When venturing off-road, skid plates are indispensable for protecting your vehicle's undercarriage from rocks, debris, and other hazards. While they offer crucial protection, it's natural to wonder how these robust additions might impact routine maintenance tasks, especially common procedures like oil changes.
ASFIR skid plates are designed from the ground up with the DIYer in mind, as seen in their modular design, light weight, and 100% perfect fit. This also reflect in the product design considering maintenance activities:
Oil Changes
The most frequent maintenance task affected by skid plates is undoubtedly the oil change.
Almost all vehicles have their oil drain plug and oil filter positioned on the underside, areas that are intentionally covered for protection.
ASFIR skid plates are designed to allow you to access the drain bolt and filter using common hand tools. At most, you may need to keep a rag on hand to wipe any small oil splashes from your shiny skid plate.
Differential Fluid Changes
Both front and rear differentials also require periodic fluid changes, especially when off-roading frequently. For that reason, ASFIR differential skid plates are designed in a way that allows for draining and re-filling the differential using common hand tools, without touching the skid plates
Transfer Case and transmission Fluid Changes
The transfer case is typically located in the middle of the vehicle's undercarriage, a prime area for skid plate protection. Same with the transmission, often bolted directly to the engine.
Though we do our best with our designs to enable access without removing skid plates, in some vehicles such as the Wrangler JL even Jeep themselves have designed the OEM underbody panels to be removed in order to easily access the drain and fill bolts. Fortunately, we have designed our skid plates with modularity and lightness in mind, so removing and reinstalling the skid plates can be done quickly and easily.
Other Services
In case of servicing or replacing other components, such as the exhaust or suspension components, we have designed our skid plates with modularity and lightness in mind, so removing and reinstalling the skid plates can be done quickly and easily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while skid plates are invaluable for protecting your off-road investment, they do add an extra layer to routine maintenance. By understanding these effects and making informed choices, you can ensure your vehicle remains both protected and properly serviced.
