[snowshed]

Hello all,
Bought my first Frontier a month ago after always having Toyota trucks.

I was looking under the front of the truck to see where the oil filter is and how access to the oil drain plug was.
I was shocked to find it hidden behind a plastic 'Under Fairing' with a tiny removable cover on it for 'access' to the oil filter. :surprise:

Well I decided to get a closer look and started by removing the fairing....
Voila! THERE IT IS! Easy Access ::grin::

I kept looking for a reason for the fairing other than to act as a splash guard for habitual off roaders.
OK I can understand that.
But I am always careful before just removing something that is in the way on something like this.

I kept looking at the bottom of the radiator and oil coolers....
And how Nissan went to the trouble of gluing a gray flexible 'curtain' that hangs down from the bottom of the coolers and apparently bottoms out on the 'Under Fairing'.
Presumably to direct the incoming air THRU the coolers and to not let any escape out below them.

Does this make any sense to anybody??? :nerd:

I have filled the 'gap' with a flexible 'plate'. And now the gray 'curtain' grounds out against my 'plate'.
It is certainly as effective a block as things were with the stock 'Under Fairing' in place.

Now, any mechanic has easy access to the oil filter etc. And I think I have maintained the integrity of the airflow thru the radiators. :angel:

I'd LOVE to hear any comments.
Perhaps I have made much to do about nothing???
Has anyone else removed the Under Fairing with no bad consequences???

Thanks!
Love my new truck. I think they ruined the 'New' Tacomas....
Nissan hasn't ruined the Frontier. YET! (Navarra) ::grin::
So I bought a nice NEW shiny 2017 Crew Cab Long Bed with the 4.0 engine
::smile::

 

[yesterdaysradios]

I'd put it back on. It's there for a reason. The 4x4's get a metal shield, where us 4x2's get plastic. It helps somewhat with vehicle aerodynamics, it also helps keep water out of the alternator (do you drive in the rain?) as it's located near the bottom of the engine. I do my own oil changes and don't have a problem. The little access door is mainly to drain the oil from the filter. Reach in on the passenger side and remove it. It's not that difficult, after you do it at least once. No need to even ramp the truck.

 

[LittleBull]

What he said^^^. The alternator is right there, practically touching the ground. It's the reason I left mine on.

 

[shift_RUSH]

I'd put it back on. It's there for a reason. The 4x4's get a metal shield, where us 4x2's get plastic. It helps somewhat with vehicle aerodynamics, it also helps keep water out of the alternator (do you drive in the rain?) as it's located near the bottom of the engine. I do my own oil changes and don't have a problem. The little access door is mainly to drain the oil from the filter. Reach in on the passenger side and remove it. It's not that difficult, after you do it at least once. No need to even ramp the truck.

Through the passenger side wheel well with the front wheels cranked hard right.

 

[BCBrian]

I never realized the 2X4 has a plastic version of the sheet metal skid plate that the 4X4 comes with. With the low hanging plastic radiator on the Frontier, I'd recommend putting it back on so it can deflect anything that might damage the radiator or alternator. Even on a street only driven truck, it would not be hard for a piece of road debris to bounce up and cause some damage.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[snowshed]

Thanks guys!Allofyour comments really helped. Especially the ones on how to actually access the oil filter. Accessing it from the front passenger side corner. And how the weird little cover is really just to let the oil from removing the filter drool down the metal channel and out into a pan.

So I put the fairing back on but cut about an inch off the passenger side corner so my arm can easily access the filter without the fairing digging into my arm. And this is without turning the front wheels at all.

Now I believe the fairing has 3 functions.
1. As a splash guard.
2. To help the general front end aerodynamics AND funneling cooling air THRU the radiators and oil coolers.
3. As a structural member to strengthen the plastic front air dam assembly. As wimpy and flexible as the fairing is it attaches in 6 places four are to frame members.

I'm happy now. So thanks a lot!
Will probably be back as I discover more mysteries of how Nissan does things vs Toyota

Peter

 

[09eq]

Will probably be back as I discover more mysteries of how Nissan does things vs Toyota

Peter

I drive a 4Runner also - I'd swear the w/s wipers are backwards from my Equatier and seems I'm always fumbling on both.

 

[raymond~]

you ought to see us with Mercedes which has very similar under engine panels
grumbling on the forums. it sure does keep the engine noticeably cleaner
between washes though.

with the Frontier, you may see threads where owners have installed a Fumoto
valve to help ease the challenges during our oil changes.