massacres a dragging splash shield can invite.
Repairing A Broken Splash Shield
There are ways to repair your splash shield. And for that, you don’t have to go to the garage and waste your time and money on it. Just take the preventive measures yourself and fix the shield yourself.
But, for that, you’ll need the following things:
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Closes Shoes
- Jack Stands
- Flashlight
- Towel
- Fastener Kit
Now, let’s fix the dragging splash shield with some simple steps.
Step 1: Putting the Protective Things On
Before fixing the guard, ensure you are on with the protective measures. Wear gloves, goggles, closed shoes, and other equipment if needed.
Step 2: Cool the Engine of Your Car
It’s a sin to work on a newly turned-off engine because it remains hot and can cause several damage to you touching it. Better, just wait for hours or so until it cools down completely.
Step 3: Lifting the Car
- Before you lift the car, park it on a surface level so that there is no external pressure or impact on the car.
- Then, start lifting it using the jack stands. You can get access to the splash shield now.
- Find it with the help of the flashlight.
Step 4: Clean the Shield
You’ll see several dirt and debris there. Rinse them out with the towel so that every part is visible clearly for any fixation. Also, moisture jamming kept the greasy effect alive.
Step 5: Remove the Outdated Fasteners
No more using the damaged fasteners. They have already served what they possibly can. Now, it’s time to unscrew them and fix the new ones for active servings.
Step 6: Install the New Splash Shield
After unscrewing the existing splash shield, you’ll get it coming right on your hand. So, remove it and prepare to install the new one right in the same place. Insert it in its position and tighten it with the fasteners with appropriate nuts, screws, and other fixations.
Step 7: Test the Fixation
After you are done fixing the new splash shield, give it a test drive. This will say how the fixation went. If any kind of disturbances you see, take measures to resolve them.
FAQs
Many questions must be buzzing in your mind after all the readings. Let’s sum them up a bit here.
You can drive your car with a hanging splash shield, but it is better to change it as soon as possible. It won’t be harmful instantly but will damage your engine slowly.
Yes. You can only tape up your splash shield if your fasteners are not damaged. If they are, you need to change the setup.
It costs around $3-$250 to replace a splash shield.
Final Words
Driving with a hanging splash shield won’t damage your car. But as time progresses, it brings you more problems regarding the car’s performance, engine, etc.
The best way is to change the shield when you can to avoid future issues. If you’re on a running track with the shield hanging, you can complete the trip without worry. There, it will be okay-ish.
