What is this plate on my oil pan???

[kbuskill]

I am curious what this plate is on the oil pan of my 5.3L 2008 Suburban LTZ 2WD.

At first I thought it was some kind of inspection plate but from looking at pics of the inside of the oil pan it doesn't appear to have a hole behind it.

So is it some kind of "skid plate" or is it some kind of reinforcement for the cast aluminum pan? Or???



Just kinda curious if anyone knows.

 

[Samuraj]

Have same question, let see who can answer,

 

[02Lightning]

I'll bet that's a sound dampener.

 

[kbuskill]

I'll bet that's a sound dampener.

Good theory.... If it had rubber between it and the pan I could definitely believe that but I have never removed it so I couldn't say for sure.

Can't really imagine having much noise from the pan though.

It would be cool if someone made a heat sink that would bolt up in this location.... Although it probably wouldn't do a whole lot considering the sump is further back.

 

[02Lightning]

Good theory.... If it had rubber between it and the pan I could definitely believe that but I have never removed it so I couldn't say for sure.

Can't really imagine having much noise from the pan though.

It would be cool if someone made a heat sink that would bolt up in this location.... Although it probably wouldn't do a whole lot considering the sump is further back.

It looks similar to a plate that is on top of the blower on my Cadillac. And I know that is for sound deadening.

 

[Kenny D]

That is the road kill protection plate.

 

[Brian Wilson]

Factory skid plate

 

[Brian Wilson]

They tucked it over the cross member so it wouldn't accidentally get damaged. Smart move gm

 

[kbuskill]

Well, I'm just glad to see that I am not the only one in the dark on this one... Lol

 

[Brian Wilson]

I do know I took 3 of the bolts out of mine. I thought it might be an access port for the oil pum oring. But no oil came out so I stopped.