plastic oil pan cover question

9865 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by hfarthington, Sep 27, 2017

TchTchr

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2012

Hey all,

I changed my oil for the first time I've owned my 2001 H6. The last time the previous owner had the oil changed resulted in a somewhat loose oil filter that dripped a slight amount of oil that over time soaked the pad on top of the cover.

Question: What is the purpose of the insulation on top of the plastic cover? Mine was so soaked that it came off when I was cleaning the plastic cover.

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1 - 12 of 12 Posts

OldStyle

· #2 · Nov 21, 2012

That is an oil absorbent material designed to catch oil drips there instead of onto the garage floor.

I replaced mine with matting from the auto parts store and just cut it to fit. Can't remember how much it was but it wasn't to expensive. $10 or so for a roll...

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FORANE

· #3 · Nov 21, 2012

Removed the entire plastic skid plate cover and all. Much easier to access for oil changes now.

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TchTchr

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 21, 2012

OldStyle said:
That is an oil absorbent material designed to catch oil drips there instead of onto the garage floor.

I replaced mine with matting from the auto parts store and just cut it to fit. Can't remember how much it was but it wasn't to expensive. $10 or so for a roll...

Thanks. That makes sense - better sense would be not to take car to oil change place that doesn't put on filters tight enough or TOO tight.

The old one sure worked though. It was NASTY!

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RedGeminiPA

· #5 · Nov 21, 2012

I know I'll have to clean up mine, but not until after I get the valve cover gaskets done...

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subaruserviceguy

· #6 · Nov 21, 2012

TchTchr said:
Thanks. That makes sense - better sense would be not to take car to oil change place that doesn't put on filters tight enough or TOO tight.

The old one sure worked though. It was NASTY!

This is a good idea and I have seen it before. The only problem is these don't dry out like the factory onces so they will absorb water as well. You dont need the insulation so you can do without. Don't leave the lower engine cover off, it can cause other issues and you engine will then have no additional protection.

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TchTchr

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 22, 2012

I put the cover back on without the pad. I figure auto companies aren't going spend the money putting a cover on that serves no purpose.

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Storkiln

· #8 · Nov 22, 2012

I'm not sure how much it helps with aerodynamics, but I keep it on for the splash protection. Just something else to keep road grime from accumulating on that part of the engine. I took the absorbent pads off about half a year ago, and the cover has been fine.

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OldStyle

· #9 · Nov 22, 2012

I hadn't really thought about water absorbing but water evaporates. Oil floats on water so that makes it self cleaning... :19:

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hfarthington

· #10 · Sep 27, 2017

Zombie Bump. Where would one find fresh, clean OE absorbent pads for cheap?

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eagleeye

· #11 · Sep 27, 2017

hfarthington said:
Zombie Bump. Where would one find fresh, clean OE absorbent pads for cheap?

diaper isle :wink2:

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if you take the whole thing off the car and stand it on edge a pint of oil might drip out of the pads on the floor over a week

.....and you keep using it no changes.