Changing Oil in With Minimal Equipment.

Flap? What flap?
Mine was missing when I got the car. If I ever have to replace the shielding I'll probably
just remove it.

 

I just take the full engine underpanel off for oil changes (maybe 30 times now with our 2010). Takes about 5 minutes for removal or install, 6 bolts and about a dozen plastic fasteners (2 at back a little bigger). Panel still looks like new, no cuts/hinges. More info in the oil change link in my signature (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)

helps that we’ve had it since new; people tend to bend just that flap, it’s NOT flexible/soft plastic, develops fractures and fails.

repair manual says to take the whole panel off (for oil changes), makes no mention of the “oil change flap” (though it’s evident someone had it in mind, maybe thought better of it). It ALSO says to remove the smaller panel ahead of it (the one that gets chewed up by concrete wheel stops), since the engine underpanel’s leading edge is technically lapped by that panel ahead. That is overkill; it’s relatively easy to slip engine underpanel out from under or back under that front panel.