I noticed the under the motor shield which is largely a glorified piece of cardboard was hanging down. One of the bolt holes is ripped out so I temporarily tied it up. What is the purpose of this shield, is it for aero dynamics, possibly to retain heat in the engine compartment? Interested in comments and from similar experiences.

 

4x4? Or 4x2?

 

Shewil, I have a 2019 4x4 and mine did the same thing a couple weeks ago. I just removed it. haven't noticed anything different.

Good luck.

 

Many threads on this, many opinions, ya might as well have started another oil thread. Many take them off and say the heck with it. I like mine on for 2 reasons. Makes the cats less obvious to steal, and in my midwest winter, might keep some ice and snow from hanging off some of the wires and plugs down there.

 

Great points SpencerPJ, I would lit to replace it with a metal cover. I will have to look and see if I can find one some where and what other years will fit.

 

It is a sound deadening shield and nothing more. I removed mine years ago, actually when I did the second oil change, and have had no issues. When I removed mine, I removed the clip on nuts on the frame so they wouldn't rattle. After a few months I just got rid of it.

I've never heard of this generation F150 cats being stolen. The cats on these trucks are too hard to access with a sawzall, tucked up nicely near the frame and a cross member.

 

I personally caught a thug under my truck coming back from a hike in a state park in GA. I feel the same as you, how would they get to the top, the cats are up high, I'm not risking it, I like my cover.

OP: there are a few aftermarket companies that make really nice ones. RCi and Talons are a couple. I've been considering wrapping mine with fiberglass to reinforce it. Others make shift contraptions. I have added a fomoto valve as my oil plug, great access is no longer required, just enough to plug my drain hose in and flip the lever.

 

what exactly is a “tomato plug” ?

 

FUMOTO

Best money spent on what was once a messy job. Now connect hose, fill a couple containers, no mess at all

 

The shield under my wife's 2018 is getting in pretty rough shape and probably won't make the winter. I haven't decided what I'll do with it when the time comes, I like the idea of removing it all together but I also like that is offers some protection from snow and mud getting slung up in that area.

 

It serves two purposes: it is a sound deadener, and it helps smooth out the airflow under the truck, improving aerodynamics. Basically it keeps air from hitting the various crossmembers under the truck, and reduces drag. The fact that it also keeps snow and ice from building up around the engine and trans is an unintended benefit.

My wife's did this approximately 6 months after we bought it, I pulled it and threw it in the bed until her warranty appointment to get it replaced. It has not happened again, and we bought the truck new in 2019. I would suggest they had an issue at assembly where a torque gun was likely set too high and tearing into the 'cardboard' slightly, allowing water intrusion to the inner fibers that causes these things to fail. Replacement with a new part and not over-torquing them seems to fix it.

I have plans to replace it with an actual skid plate if it ever comes apart again, though.

 

I had the same problem as the OP with the engine cover on my 2020 STX 2.7L EB. Here is the Ford part number for the aluminum engine cover plate (they call it a skid plate): FL1Z-5D032-A

 

I went to that site and found the F150 part to be FL3Z-5D032-A.

You can put in your VIN or model info to confirm.