When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just changed the oil & filter this afternoon on our 2021 CX-30. The little oil filter access door (looks as if it is a mini skid plate) was totally gone when I drove the car up onto my ramps. My best guess is that the people at the port probably took it off during a Customs search and failed to re-install it properly. We just brought the car back with us from Germany - where we lived for a little over two years. We had it shipped over there in 2022 and had it shipped back home in September. I picked it up in Chesapeake, VA around the 20th of November.
I have no idea how long it has been missing, but I KNOW that it was on the car when we dropped it off to be shipped. They inspect everything thoroughly there. I had changed the oil not very much prior to that (I do it myself most of the time) and know that I secured it properly when I did it the last time. Just one of those things that can be aggravating, I suppose.
Does anybody have an idea of what that little door or plate costs? I probably won't need it - but it's one of those "peace of mind" things. They can help keep a rock or something from flying up and hitting the oil pan or even the oil filter. It might also help with wind resistance, but that ought not matter very much in typical US driving.
What do you even call that part anyway? I was going to see how much the dealership wants for it - and check to see if it is cheaper on-line. If it's under $15, I'll probably just buy it from them. Just under 37,000 miles on our CX-30 and it'll be four years old next month. Twelve more payments and she's ours! Our CX-30 has been great so far - across several nations in Europe and even a week in England, where they drive on the LEFT side of the road!
This should help? not have your exact vehicle trim and engine info so double check. But I think all these accessories panel covers are the same?
I remove the large panel #1 and the small front panel when I do oil service. I like to carefully check everything with a flash light in the dark to see if there are any issues or concerns that I can address before they become a problem. If you do this buy the plastic hold fasteners in advance .
If you want to see how particular Iam (friends say it a sickness ) here is my thread.
Thank you for the very informative reply! I don't need the big, huge plastic thing (skid plate?) that goes from the bottom of the bumper almost to where the transfer case & catalytic converter are located. That piece seems to be totally intact and would necessitate a lot of effort to remove it. From the diagrams you have attached, it is likely the part labeled as #4 or #5. There is one small trap door towards the front that has one hex screw holding it onto the big hard plastic skid plate. You "insert" the two points of it on one side and then tighten the single hex head screw with a small (8mm?) socket on the other side. That trap door is intact (I checked it yesterday when I was draining the oil).
The missing trap door that is removed to access the drain pan bolt and the oil filter sits back a bit farther and - if memory serves me correctly, it has three hex screws that hold it onto the skid plate. If it makes any difference, our 2021 CX-30 has the 2.5L non-turbo engine. There's no way it just 'fell off' - which is why I think somebody at the port removed it for a Customs check and failed to re-install it securely. Not the end of the world, but still irritating nevertheless. Again, I appreciate the reply and I'll be a bit better informed about it when I check the local Mazda dealer to see how much they charge for it. If it's more than $20, I suppose I will order it on-line.
P.S. You really did personalize your Mazda and you did it very tastefully. Amazing that you can do all that in California without getting in trouble with CARB, CHP, etc. They have some pretty oppressive rules regarding engine mods, exhaust, emissions, etc.
Thank you and yes, I was posting the first diagram of the full under cover and the 2 small covers that attach to it. Yes you are correct the small cover is accessed by metal fasteners so either someone forgot to replace the fasteners after a service or someone need that cover more then you.
Also there really is nothing that will happen if you leave that small cover off. Very little any debris or even water gets under the car and up into that area even with the cover off. I had my cover off for serval months trying to figure out what to replace it with> With the adapter on my oil filter the oil filter just slightly pushes on the cover. Sorta slightly bulges it out. Bugged me but until I install my CorkSport aluminum cover I just reinstalled the small plastic cover and ignored the slight bulge that no one except me would ever notice anyway. LOL
Yes living in Ca is always challenging however if pressed on any given emission testing, I can show that none of my I/M monitors are not ready and that my actual tail pipe emission is on the high as in positive side of the specifications for my VIN. In other words, I pollute less than the most all other model of MAZDA. I actually run even cleaner then that but I didn't want to draw attention to that fact. The other factor is I was ever required to have a visual inspection their is only 4 parts I would need to change back to OEM and that takes about an hour to do. Oh and upload the complete factory ECU program. The internal engine parts can not be known or scene so they would never come into question.
I was certified Emission qualified tester for several decades up until the bigging of this year. Ca required that all independent service stations licensed to do emission tested upgrade their emission tester and program. Thee cost was about 15 k so the owner said the hell with that we don't need to deo CA emission testing anymore. So neither do I. But CA still sends me all the league and technical updates as if I were still certified..
As for CHP not sure what violation I have that they would mention and even if they did ask my to lift my hood it would be because they likely know me and want to look at my lasts projects. I have friends and family in many Law enforcement division and more so in the CHP. I even have a special indicator of such that is on the exterior of my vehicles. As for my NOS/N20 most season the line is disconnected so by CA VC and other state laws it is none functional.
I assumed that "not having it" was not going to be dangerous or harmful to the car - but I am kind of a stickler (OCD?) for having things working properly with the proper parts installed. There are times when nobody else will notice something, but it bugs me because I still am aware of it. There's a certain 'order to the universe' that must be maintained, right? LOL! ( It's like having two green tire valve caps and two black ones - that doesn't sit very well with me. )
One thing I do remember is that there is a small trap door towards the front of the car with two "prongs" and one hex head screw holding it shut. The trap door for the oil pan bolt and oil filter - if I recall correctly - has three hex head screws and is the rear of the two. My own guess is that the front one (which doesn't seem to grant access to anything) could be for the EU-spec Mazda CX-30, which comes with a 2.0L engine instead of the 2.5L installed in US-spec models. It's probably easier for them to just put the same skid plate on ALL of them at the factory.
It reminds me of how Nissan & Toyota used to put "dummy" caps or plugs on low-trim cars that did not have certain buttons, switches, gauges or lights which were installed in higher-level models. Maybe Mazda did it that way since all of the CX-30s sold in North America or Europe were assembled at the same plant down in Mexico. Just a guess. I cannot find any other purpose for the front trap door.
Thanks for your comments and it's wondeful to see all of those nice things that you did to your car!
I assumed that"not having it" was not going to be dangerous or harmful to the car - but I am kind of a stickler (OCD?) for having things working properly with the proper parts installed. There are times when nobody else will notice something, but it bugs me because I still am aware of it. There's a certain 'order to the universe' that must be maintained, right? LOL! ( It's like having two green tire valve caps and two black ones - that doesn't sit very well with me. )
One thing I do remember is that there is a small trap door towards the front of the car with two "prongs" and one hex head screw holding it shut. The trap door for the oil pan bolt and oil filter - if I recall correctly - has three hex head screws and is the rear of the two. My own guess is that the front one (which doesn't seem to grant access to anything) could be for the EU-spec Mazda CX-30, which comes with a 2.0L engine instead of the 2.5L installed in US-spec models. It's probably easier for them to just put thesame skid plate on ALL of them at the factory.
It reminds me of how Nissan & Toyota used to put "dummy" caps or plugs on low-trim cars that did not have certain buttons, switches, gauges or lights which were installed in higher-level models. Maybe Mazda did it that way since all of the CX-30s sold in North America or Europe were assembled at the same plant down in Mexico. Just a guess. I cannot find any other purpose for the front trap door.
Thanks for your comments and it's wondeful to see all of those nice things that you did to your car!
The yellow I am like or agree with
The RED well I indulge and theorize in Quantum physics so not so totally agreeing on. lol
The bold black, professional and armature competitors in off road or track racing will often use 2 different or more colored vale stem caps to identify specific tire location or other information.
The smaller trap door can allow access to the drain plug on the radiators on some models. I personally removed both and install small scoops that help with the air flow into the engine compartment.
As for those plugs and caps on vehicles that show things you didn't get , I hate to tell you but they are on both our Mazda's they just are not as noticeable as "back in the day". lol.
The most notable for my VIN was the lack of a glove compartment light. LOL
All-n-all you and I are somewhat aligned with our view about things. Now when you to your doctor or dentist and sitting in the waiting room, on the wall hangs a picture, but it not straight do you get up and correct it? rolmao. I am sure you know what I do.
Last edited by Callisto; Dec 18, 2024 at 09:43 AM.
I would straighten the picture in the doctor's office. Some transgressions cannot be tolerated, huh?
Nice scoops on the skid plate. I suppose that helps with cooling - but I suspect you might drive your Mazda a bit more aggressively than we drive ours. Zoom Zoom!!
I would straighten the picture in the doctor's office. Some transgressions cannot be tolerated, huh?
Nice scoops on the skid plate. I suppose that helps with cooling - but I suspect you might drive your Mazda a bit more aggressively than we drive ours. Zoom Zoom!!
Yup me as well!
Actually it was a thought/theory and when used a flow meter I could register a good amount of air flow. However on all my monitoring temperature areas of the engine and transmission it did not make 1 degree difference. But It look "kool" 1 lol
It looks cool, but the sad thing is that most people won't notice or even see your handiwork. I am surprised it didn't make even a small difference in the temperature. I noticed that you have what appear to be Rhino Ramps. They are handy to have. I still own a set of the two-piece "Race Ramps" that I bought several years ago when my wife and I both had Corvettes. They were the only kind that you can use on those cars because of the low front end. The incline is more gradual, obviously.
The Corvettes were both sold before we moved to Germany (we lucked out on the timing and got top dollar for both of them), but I kept the Race Ramps in storage. They have come in handy for our Mazda CX-30, our Honda CR-V, my son's Accord and my stepdaughter's Accord. When my old F-150 comes due for an oil change, I'm going to drive it up onto them as well. Much easier (and likely safer) than messing with a floor jack, stands, etc. The floor jack and jack stands do come in handy in the event I wish to rotate my own tires - which is not very often.
My wife often take the CX-30 to work every day (40 minutes each way), but she's teleworking today - so I might get to drive it again for errands, shopping, etc.
Oil Filter "Trap Door" Underneath The Car
) here is my thread.
The other factor is I was ever required to have a visual inspection their is only 4 parts I would need to change back to OEM and that takes about an hour to do. Oh and upload the complete factory ECU program. The internal engine parts can not be known or scene so they would never come into question.
