Big issue-skid plates available?

[cosmart]

I saw my first 2008 smart last night at the dealer. As my usual procedure, I crawled underneath to take a look.

The oil filter is unbelievably exposed on this car. It actually hangs off the bottom of the engine, waaaay down just behind the rear diff. Great for easy oil changes, not so great if you drive in any kind of even mildly rough conditions.

I can see the filter getting knocked by any number of things. Oil filters are not that robust, and if it is punctured, you are in big trouble if you are not watching for the idiot light. I could even see someone getting hung up on a snow bank yanking the thing off or at least damaging it in getting unstuck.

Skid plate anyone?

[randyzimmer]

According to another thread, Subaru filters cross.
Our Saabaroo filter is 2-3/4" high.
#32009814

[Evilution]

Just relocate the filter.

[LorbeerTLC]

Yeah, I hear you. I too crawled underneath a 451 and said out loud, "OMG!", crawled back out and laughed.
Maybe it's nothing... but I agree one good "WHACK" and you're in big trouble (let's see... along with a spare tire, I need to carry a spare oil filter... check!).
It will be interesting in a few years to check over this forum to see if any horror stories develop.

[cosmart]

Originally Posted by Evilution

Just relocate the filter.

Are there any kits available? It is not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of oil flow parameters and a poorly engineered 'solution' will be worse than the risk.

Not to mention I can guarantee if you have an internal engine problem and a relocated filter, your warranty is not going to cover your issue.

I think a nice bright plastic skid plate painted or (better) molded to match the body panels would sell. You don't need an offroad solution, just something to keep road debris or chunks of snow from ripping the filter off, which I think is a distinct possibility the way things are.

[Old smart]

Remote oil filters are not uncommon and there are many sources for them. They are very commonly used with competition engines, where oil flow is critical, with good results. I used one on the Caterham Seven where the same oil pump take-off plate served both the remote filter and the oil radiator.

The "nut" with a smart is where to put the remote.

[jediknight36]

I would suggest asking your dealer, but last time I had a safety concern, the manager kind of blew me off, saying it would never happen (front panel being tampered with).

[SmartTech]

its in the very rear of the car, the only way to hit it is backing up, the oil pan shields it from front. in the rear the muffler hangs low enough its going to hit first as well. these cars actually have some good ground clearance. another thing is its in line with the tire and when the tire raises so does the oil pan. I worked at a saab dealer and i cant tell you how many oil pans we sold from people hitting them.

[Evilution]

Originally Posted by cosmart

Are there any kits available?

Of course not, us Europeans don't go rough terraining in our smarts like you crazy bunch

Originally Posted by cosmart

It is not as easy as it sounds.

For some maybe, take a look for a Mocal supplier in America.
You'd need a non thermostatic take off plate, a cover plate, 2 joining pipes and a remote filter head. Approximate cost $140 and you can decide on what filter thread you want to use, you can use longer regular filters and if you felt inclined you could add an inline oil stat and a radiator for extra cooling.

[Old smart]

I don’t know if there are any similarities between the Mitsubishi Colt/smart forfour’s 4G15 engine and the smart fortwo’s Mitsu 3B2x, but MOCAL (UK) stocks a take-off plate for the Colt (TOP1F/TOPO1F), along with various filter heads, radiators, and connectors.

MOCAL is available in the US from BAT, Inc. (http://www.batinc.net/)

N.B. MOCAL also stocks a spin-on oil filter adapter for the smart 450.