For some amazing reason my factory rubber/plastic splash shield is still on my jeep, the one that covers the bottom of the engine compartment. Does that do anything or should I toss it and see if my engine temps come down a bit?

 

I run it cause the alternator is down there.
I doubt it would run cooler without but.......
I think it might warm up a little faster especially in winter but.....
LOL.
Plus I don't thrash around out there anymore. My XJ is just DD.
So it catching all the mud and whatnot that I assume it does when on there is not an issue.

 

It shields splash. Exactly as the name of it suggests.

 

If the splash shield is causing your engine to run hotter then there’s some other underlying problem. My 01 still had it and it ran at the temp that it was designed to run. What temp is your engine running at?

 

It doesn't run hot all the time, usually around 205-210 unless I'm sitting or going super slow, then it may creep up to 215 or so.

 

Thats a very normal temp.

 

I had mine off for one summer, it was torn up, and I ordered a new one before the winter came. We get heavy snow, slush, and lots of salt here. So I would not run my XJ in winter without it. I also confirmed that it actually made my engine run cooler, not hotter (I have a digital dash that tracks this type of thing). I think having it in place forces the air flow over the motor and (more importantly) the transmission better, instead of allowing the air to simply dump out of the bottom before picking up much heat energy.

 

I can understand wanting the splash shield to protect the alternator. But other than that, is there any good reason to have the shield? Should I replace mine that's in bad shape? Where to buy? Cost? Is it worth the effort?

 

I won't run without it but hey that is just me.
Part # is 55174736.
And they are still available.
The going rate at a Mopar online place is about $65 and that is before shipping and tax.
Found this place and to me is about $65 with shipping and tax.

https://www.detroitmuscletechnologie...yABEgJqc_D_BwE

Also here which is about $40 before shipping and tax.

http://www.northernautoparts.com/part/ox-s-55174736

Thing about this site is the part # is S-55174736 and there is no picture.
Now I have never dealt with them but have dealt with a place called Oconee Offroad.
They do the same thing, put an S in front of the part numbers and don't show a picture.
I have ordered from Oconee about 4 times. Every time exactly what I wanted.
Going to have the same luck at the Northern place? not a clue.

 

They do absolutely nothing,

if you use your Jeep. I've never had one and would remove it if I did.

 

Reply to old post. Even driving around with your hood removed doesn't change the running engine temperature. It simply lets heat out of the engine compartment.

 

Do you think it helps the alternator when you drive through water crossings? It does nothing.

 

True but my guess is anybody that does deeper water crossings got rid of their AC compressor and relocated the alternator there.
Probably after the second or third time learning the hard way. LOL.

 

It's a splash shield not a submerge shield.

 

It does a lot for a DD that never fords a stream. Obviously, if you are going to be fording streams, it's not doing anything for you.

Is is really so hard to understand that different uses require different equipment?