Aluminum skid plate removal
 

I really want to remove my aluminum plate.
My reason is that I want to pressure wash the engine.
I have a good pressure washer, but possibly drive over to the car
wash. I know it says no driving without the plate.
Could a 3 mile round trip cause damage?
I am familiar with reattaching the swaw bar mounts.

Thanks guys.

How much engine oil is in the bay....
IMO, I would just drop the pan, and clean it if you really need to, but if that's the case, you may have her open just to deal with whatever is causing the leak in the 1st place. Now, the OE specs state those bolts are 1 time use...so it's your call whether you decide to reuse or not....

If no leaks and just want to clean, I would just PW from the top, take her out for a spin to get her nice and hot and dry and call it a day.

^Yes. The bolts are TTY (Torque To Yield) which is one-time use. Many has reuse the bolt without real issue, however.
I would never pressure wash the engine anyway since you will force water to places it shouldn't be. The risk is too much. Garden hose is fine but pressure washer is not, IMHO.

You can run the vehicle without the skidplate to clean the underbelly of the X. You just won't have any swaybar in the drive. if you pressure wash you need to blow out all the excess water and de-greaser with compressed air to make sure stuff does not settle in places it does not belong. Most of the skid plates that are on the new cross-overs and SUVs today just use a plastic shield. Easy to remove and replace. Our skid plate is the real deal.

The top side of the engine is spotless.
It's leaking (I think) from the valve covers.
I have rebuilt the vac pump and replaced the oil
pressure switch. Some light misting around the upper timing
chain covers. But I have a big enough to cause a drip.

Best way to clean an engine, or parts really, I've found:

1. Buy Black Magic Engine Shine (2 or 3 cans if doing engine for first time)
2. Drive up onto ramps at home
3. Drop plastic spash pan (and metal reinf. plate if you desire)
4. Spray the hell out of everything, best on hot/warm engine, with the Black Black Magic (it's a foam and sticks fairly well)
5. Agitate extremely dirty areas with a painting brush, the more bristles the better
6. Let sit for 10 minutes
7. Hit everything with a hose on low pressure and finger in hose, or low pressure sprayer
8. Start engine to heat soak/dry everything up
9. Put reinf. plate back on and splash pan and you are good to go

I've driven mine without the reinforcement plate. Just put the bolts back to hold the sway bar mounts. No biggee....