Looks like I hit something somehow after I got my oil changed... Never noticed if maybe there was something wrong with the shroud but now it's all smashed up and it seems to have reduced my MPG by at least 5mpg because I'm not getting the usual 40.

I wasn't going to care about it much, but when I saw it might be the culprit to my reduced MPG recently, should I take it to the dealer or should I just remove it until I can afford a new one?

 

you might be able to salvage it by using a heat gun and straightening it. i had this happen on my other car where i ran over a damn hubcap and my car was lowered.

i put my car on ramps, removed the shroud, and just used a heatgun to bend it back into shape as much as possible.. you're probably missing a few hardware so check the DIY oil change section on the screws and tabs used.

 

Personally i would crawl under there and remove it all together. I Highly doubt that simple piece will improve your MPG all that much on our car that isnt all that aerodynamic to begin with.

Otherwise, try the heat gun trick to iron the wrinkle, or leave it out in the sun for a bit and place somethign heavy on it to see if the plastic will reform.

 

Take it to the dealer, took a few minutes to fix mine and put it back on.

 

I wonder if the shroud was properly re-attached during the oil change. Imagine if part of the shroud came loose and was hanging down, it could have gotten snagged on anything.

 

it is possible. most of these shroud problems seems to occur after dealer visits..


but then people drive with no regard to ramps and bumps so who knows..

 

Probably not. Plus those Tabs looks hella flimsy