stevetone Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Just finished an oil change (the second one since adding the Forester to the fleet). Tell me a GOOD reason not to take the silly plastic belly pan, and those engineering miracle thumbtacks that hold it all together, completely off my 2003 Forester? Yeah, I've done the search. The guys at the SFOF say keep it on for "aerodynamic" reason. Yeah, right. Like it just slips through the air with it on... OK, I feel better. Just needed to blow off some steam ("one word...plastics"). Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine73 Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Hi steve. You could probably take it off if you want. Certain soob years and models have that pan and some don't. My '00obw has that thing, but once I figured out there is an access hole for the oil drain plug and a slide out part for the oil filter access I don't worry about it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screwbaru2 Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 My 97 leg plastics got rip off this past winter by hard packed snow. I don't see any problems without them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickb21 Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 The plastic guard on my '02 obw is cracked a bit, so I zip tied it back together... My sis's '00 legacy didn't come with one. The only difference I noticed was that the plastic seems to protect the underside from moisture coming up off the driveway (parked). With the plastic I see a decent amount less rust. But then again, with all the salt they use up here, who knows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attempt6 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I suspect the plastic also is meant to reduce wind drag, thereby increasing fuel economy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 It may help to maintain a low pressure area behind the radiator. Or maybe not- it could even hinder air from escaping and so actually may keep the engine bay at a higher pressure than it otherwise would. Someone could hook an hour-meter to their radiator fan and track fan usage vs. pan-on, pan-off. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-fleet-feet Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Awww, you'd take the pan off and give all those cold, homeless rodents no place to go when it's cold? Why, they really need it, since it's a place to sleep off the meal they just had on your wiring. Call it the Motel 6 of the moused-car world: Subie 4 - and we'll leave the pan on for you! As you can tell, I hate plastic pans too... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOthis Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 and every person who takes it down and puts it back up and down and up and down and up ends up stripping all the little bolts.....i got one the other day were i guy was holding it on with zip ties...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brus brother Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Most of the 2008s are running without the diaper. There is one exception but I can't remember which model still has the shield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOthis Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 it is kind of nice with the new ones that have the "oil filter access" cover with only the little clips.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mslatfly Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Most of the 2008s are running without the diaper. There is one exception but I can't remember which model still has the shield. My 08 OB 2.5i Base model doesn't have it. And here I thought I was missing out on something.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quidam Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Tell me a GOOD reason not to take the silly plastic belly pan Steve Plastic doesn't stick to rocks. Sincerely, Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinsUBARU Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 I took the one on my Legacy wagon off and put a Primitive Racing skid plate on. It's still a little clumsey, but it doesn't rip off in the winter:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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