engine splash pans

[wingski]

While removing my oil pan, I’m also having to remove splash pans on each side of the engine. They hook from four of the pan bolts/nuts to six nuts and bolts on the frame on each side of the engine. What is the function of these splash pans? They are curved and lower in the back than in the front, so a dropped tool still falls onto the floor after rolling down the pan. They are black and look sort of neat, but I can’t figure out why they were installed in the first place. One thing that is cool about these things is that all the sharp edges are coverered with black vinyl even around the hole for the spin-off oil filter.

Mike