Do you need a sump guard?

31st January 2007, 08:49

Ok at somepoint (if my missis stops saying can we have another holiday) when/if I ever get round to fitting my new suspension kit, will I need a sump guard?

If all goes to plan . . . (When does it ever) . . . The car will be lowered 35mm (no tarmac scraping monster but I have my reasons) a lower anti roll bar and Im down sizing my 15" S rims to 14" Rallye Steelies with 185/55's.

Me and the missis always seem to find mountain speed bums and 90' Multi Story carpark ramps. Would a sump guard protect my sump and Manifold?

or is it a waste of mullars?

31st January 2007, 12:37

waste of money plenty of people far lower than you that manage fine

31st January 2007, 12:39

you shouldn't hit the sump going over speed bumps.
If going slowly the front suspension won't compress enough to put them at risk

Now if you were rallying.. yes fit one

31st January 2007, 13:45

Thats guys big help :-)

31st January 2007, 13:55

i was down about 60mm front and never had any problems with the sump hitting things. The bumper would hit the bump before the sump does

31st January 2007, 16:10

Its only that my last car was lower somewhere between 30mm-40mm with a large spliter on the front and I split it half hour after leaving the body shop - Could have cry'd (I think I did come too think about it)

I think I was only 4" off the tarmac @the front and had a really long over hang at the front from the front wheels to the bumper, so the spliter hit the bumps before the wheels could lift it over the bump

31st January 2007, 16:11

See the far left side - massive crack in the Fibre Glass.

Took 3weeks on special order to get it from Germany then 30mins out bodyshop . . . CRACK SMASH :-(

2nd February 2007, 09:35

should be fine m8 i had a old mini that was lower than sense and that was always fine so it shouldnt be a problem, a sump guard however can look good but if your not rallying a possible waste of money

3rd February 2007, 13:52

not needed for sure.

lol at the bodykitted nastyness getting screwed up.

3rd February 2007, 16:09

^^^

Not really bodykit just a really nice splitter that totally transformed the front of the cougar.

Must say I am still running standars S suspension and the amount of speed bumps that I catch my centre box on is crazy!

3rd February 2007, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTS_16v_Boy

^^^

Not really bodykit just a really nice splitter that totally transformed the front of the cougar.

Must say I am still running standars S suspension and the amount of speed bumps that I catch my centre box on is crazy!

take the speed bumps differently then.

my btb has large center boxes and ive never scraped a speed bump ever.

splitter is a body transformation

3rd February 2007, 16:15

I personally see no reason why sump guard isnt a good idea on road cars.
My Moms MK4 Golf has a cover over the engine (only plastic) but I imagine
that this protects the engine from dirty and water etc etc.

Having a sump guard on a saxo would project the manifold/sump/gearbox
from scrapping as well as debris and dirty.
Im sure they aid stability like a lower strut too!

3rd February 2007, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushy_23

I personally see no reason why sump guard isnt a good idea on road cars.
My Moms MK4 Golf has a cover over the engine (only plastic) but I imagine
that this protects the engine from dirty and water etc etc.

Having a sump guard on a saxo would project the manifold/sump/gearbox
from scrapping as well as debris and dirty.
Im sure they aid stability like a lower strut too!

how would a great big cover increase stability.. it would proabably increase drag, or lift at the front wheels depending on its design.

and its not like sumps on saxos sit low either, and they are quite thick metal which they are made of.

the golf cover is the same as most covers nowadays on engines like the clio 2.0l etc....

3rd February 2007, 18:28

Having a big peice of aluminium on the underside of the car from left to
right will obviously have some affect on the cars geometry which taking
corners.
Not drastically but I would of though so?

Quote:

the golf cover is the same as most covers nowadays on engines like the clio 2.0l etc....

^ Whats that point refering to?
My point was that more modern cars have covers so there is no reason why
you cant fit a sump guard for an everyday driver.

3rd February 2007, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushy_23

Having a big peice of aluminium on the underside of the car from left to
right will obviously have some affect on the cars geometry which taking
corners.
Not drastically but I would of though so?

^ Whats that point refering to?
My point was that more modern cars have covers so there is no reason why
you cant fit a sump guard for an everyday driver.

aluminium would add to any structural stifness whatsoever, and the way it attaches to the underside of the car would not give much additional gains at all. remeber a lower brace is a tube which links to the lower part of the suspension/chassis.

a sump gaurd will be there to meerly protect the sump, something which is not needed on a raod car as you are not going through gavel stages with hug rocks as high speed like a rally car.

as i stated it could actually cause lift due to a large surface area under the car effecting the aerodynamics of the front end, due to a large flat surface area under the car. which wont be good on motorways.

and the golf cover is not a sump gaurd. its there to cover the coilpack/leads/plugs etc... dependsing on the model of car.

the saxo engine has this just not in such a large manner.

3rd February 2007, 19:24

Tis cool mate, more info the better.
Cheers.

3rd February 2007, 19:29

just at times rememeber adding stuff isnt allways the best option. the only reason its there in some cases is for need. i doubt a rally car would run one if it wasnt needed. and even the ones they use will be tested in the wind tunnel to not effect the cars aerodynamic proportions.

3rd February 2007, 19:33

Pooking hell thats kinda scary in reality, imagine taking off lol.
So there is ample protection to your cars family jewels as standard?

3rd February 2007, 19:38

in reality a car wont take off. but if the sump gaurd acts as an area where air increases drag you could effectivly be reducing grip at the front end.

std sumps are fine.. theyre robust unless you hit huge solid things at speed. and look at your car the sump isnt big on the TU so doesnt hang uber low.

3rd February 2007, 19:56

I ruined my manifold and dented a bit of the sump off-roading without a sump/mani guard (never again), otherwise there's absolutly no need for it for everyday road users.