[Filters & Oil] Engine Undertray

[CourierJim]

I did my first oil and filter change on my new 2015 spec 1.6HDi L2 LX van yesterday, and was disappointed to find that Citroen now fit a large plastic and metal engine undertray to the engine compartment, which has to be removed to gain access to the sump drain plug. The tray is attached using 7 x 10mm bolts and 2 x 10mm nuts on captive bolts.

Even though Citroen have now extended the recommended oil change interval from 12,500 to 16,000 miles, this will still mean an oil change every 8-10 weeks on my van due to the high mileages that I cover. Not wanting the hassle of removing this tray each time I want to drain the oil; I made an "access hatch" below the sump plug, which I re-attach using 4 standard PSA black 20mm trim fixing buttons. At the same time, I have enlarged an existing hole in the undertray to give me future access to the gearbox drain plug.

I won't have to undo 9 bolts and nuts, and juggle with a mucky undertray to change my engine or gearbox oil now.

[reedx]

Sounds a great idea. Do you have a pic of your access hatch?

Colin

[Solent]

Surely your van is under warranty?
Until it has proven itself I don't think I would be so willing to void my dealer backup. Your choice of course.

[CourierJim]

Solent, I don't think that cutting a 3" diameter hole in a plastic undertray to access a sump plug would "void" a warranty surely? Reedx, I will take a pic sometime, but it's very boring, basically I used a 4"x6" rectangle of flexible black plastic taken from an old household mirror, drilled a 10mm hole in each corner, and used it (with PSA panel buttons) to cover the 3" circular hole I'd cut in the undertray underneath the sump plug!

[Lighty]

One word of warning, these under trays will simply not come undone due to corrosion on the bolts, sometimes even on the 1st service.
My advice would be to remove each fixing & grease it (a lot). If you leave the tray untouched for a while it will have to be smashed off, and they are expensive .

[Bill Rose]

I took the whole thing off because it was so annoying & heavy & got in the way &,&,&.

Anyway I took it off it hardly protects anything and very little of the aero dynamics, smoothing the air under the car.

See my post about Amelie a working van


Love and Kisses Bill

[CourierJim]

One word of warning, these under trays will simply not come undone due to corrosion on the bolts, sometimes even on the 1st service.
My advice would be to remove each fixing & grease it (a lot). If you leave the tray untouched for a while it will have to be smashed off, and they are expensive .

Yes, good words. Because I won't have to remove the undertray in future, I made sure that I gave each nut and bolt a good coating in engine oil before I put them back.

[Jed Clampit]

Some silicone grease will last a lot longer and will not dry out ??

[Oscarstan]

Just had mine smashed off by a large dead deer in the dark at 70 mph. Saved the sump I think.
Does anyone know roughly the price of a new one?
The last Berlingo before this the undertray must have been left off when I had it serviced at a dealer in Peterbrough. Didn't notice it till I serviced it myself 6 months later and 150 miles away, never replaced it, servicing time reduced by half.

[CourierJim]

Oscarstan, I had to buy a new undertray for my '56' reg B59 once, and it cost £100 from a Citroen dealership. I would not be surprised if it cost quite a bit more now for the B9, as there is a greater metal to plastic content in my current undertray.