LJimmy

Hello all,

it was a bad day for my Lexus IS (2008) today. As i was on the on ramp for the highway in my city of san antonio i ran over a 4X4 2 foot long block with my lexus. It is a one lane on ramp and elevated and narrow at that. I couldn't dodge it, especially since there was traffic behind me. Only option was to run over it straight on so i didn't crash by it hitting my wheels. Sounded horrible but my front end aesthetically looks fine. Driving is normal. Only damage was the under carriage reenforced plastic that goes under the engine.

Any one know or have any opinions on how to fix this. Thanks!

Sango

iTrader: (10)

You mean the undercover piece?

Note: Mine has JDM underbody panels (like what they have in Japan) on so it will look diffent than yours and does not cover as much. Looks like this kind of plastic rite?

baputsti

You can buy an engine under cover for around $100 on ebay shipped to your door.

prankster

iTrader: (3)

Ummmm.... Just leave it as it is... Nobody will see that except the guy who changes the oil.

adrr

I agree. I had my plastic engine plate fall off my G35 on a road trip, drove 200 miles with it scrapping on the ground with only a couple bolts holding it to the car. Mechanic said its only purpose was prevent things from getting sucked up into the engine compartment and causing damage to the moving parts. He replaced the bolts for $10 and sent me on my way.

Dawa

iTrader: (5)

you will be fine with it as is, without it, or replacing it. the plastic under tray has multiple purposes.
it keeps road debris out of the engine bay (imagine a newspaper getting lodged next to your exhaust manifold & causing a fire.) it is also used for under car aerodynamics and more importantly engine cooling. the plastic tray has strategic vents/holes in it to allow the high pressure hot air to escape from the engine bay, into the low pressure zone that is under the car. without it, air would be entering from your grill as well as from under the car, causing a turbulent mess

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

It prevents water from splashing into the belts and engine compartment. It will not effect anything, you may hear more road noise but lots of people ride with out the under tray.

LJimmy

Gentlemen, thanks for all of the replies. I guess it will have to stay as is. thanks

evogt500

The undertray does more than just stop water or debis from entering the engine bay. It effects downforce. Toyota put those there to create a flat floor that smoothes the airflow. Since the air under the car is smoother, thanks to the undertray, the air going around the top of car has to travel faster, pushing the car down.

You can run the car without the undertrays, but you might loose 1% ( my guess) aerodynamic efficiency and some high speed grip

EDIT: Thanks to Clubfoot for correcting my mistake. Smooth air flow under the care increases flow, creating a area of low pressure, and increases downflorce. .

Sffd103

iTrader: (16)

^ so still no big deal unless you're going for the land speed record at the Salt Flats.

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

L M A O Without the under tray

clubfoot

This statement is incorrect! The faster air traveling over the car actually causes LIFT not downforce,...Bernoulli Principle. However, you are correct in that the very smooth under side especially with the JDM panels as on Sango's car will aid in smoothing the airflow under the IS. The car is not an upside down wing It is a right side up wing,...with the same inherent out come.

evogt500

Just reread my post. Sorry, my mistake, I meant the oppssite. Original post edited.

clubfoot

It's all good,... :-)

darkdream

Like many said it is to keep debris away from the components. One of my friends rented a car for a road trip that did not have anything protecting that area and while we were in the middle of nowhere, well we ran over something that cut the radiator tube. We were unaware of this until the car overheated from lack of any coolant and would not restart even after the engine cooled down.