Removing 'Under Fairing' for easy oil changes?

4542 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by raymond~, Apr 18, 2017

snowshed

Discussion Starter · Apr 16, 2017

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::

See less See more

Save

1 - 2 of 8 Posts

snowshed

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 18, 2017

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

See less See more

Save

1 - 2 of 8 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month