I keep reading if you go off road it rips off easily. And I don't see aftermarket skid plates anywhere, so what about just removing it altogether?
Is it safe to remove the cover underneath permanently?
acsmith1972
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If you are off roading your real concern should not be ripping off the plastic splash shield. Instead you should be concerned about ripping a hole in your engine oil pan or transmission oil pan, or crushing your exhaust pipe. Ripping a hole in either of your oil pans will result in leaving you standard. More than not, it will most likely result in running one or both with no oil which will destroy most engines and transmissions. This will leave you further stranded.
Considering the cost of a new engine/tranny: $368 is CRAZY CHEAP!!
I have a prototype aluminum skid plate waiting to be placed on my RAV.
BTW. I do not see how not having the stock plastic splash shield makes changing the engine oil any more difficult. Tranny oil yes.
Back to your original question. As mentioned already I don't think that removing the splash shield will hurt anything. A little less aero and dirt protection is about all.
Since I have my trucks and dirt bike for any off-road adventures the worst the RAV4 will see is snow, slush and ice. So I've removed the engine/transaxle cover since neither of them will be damaged by frozen water and added the plastic cover from a later model RAV4 to protect the soft vapor recovery system. Should do it for my needs.
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I've lost mine last winter, it probably got ripped right out, and this last winter I did not experienced anything nasty without it, it looks like it's there for decoration. I have noticed near the gas tank, something is very well protected with a metal cage look alike, what is it? And there is another flimsy plastic box protecting something on thr mid left side of the rav4, look like it could be protected with a coat of fiberglass or something.
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If what you lost was any part of the vapor recovery system you'd be getting the Check Engine light. What year is your RAV4? '06 & '07 had a trivial cover. Later years had better covers, in two stages. I found this out by looking under several RAV4s parked at Walmart. I put the newest version on my '06.
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Looking under several Rav4 at Walmart.. Woukd that be dangerous and suspicious.. I'd rather use either Google or a used car lot! Don't get yourself shot!
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After removing and replacing that stupid shield last weekend so I could drop my tranny pan and replace the tran filter and fluid, I wouldn't wish that experience on my worst enemy!
Well, you don't have to crawl under or even touch the car. Besides I'm not the suspicious looking type - just a nice older gentleman. 0
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Well, you don't have to crawl under or even touch the car. Besides I'm not the suspicious looking type - just a nice older gentleman. 0
I have been looking under cars in parking lots for close to 30 years. Never had an issue. If anything I get to have a conversation with the owner about the suspension modification (what whatever I was checking out).
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It also helps hold the shape of your bumper so it does not sag an pull out of the body clips along with minimizing any dirt salt snow water Coca-Cola I mean if you like your oil rusty park on the grass
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Mine just ripped off because a up driver made me slide into a snow ditch but it also stretched the bumper so it now sags
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Mine came off in the snow now my bumpers sagging well when things get old things sag a little I guess
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