If you’re hearing some strange dragging sound underneath your car, chances are the engine splash shield or skid plate underneath your vehicle is dragging on the road. While this might not cause any damage, it’s still bad for your vehicle's undercarriage and can lead to severe problems if left untreated. Here’s what you need to do if you find that your engine splash shield is dragging.

Check for Damage

When the engine splash shield drags on the ground, it can cause damage in a few ways. This can be caused by an engine oil leak; if there is no oil on the engine splashes shield, then it will drag and wear down. If there are any welds that are broken on the underside of the shield, dirt and debris will end up getting in through these openings which would eventually allow for corrosion. Most importantly, when the engine splash shield drags, air flow around the car’s engine is limited which will lead to an increase in heat.

Inspect the Fasteners

Your engine must be adequately protected by the vehicle. If there are any signs of corrosion on any fasteners then they should be replaced. Engine Splash Shield Hanging is when the engine guard has become unattached from the body and begins to drag on the ground or off of pavement as you drive. They can snap completely off and become a deadly projectile if not attended to quickly. This typically happens from tire debris but can also happen from a driver who got behind someone too close at high speed and caused a vibration that led to breakage. Whatever the cause, it needs immediate attention to prevent further damage or injury. Be sure you check for engine splash shield dragging every time before driving because once it starts it will be difficult to stop.

Replace the Splash Shield

You might have been noticing the engine splash shield dragging. Here are some things that could cause it: 

#It may be the result of the increased weight on the engine due to repair or necessary replacement. Sometimes repairing or replacing an engine can place more weight on it than usual and may change how level with the ground it sits. It also may shift around due to new cracks in the engine. 

#The skid plate may not be properly positioned or attached. This can cause parts of it such as bolts, brackets and support arms not fitting correctly which will make it drag even if installed correctly before. So when checking for a reason for engine splash shield dragging, look for any alterations that would interfere with its proper installation.

How To Replace Your Engine Splash Shield

Now that we're into the chilly winter months, many motorists find that their engine splash shields drag on the road during rain or snowfall. You may be asking yourself: What causes my engine protection device to scrape against the ground? We have answers. Read on for tips and easy instructions for replacing a worn-out engine protection device. No matter where you are in your car care journey—taking preventative measures now can help you save in the long run by preventing costly mechanical problems.

Many different factors come into play when determining how an engine protection cover will behave on the road.

Mobile Engine Splash Shield Replacement

Engine Splash Shields hanging down too low could indicate a potential problem that could cause major issues later on. The most common one is the engine might have been dropped and the skid plate is preventing it from popping back into place. Obviously, if you can't see your engine due to it being covered by the Engine Splash Shield this means a visit to the mechanic will be required, but for now remove the Engine Splash Shield before driving any further. This will allow better visibility so other drivers will know where you are driving and allow them enough time to react as well as increase visibility when changing lanes. If you still find that your Engine Splash Shield hangs too low after checking all of these areas then visit your local AutoZone to buy an Engine Splash Shield Replacement.

Metal Or Plastic?

Every vehicle on the market has a metal or plastic engine guard. Some are specific for certain model vehicles and others are universal. We don’t want to get into too much detail in this post about why it’s important to keep this part of your car well maintained so we’ll simply list how long you can drive without a splash shield rule. No matter if it’s metal or plastic, if you're driving over 25 mph and hit an object in the road that extends below your vehicle, it may cause serious damage - even destruction - to the undercarriage of your car. How long can you drive without a splash shield? If your fuel tank gets punctured or leaks gas, there will be a strong risk of fire or explosion. Not only that, but there will also be the potential for contamination to seep into the air intake system and lead to toxic fumes which would then leak out through cracks in the exhaust system causing more damage than just dripping fuel.

The answer is 3 minutes. It doesn't seem like much time but it's plenty of time for these risks to happen.

One easy way to tell if your engine protection is wearing down enough to warrant replacement: look at how far off the ground it sits- higher than 4 inches should indicate replacement soon while lower than 2 inches indicates continued use.