Hi Briskoda, long time viewer and first time poster.

 

Recently purchased a VRS 230 my15 and i love the car. Naturally i want to tinker with it, why not make the car overall a better vehicle. 

 

The first thing i noticed when i looked under the car was how exposed the plastic oil pan is. 

 

i can remedy this with ether a metal oil pan or a skid plate. What would be a better option in your opinion?

 

Skid plate is an easier install and also covers the rest of the belly. My guess its downside is weight?

 

Any insight would be appreciated :)

One of the first things I did when I bought mine was to get an ECS Tuning metal oil sump fitted, as I was similarly concerned about the exposed plastic sump. 

 

Fabricating a skid plate might be fine, but is also likely reducing ground clearance whilst increasing complexity to the vehicle (i.e. finding mounting points, making sure there's no interference etc).

 

For minimal cost and less effort, you could upgrade the part and have peace-of-mind that it's an OEM+ fit (I was trying to find a link to the Gen 3 EA888 metal sump online, but Awesome GTI seem to only have Gen 1/2 currently). Have a dig around and see what you can find, but I would recommend just buying and fitting the part - less hassle.

21 minutes ago, Ads230 said:

One of the first things I did when I bought mine was to get an ECS Tuning metal oil sump fitted, as I was similarly concerned about the exposed plastic sump. 

 

Fabricating a skid plate might be fine, but is also likely reducing ground clearance whilst increasing complexity to the vehicle (i.e. finding mounting points, making sure there's no interference etc).

 

For minimal cost and less effort, you could upgrade the part and have peace-of-mind that it's an OEM+ fit (I was trying to find a link to the Gen 3 EA888 metal sump online, but Awesome GTI seem to only have Gen 1/2 currently). Have a dig around and see what you can find, but I would recommend just buying and fitting the part - less hassle.

Thx for the answer

 

Prefabricated skid plate actually exists.

https://www.skid-plate.com/steel-skid-plate-for-the-protection-of-the-engine-and-the-gearbox-for-skoda-octavia-3-automatic-gearbox

 

Agreed on the rest. Oil pan does seem like a better choice. 

 

Any ea888 gen3 oil pans work, it doesnt have to be the same engine code (CHHA)? 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, skodilak230 said:

Prefabricated skid plate actually exists.

That's actually pretty cool, didn't know that existed! But yeah, I'd be concerned about the added weight and requirement to remove when conducting more invasive works or inspection than just an oil change. Especially since mine is lowered but not necessarily going to be hooning round fields or greenlaning  

 

1 hour ago, skodilak230 said:

Any ea888 gen3 oil pans work, it doesnt have to be the same engine code (CHHA)? 

Would guess so - I'm not savvy with the specifics per marque's OEM setup, but worthwhile checking with suppliers. 

Edited 3 May, 20206 yr by Ads230

Surely the plastic sump is hidden by the plastic engine guard?

 

You'd have to hit something pretty high and hard to pierce the engine guard and then penetrate the sump?

 

 

Edited 3 May, 20206 yr by silver1011

Or does it look like this?

 

 

More Skoda weight and cost savings 😐

 

It seems the petrol models have always had smaller engine undertrays, so maybe not a recent change afterall...

 

Edited 3 May, 20206 yr by silver1011

7 hours ago, Ads230 said:

That's actually pretty cool, didn't know that existed! But yeah, I'd be concerned about the added weight and requirement to remove when conducting more invasive works or inspection than just an oil change. Especially since mine is lowered but not necessarily going to be hooning round fields or greenlaning  

 

 

I also plan to lower the car a bit and considering i do tend to drive on dust rosds sometimes ground clearance is a thing to consider.

 

7 hours ago, silver1011 said:

Or does it look like this?

 

 

More Skoda weight and cost savings 😐

 

It seems the petrol models have always had smaller engine undertrays, so maybe not a recent change afterall...

 

 That would be it. Weird design choice imho, cost saving or not it just seems dumb.

I would go for the Golf ALLTRACK skid plate. It's reinforced plastic, OEM and lighter than metal skid plate.

 

This kit is for example, from US shop, but the parts are the same

 

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-skid-plate-kit-genuine-audi-vw-kit

 

edit: But it is quite expensive 😞

Edited 4 May, 20206 yr by Woland

Just need a cut out so the oil can be changed without removing the cover

 

I thought about the metal sump when I did my oil change and discovered the plastic sump.

 

Then I started to question it..

Although instinct tells you the plastic is worse, is it?  

It's thicker and has a honeycomb type structure on the outer side so I would say you'll probably find that pretty tough.    Plastic is also better at elastic deformation so it'll return to normal if it does form.

I mean, go get decent plastic storage box and hit it with a mallet.  You'll struggle to deform it.  Now go do the same to a metal biscuit tin...

Not completely representative bit you get the idea.

 

Also, I looked at the metal sump on my Honda and realised that in 13 years there's no so much as a scrape, so in reality, what's the risk and is there any point changing it?  Probably not.

14 hours ago, Alex-W said:

what's the risk and is there any point changing it?  Probably not

Yeah - to be honest with you, it was more of a 'good practice' approach than actually risk assessed properly. I was lowering the car, so I thought "hmm... should probably check out how I can protect the sump".

 

I'd also previously dinked my old Fiesta ST's sump when cross-parking on a high kerb outside a mate's house, so had experience of causing minor leaks - from obviously thinner metal. I'm sure it probably takes more considerable effort to crack the plastic one, but given that my other half takes it into fields fairly often for doing trade shows, a metal one made more sense. Plus I get a magnetic sump plug which pulls in any loose metal (for which I only need to replace O-rings).

 

As with everything, depends on personal situation and economies of cost. Could argue that 'driving carefully' would also be good at mitigating a hit...

Edited 5 May, 20206 yr by Ads230

22 hours ago, Woland said:

I would go for the Golf ALLTRACK skid plate. It's reinforced plastic, OEM and lighter than metal skid plate.

 

This kit is for example, from US shop, but the parts are the same

 

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-skid-plate-kit-genuine-audi-vw-kit

 

edit: But it is quite expensive 😞

Expensive is an understatement, CNC aluminum pans cost about the same. Maybe if i find one from a wrecked car. 

 

14 hours ago, Alex-W said:

I thought about the metal sump when I did my oil change and discovered the plastic sump.

 

Then I started to question it..

Although instinct tells you the plastic is worse, is it?  

It's thicker and has a honeycomb type structure on the outer side so I would say you'll probably find that pretty tough.    Plastic is also better at elastic deformation so it'll return to normal if it does form.

I mean, go get decent plastic storage box and hit it with a mallet.  You'll struggle to deform it.  Now go do the same to a metal biscuit tin...

Not completely representative bit you get the idea.

 

Also, I looked at the metal sump on my Honda and realised that in 13 years there's no so much as a scrape, so in reality, what's the risk and is there any point changing it?  Probably not.

Valid points here. I think even the plastic ones have metal lining but structurally its mostly plastic that keeps everything together. You are correct on the elastic deformation part, but i think metal pan would endure plastic deformation much better (unrecoverable deformation). My old car had a serious ding on the oil pan, its hard to say if a plastic one would be able to take it without cracking.

Yep, depends how hard a knock it gets.

A small knock i think would be fine and you'd get a scuff rather than a dent.

A big smack and you're more likely to crack it than cave it in.

 

So it then depends on how likely those are.

 

Obviously steel doesn't age and go brittle like plastic does also.