plastic piece under engine skid

[ElectroBoy]

What is the point of this plastic piece on the engine skid that you have to remove every time for an oil change, does it hurt to keep it off...?

I was on the Toyota TIS today and looked at the Repair Manual section. Under the oil change procedure it had you taking off the Engine Under Cover Seal. Then to “REMOVE COOL AIR INTAKE DUCT (for 4WD with Intuitive Parking Assist System)”,

Going to the link provided for this it shows a drawing of this duct.
So it seems the Limited models which have Intuitive Parking Assist (parking radar?), and have this cover/duct to channel air to help cool the system I presume.

OP, you have a Limited?

 

[repo]

Interesting. I bought my 2016 new and have done all oil changes. That "scoop" wasn't there from day one. The hole on my skid is open to front with only wire mesh in it. Now I'm curious and will have to start looking under the fronts of parked 4Rs, although that might look odd. 8^) Thanks for info.

I worded it poorly but it's explained with pics further down the thread. The scoop and duct are pieces of the same package but the scoop is clipped to the radiator deflector and doesnt need to be removed to take off the skid. The tunnel annoyingly needs that pry tool to get off to do an oil filter change. Long story short you aren't missing anything.

 

[orcking]

from a 2015 Limited. The air duct piece (Engine Air Intake Hose 5281235010) and the horizontal piece (Radiator Support Air Deflector 5210135700) both need to be removed before the regular skid plate can be removed. You can see one grey, round plastic clips on the Engine Air Intake Hose. I have "trim tool" to remove those. They are difficult to remove with out the tool. Its not much hassle with the tool. I like the protection these two covers provide. I thought the air duct piece/hose was only on limited awd and the horizontal plastic radiator support air deflector was on all models. Research shows Sr5 with the "appearance package" also had the Engine Air Intake Hose.

Can you please tell me the tool part number to remove those plastic clips?

Thanks

 

[CutthroatSlam]

from a 2015 Limited. The air duct piece (Engine Air Intake Hose 5281235010) and the horizontal piece (Radiator Support Air Deflector 5210135700) both need to be removed before the regular skid plate can be removed. You can see one grey, round plastic clips on the Engine Air Intake Hose. I have "trim tool" to remove those. They are difficult to remove with out the tool. Its not much hassle with the tool. I like the protection these two covers provide. I thought the air duct piece/hose was only on limited awd and the horizontal plastic radiator support air deflector was on all models. Research shows Sr5 with the "appearance package" also had the Engine Air Intake Hose.

Never had this piece on our 2014 SR5 and I've done all the oil changes. Installed a TRD front skid plate and removed the plastic piece that went between the old skid plate and the front bumper. Still have it and would be happy to sell it.

 

[Token_Indian]

Agreed

Appearance trim, maybe.
Function, helps direct all air thru radiator area and also helps keep mud and debris from going into that area.

This ^^^

 

[badattitude]

Can you please tell me the tool part number to remove those plastic clips?

Thanks

Amazon.com: QMET Auto Trim Removal Tool Kit, Set of 5 Pcs: Automotive

Amazon.com: Auto Trim Removal Tool Kit, Ezire 8 Pcs Auto Trim Removal Tool Kit for Car Dash Radio Audio Installer Pry Tool: Home Improvement


Amazon of course.

 

[coyotehank]

From reading all the comments on this Cool Air Intake Duct it looks to me that the consensus is that I don't need to worry about replacing it on om 2012 SR5. Do you guys agree?

 

[Jeff83]

What is the point of this plastic piece on the engine skid that you have to remove every time for an oil change, does it hurt to keep it off...?

I'm new to our 4Runners since I just bought my '23 Limited back in September and have only done one oil change since I got it but it looked to me like it may be a cooling duct aimed at the front diff since the rest of the cover blocks the air that would cool the front diff.Just a thought.

 

[Humble Leader]

From reading all the comments on this Cool Air Intake Duct it looks to me that the consensus is that I don't need to worry about replacing it on om 2012 SR5. Do you guys agree?

I have been running without mine and I have had zero issues. It actually would hang down on my 2012 limited and I removed it as well as that black plastic trim below the bumper to have better access to my front recovery loops. I have the factory skid plate and that air duct guides air through the mesh of that front skid plate. if you remove it air can still get through but maybe the odd leaf etc. might get stuck in there. I've driven through deep snow, mud, water and it's fine don't worry about it

 

[CutthroatSlam]

That is indeed what it states.

Maybe Toyota didn't want their techs spending a few minutes to direct the air into the radiator by cutting the trim!!!!!!!!
hahahaha

I took a few minutes and cut mine on both of my T4R's and put them back on. When I remove my TRD skid, trim stays in place. It doesn't get in the way

Radiator is above that, so it has no effect.

 

[Saker]

Radiator is above that, so it has no effect.

Slam,
My view on that is it keeps the air from exiting through the least resistance (out the bottom) and with that closed it forces the air to pass through the radiator. Thats why I cut mine and re-installed it.

just my view :shrug:

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Neither our 2014 SR5, nor our 2023 ORP came with this plastic ducting piece. Both came with the plastic shelf that goes between the skid and the bumper but that gets deleted when you install a TRD skid. The radiator has a 360 degree shroud directing all air to the fain.

 

[Saker]

Neither our 2014 SR5, nor our 2023 ORP came with this plastic ducting piece. Both came with the plastic shelf that goes between the skid and the bumper but that gets deleted when you install a TRD skid. The radiator has a 360 degree shroud directing all air to the fain.

OOOPS.....................you are correct. Mine did not come with that piece either. I was referring to the same plastic piece you are referring to!