Cut Hole in Plastic Skid Plate

[Vvarak]

Hi, I've done 2 oil changes in my 2013 Jetta TDI now and hate removing the plastic skid plate under there.
Has anyone cut a small hole in it directly under the oil drain plug?
Just curious if it would whistle or worse create enough drag to pull the plate off.
(I realize there are metal skid plates with holes, but I'm just curious about the existing plastic one.)
Thanks!

 

[ytjetta]

Vvarak: Do you see any battle scars on the skid plate? especially on the side where you plan to cut? If so, I wouldn't do it if I were you...

 

[Tdijarhead]

The only thing a plastic belly pan is good for is to keep out "small", very small debris. Do you think that the plastic belly pan wll protect your engine from a fist sized rock at say 45 mph or a chunk of hard ice that falls of the truck in front of you at 65 mph? How about a shredded recap tire from the same truck? A dead woodchuck? Get a real skid plate diesel geek or other brand. Diesel geek has a hole pre cut for oil changes. That would give you piece of mind next time that chunk of firewood shows up in the middle of the road and you have no place to go but right over it, oil changes are a lot easier also you won't have to take that plastic debris blocking device off to change it.

 

[6DOF]

Why not use an oil extractor and pull all of that used oil out through the dipstick?

http://www.pelaproducts.com/

 

[elconquistador]

^^^this

 

[Ol'Rattler]

So how do you do the rest of the scheduled maintenance that requires removal of the lower cover to inspect the underside of the drive train?

A 10K miles service is not just an oil change. Read the maintenance schedule............

 

[Vvarak]

I had a metal skid plate on my old jetta and plan to get one eventually. I understand the risks.
I tried the pump from above and didn't prefer the method. Thanks though.
As for maintenance, I hadn't thought of that. Good point. But I checked and the visual inspection is every 40k. And yes I'm that lazy and yes I want to wear the minimum amount of flare.

I appreciate the advice. But I'm just curious if any tried to cut a hole.

 

[ESFlash]

I too haven't joined the pump out thru the dipstick tube club and also dislike removing that plastic belly pan and have considered cutting a hole. I hvnt yet, but I did buy a Fumoto valve some time back along with the extension and the drain hose -- pricey, but they make the changes a snap, plus you can loosen the back of the belly pan, get your arm in there, put the hose on the nipple and "snap" the valve open.

Here is one vendor -- there are others:

http://www.lubricationspecialist.com/f-series/fumoto-oil-drain-valve-f106n/

 

[rerick10290]

I have a 2013 JSW TDI and the previous owner cut a small hole to access the drain plug and then shaped an old no parking sign and screwed that in place over the hole with some self tappers. It's not the best thing I've ever seen but it keeps me from having to remove the skid plate lol