I did an oil change earlier this evening on my A4 for the first time since I got it, and the skidplate is a PITA to get off & back on! Used Mobil1 0w-40 syn & OEM filter. I've done oil changes on many cars, and this one took the longest, by far. My old VW was much easier to get to, and my gf's Montero & C230 are a breeze to do. Anybody else hate dealing with the skidplate? I guess doing an oil change for the first time on a new car can be a little difficult, cause there's these new little things you have to figure out... like the PITA skidplate! Sorry bout the rant. Had to get it out.

 

get rid of that "butt pad" thats what i call skid plates, waste of time and space crap!

 

The skid plate is a pain but when you look at all that is exposed without it, I think it's worth it to keep it on.
The oil pan is totally exposed (oil pan heater as well in my case because I live where it's very cold).



and my aftermarket FMIC tubing is also there as well. (not as much a concern with the stock IC because the tubing is integrated to the lock carrier)

 

I got rid of my skid plate yesterday, accidentally.

 

Id say keep it on to keep all the sand and dirt off the motor, Its easy to get off and on once you get the hang of it 3min on and 3min off.

 

2nd that, it gets easier the more you do it.

 

Used engine oil is a carcinogen. I let WalMart change it with
Mobil 1. I supply the large filter. I pay $40 plus $5 for the filter.

 

Definitely. Too much water/dirt in there can make its way toward electrical parts. The starteris down there, lots of wires, etc. The bolts only take 1/2 a turn to get off. If you like, only use 4 bolts to make it quicker. Heck, mines been going on two bolts for a long time now, the front center and rear center are the only 2 I have left!

 

It also protects you from these.....

 

It was my first oil change on the Audi. I'm sure the next time I do it, it'll take 1/2 as long as it did yesterday. BTW... I did have a question when I was doing the oil change. Near the back of the oil pan, by the bottom corner, there's a black plastic-looking plug w/ a couple of orange wires coming out of the plug, going up into the engine somewhere. Could it be hooked up to a sensor of some kind?