The bottom's fallen out of my Mercedes engine. What's all that about?

Question

Driving along the motorway in my old Merc and hear a banging sound whenever I drive over the cats eyes - Its not the tyres hitting them.

Stop and look under the front, and a 2 foot square flat panel has come off the underside of the car under the engine and is almost dragging on the road.

What is it?

Can I jack the car up and remove it? Doesn't seem to have any purpose other than as a cover - and who needs that?

thanks

Answer 1

The piece you're referring to is simply the engine's bottom cover. It's there to keep the worst of the crud from the road off the engine and for sound insulation. It can easily be re-attached, but it does need to be done from under the car, so probably a garage job.

You could remove it, but your car might get a bit noisier and you'll get water and muck thrown up into the engine.

Answer 2

Why are you allowed to drive? If the bottom of your engine, sump, had come off the engine would have stopped within yards. The bit you are on about is a dirt shield and can be removed safely as it has nothing to do with the engine.

Answer 3

Well, you do.  It's a panel to keep the crud out of your engine bay, and actually has an effect (albeit minor) on the flow of cooling air.  Just s***w it back.

Answer 4

It's just a cover to keep the water & stuff out of the engine. get under and s***w it back on. Better still get the poor old bugger serviced & checked before something important drops off!. Enjoy the old girl.

Answer 5

Its just the engine protector s***w it back on yourself its not to hard..Then test it and if it falls back out Could be the engine falls off.. MEANING YOU HAVE TO SEE A MECHANIC ASAP.......

Answer 6

yes you are probably correct the cover is there to to protect the engine from debri and keep the engine warm

Answer 7

could be a sumpguard. In which case it may not be that necessary.

Answer 8

If it is sumpguard you can remove it but the next time it will be the sump and then you will be in trouble.

Answer 9

i like mercs there lovely looking cars.

Answer 10

You can pull it off and run without it for a short time.

Those panels are fairly cheap, they keep road debris from bouncing up into the engine compartment. You know, so you don't get small creatures caught between the drive belt and the pulleys. It also helps keep the airflow moving the way the engineers want it to go. That keeps ventilation, engine cooling, and vehicle dynamics working well.

Answer 11

Trying  to remember  who makes  the  mercedes these  days?

Answer 12

It is purely just a dirt cover, you can run with it removed no problem, it is not a sump guard as has been suggested but just to stop dust,water and dirt. It would be a good idea to replace it when you can as it will protect things like your alternator from grit and water so you should really replace it in case of heavy rain. If it was a sump guard it would be made of steel.

Answer 13

Those covers are easy to re-attach.  They're held in place by a s***w and clip system ( should be in stock at your local Benz dealer and they're cheap ).

Those under-engine covers serve several purposes.  It's used to shield the engine from water and other small debris, it isolates the noise from the engine ( especially diesel models where those covers are insulated ), it also helps slightly with aerodynamics and the air flow underneath the vehicle.