They are there for aero purposes, eliminate some water and debris from kicking up on the engine, and makes you get one extra tool out to do an oil change.

If they didn't serve a purpose they wouldn't be there. If you remove them will there be a problem? Probably not, but I don't like the idea of sand and rocks kicking up on the accessory drive wearing belts and pullies out prematurely.

 

They keep the oil from ground while oil pan leaks....... I have a leveling kit and 35/12.50/20 tires and I think the added clearance let the air buffet against these and caused a vibration in my truck......been gone since i removed them.

 

My diaper came off today. It was the same two corner bolts that ripped or were worn through that others have had issues with (post $18).

I've seen several links to tascaparts but it doesn't seem like they have the part for my 2018 2.7L SCrew Lariat. Any other recommendations on where to buy a replacement? Dealer quoted $140. That seems pretty steep.

 

You don't it, but if you want protection just get normal skid plates. During a rain storm mine accumulated mud on top of it & it ripped, and was dragging on the ground. It felt like it was saturated with water also. Trucks & cars have never had any kind of cover underneath until recently. That felt material isn't there to protect anything.

 

Funny that this thread was bump.. I'm currently making mine, but right now I'm don't know if I want to have it attached to the old clips or just use angles like some of these after markets.

I would have gone the route of after market, but they are little out of my price of what I'm whiling to pay. Plus I have no problem making mine, been working sheet metal for many moons.

 

My 95 SHO had a panel underneath, as did my 93 Sable. The Taurus came out in 1988, so the panels have been a thing since at least the late 80's.

They are for aerodynamics, heat flow, and noise abatement. Thicker ones that look like felts are definitely designed to attenuate noise, while the thin, flat ones will still reduce noise a bit. Some are designed to push airflow along the exhaust, others are designed with venturi points to pull hot air down from the components above.

I've never seen any designed to keep small rocks and mud off the engine/transmission/transaxle/diff/belts. The area right behind the radiator is left open to ensure good airflow through the radiator at speed so the fan is not required. The chin spoiler increases the pressure differential across the coolers by dropping the pressure in the engine bay below ambient.

 

They make metal one for raptor trans splash shield covers catalytic converters nice and you don't have to take off for oil change