[karlt10]

I'm curious if there is rhyme or reason to what 1st generation cars do or don't have the engine 'under cover' as Mazda calls it. Basically it's a metal shield that sits under the engine, bolted to the front sub-frame.

I've looked under 6 6's in the past week.
What I'm guessing was an '03 V6 had it
Two 03-05 4 cylinder cars had it
An 03-05 4 did not.
An 06-07 wagon did not
Two 06-08 4 cylinders did.

My '05 wagon that I purchased with 15k miles did not have one. I wonder if they left them off the wagons due to overheating concerns...

Anyway, both Mazda Motorsports parts section, and two different Mazda dealers parts sections list the cover for all 03-08 6's. I wonder what the distribution of factory application looks like. Early 4s.... Some early 6s/no later 6s.... No wagons... or what?

 

[The Great NY]

mine was an 04 base model V6 when i got it. it didnt have one when i brought it. but it had 13k on the odometer. so im doubting it was taken off in that lil bit of mileage

EDIT:

maybe include trims as well to see if trim had something to do with it

 

[Oppa]

my '03 3.0L, which I bought brand new pre-ordered DID NOT have it. I believe it would have been plastic....why would Mazda put a metal shield underneath.. too much money.

2003-2005

 

[karlt10]

I believe it would have been plastic....why would Mazda put a metal shield underneath.. too much money.

Same reason the Jetta base models had rear disk brakes until 2011 - things change.

First generation appears to have all been metal. This one is identical to a factory one I found last summer on Craigslist- both are metal. This listing doesn't say it's factory, but it could easily be from the OEM supplier:

MAZDA6 ENGINE SKID PLATE BELLY PAN GUARD FRAIME COVER - eBay (item 300362236389 end time Jan-23-11 10:13:04 PST)



New version uses plastic:

NEW ENGINE SPLASH SHIELD PLASTIC REAR MAZDA 6 CAR PART - eBay (item 370467481339 end time Jan-16-11 05:03:42 PST)

 

[rom3]

Currently own '06 MS6 (as far as I know all of these have the under cover) but previously had '04 6S with manual trans bought brand new from dealer and no under cover.

 

[MonoxideChild]

here you go. i did the same poll like 7 months ago.

did your 6 come stock with a under tray? - 6Crew.com Forum

 

[karlt10]

Interesting. Looks like no real pattern......

One possibility is that it was based on original market code the car was to be sold in. Hot climate vs. colder.