Engine compartment, bottom cover

[foama]

Hi folks, put a cover on the bottom of the engine compartment today. Now the bottom is smooth, it stays better clean inside, and the axle member is not in the path of the air flow any more. This new cover can be removed easily if needed, but will generally remain in its place.

Parts needed:

1) One board, 90 x 75 cm, 3mm thick, made of PE.
PE is a thermoplast, the stuff kitchen cutting boards and the famous "Hufferwear" is made out of. There a shops that cut you a board in the size you want. My board was "natural" colour, and for PE that is white. However PE can be obtained in every colour plus black.
Better than PE would be PP, the same material the original covers are, but PP wasn't available.

2) Spread-fasteners, 10 to 12 piece, size (diameter) 8mm These are used for fastening, same as the original plastic fasteners.

Tools: Sharp knife, jigsaw, drill plus drillbit 8.5mm

The rear of the cover is fastened to the front axle body with a 10mm diameter bolt throgh an already existing hole.
If you look at the axle body, you will see there is a hole fairly in the middle. This will accept a bolt inserted from above, a nut fastens the cover.

The very front received three cut-outs, so that the cover could be tucked-in under the front cladding("bumper").
One circular cut-out was put in the cover under the oilfilter, one under the gearbox oil service bolt, and the area under the engine oil pan was also cut out. See pix.

The sides are held with spread-fasteners, those plastic things much of the car is clipped together with. My fasteners were obtained from a Peugeout dealer, and cost almost nothing.
Just drill through the cover board and the original plastic stuff it sits on, put the fastener in and youre done.
The PE board was the most expensive part, it cost €30.- being 20 odd $.

Time: I needed about six hours to do it neatly.


And no, the car does not overheat! The area above the front axle body is enough for airflow.

See pictures for details!

[MysticMirage]

Interesting to see that the EU version didn't come with one. The US version has one that snaps into the front bumper, making the bumper a pain to remove as you have to remove the panel to get to the bolts.

[flatbroke]

Nice install. It's just hard to say, with out any actual wind tunnel testing, whether there is any airflow benefit.

[Eggman]

Interesting to see that the EU version didn't come with one. The US version has one that snaps into the front bumper, making the bumper a pain to remove as you have to remove the panel to get to the bolts.

I was going to ask about the US version as mine didn't come with one. I'll ask my dealer about it at oil change time.

Thanks!

[Teasmade]

Interesting to see that the EU version didn't come with one. The US version has one that snaps into the front bumper, making the bumper a pain to remove as you have to remove the panel to get to the bolts.

The UK ones do too. It doesn't extend very far backwards though - it comes to within about 1/2" of the engine sump and that's it.

[uheym]

Part number would be nice
If your local dealers then could buy the parts ..

[foama]

Interesting to see that the EU version didn't come with one. The US version has one that snaps into the front bumper, making the bumper a pain to remove as you have to remove the panel to get to the bolts.

The European version does have a cover, but it goes from the "bumper" barely 10cm (medieval measures: 3 to 4 inches) further. It does not touch the oilpan, and under the gearbox is all entirely open. Presumably not much different from the US version?