There are various things you might need to learn about your car. Such as the plastic piece below the bumper. You may want to know what it is called and its purpose. Here’s everything you may need to know.
The plastic piece under your car’s front bumper is the lower valance. It protects the bumper and engine from debris, dirt, and other impacts that may damage their components. The valance also works as a covering panel and covers the car’s unsightly parts below.
A splash guard is an essential component in your car’s undercarriage. It protects your engine from any debris the car may come across on the road. The splash guard is made from plastic and is situated below the engine to deflect debris and dirt from its essential components.
It also boosts aerodynamics by redirecting airflow near the engine. Over time, the splash guard may wear out or get damaged. Therefore, you must always inspect it and replace it where necessary.
What is the plastic piece under the rear bumper called?
The plastic piece at the bottom of your car’s front bumper is the front lower valance or air dam. It’s for enhancing aerodynamics and keeping your car safe from damage. The valance also deflects air around the car front to limit drag and enhance fuel efficiency.
It also keeps the engine components safe from debris kicked up by the tires. The valance is made of plastic, making it prone to damage from debris on the road and collisions. Therefore, always check the condition of the valance and replace it where necessary.
What is the plastic piece under the front bumper used for?
The lower valance seems like a minor part plays a significant role in a car. It covers the gap behind the main bumper cover. Let’s see how the component benefits your car.
Covering panel
The lower valance is mounted beneath the bumper. The auto part is designed to hide the skeletal body part of the vehicle. This concealing component also houses the engine’s bay’s fog lights and grills.
Aesthetic appeal
A valance is factory-installed, but aftermarket versions are available. Different finishes, such as chrome metal, are offered to match various vehicles. This covering panel conceals the car’s unpainted parts near the underside. This enhances the car’s overall look.
Safe maneuvering
Apart from making the car look good, the lower valance helps you safely maneuver the car on the road. It enhances airflow over and under the car by redirecting it. The lower valance ensures that you drive all the time safely.
Maintaining cleanliness
The lower valance also allows for maintaining the car’s body’s cleanliness. It limits road grime, debris, and dirt from getting to your vehicle’s chassis and other metal parts. The chassis is prone to premature wearing when impurities get to it.
You’ll spend a lot of money repairing or replacing the chassis.
Air guidance
The lower valance guides air through the radiator. Without this component, the air from the grille would escape through the open space.
Other ways to protect your bumper
Car manufacturers install the lower valance to protect the bumper from damage. Common causes of damage to the bumper include:
- Rolled curbs
- Speed bumps
- Steep driveways
- Large debris on the road
- Parking curbs
- Snow on the road
Car makers install a lower valance to keep the bumper safe. However, they make it in plastic which needs to be more durable. Plastic breaks when scraped or hit, exposing the bumper. Here’s what you can do.
Replace the valance
You can get an aftermarket valance with a sporty and unique look. This will protect your bumper from damage. However, you may need to paint it to match your car. Additionally, an aftermarket valance may lower your car’s ground clearance. This increases the chances of the valance getting scraped or broken.
Cover the bumper with transparent film
Using a transparent film to cover your bumper is a wonderful alternative that maintains your car’s ground clearance. There’s a transparent film suitable for car hoods, although it’s pretty expensive. Installing the transparent film on the bumper takes some time.
The film only prevents light scrapes on the bumper.
Install a rubber bumper lip
This wonderful upgrade to your bumper offers more protection than the transparent film. A rubber lip is flexible, making it resistant to breaking when hit. It just bends against the bumper increasing its surface area hence more protection.
What is the plastic piece under the rear bumper called?
The plastic piece under the front bumper is known as the bumper energy absorber. It’s made of thick styrofoam to absorb impact in a collision. A bumper energy absorber protects the metal bumper from any damage.
Some people call it a mudguard or splash guard. It keeps debris and rocks from getting into the bumper assembly, making it prone to damage.
Conclusion
A front bumper has a plastic piece under it for protection from impact. The lower valance also improves car aerodynamics and covers the unpainted area under it. A valance is made from plastic making it prone to damage and exposing the bumper making its repair or replacement vital.
