I was driving through a neighbor's yard today in my 2006 liberty CRD when I evidently kicked up a stick from the grass. I heard a light "thwack" under the jeep and about ten seconds later the chime started going off, I looked down and the oil light was on. I shut off the engine, got out and looked under the jeep to see oil pouring out around the oil filter. The stick had kicked up and poked the oil filter, bending the filter and causing the seal to blow out. I had to call the wife to come pick me up and run to town to get some more oil, I already had an extra oil filter in the shop. I got the motor shut off pretty quickly and it seems to be running fine after the inadvertant oil change, so I don't think it did any harm.

If the oil filter can be taken out when driving on level ground in mowed 4" grass then I hate to think what'd happen if I took it into a real off road situation. It looks like I'll be investing in a skid plate for at least the motor. I realize that the motor wasn't designed with the liberty in mind, but what a terrible exposed place to mount an oil filter.

it's my biggest concern when i offroad. went to rausch creek one time without it and made it out unscathed. but my next purchase was skidplates immediatley

_________________
06 CRD limited
Frankenlift, JBA 1/4 top plate, 3 clevis rings, 3 stacked iso's
JBA UCA and quick disconnects
Procomp rockkrawlr 16x8 4.25bs with 265-70-65 General Grabber AT2's
Mopar full skid plates, JCR stage 3 Rock Rails
Kenwood HU, 6.5 pioneer marine grade door speakers, JL stealthbox kenwood amp
GDE HOT tune
Soon to come
RL Rock monitor bumper

Super poopy spot! It's so bad, considering it is a Jeep they should have factory skids ok everyone sold... Not optional!
Luckly mine has the factory skids but I was visiting a friend in Colorado Springs who has a CRD and she let me drive it while I was out there. I had to go find some nice rocky trails and river crossings! My girl friend and I were alone and it got a little rough and the rocks were scrapping here and there. These things don't know crap for goring clearance so I just figured they all had the skids because mine did. So after a few good scraps I figured I would see where the rocks were hitting, and ya no skid plates! I turned around and was crossing my fingers the whole way out... No CB, no cell service and no one around for 20 miles.... Not a good feeling!
Stupid on my part I know but the nice groomed seasonal road just had so many nice trails and I'm used to the Michigan stuff, I couldn't resist.

_________________
-05 Dark Khaki Limited CRD. GDE ECO tune. In-tank lift pump, Transgo doo doo kit, B&M trans cooler, replaced trans solenoid pack and filters, Newer Michelin tires, Timing belt with all related parts replaced at 110,000miles.

Exactly the reason why I carry 2 gallons of cheap oil, spare oil filte,r and filter wrench with me at all times.

It does make for easy oil changes. Mine only has skid plates half way back leaving the oil filter exposed. Is that normal or did someone leave off the rear cover during an oil change?
Twenty years ago I had a friend with a Nissan that had to move the starter to get the oil filter off. He took it to Nissan for $75 oil changes. This is when oil was ~$1 a quart.

_________________
2006 Liberty CRD -- Spare tire replaced with Veg tank, semi filter for veg, FPHE, Electric common rail line heater, fill vegetable oil tank every 3 days. ORM, EHM comes out in front of the passenger rear tire. Wife has new job and 20 mile round trip to work. I borrow her Jeep a lot and live in South Florida.

and uuummmhh - if you're really going off-road
get a real skidplate - not the factory thing

JL Rockies bent his enough to take out the oil filter
I just bent mine enough to bent the tranny pan

it didn't take that much of a step, and we aren't the only ones either......

_________________
2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

Being my daily work vehicle and trailer towing rig, I hardly ever take my CRD off road. I have a couple other jeeps for that purpose. But I can see my oil filter being torn off by running over a deer (dead or alive), or a rock that has fallen into the road.

_________________
TWO Identical 2005 Liberty Sport CRDS
#1 CRD, 174,000 miles. Eco tune, Samco hoses. Mobil1 0-40w used since day one
#2 CRD 143,000 miles. Bought used (unknown history) with 100,000 miles. Samco hoses.
Eco tune, new rockers, and 5 volt glow plugs installed at 124,000 miles

No, the factory skids are not really enough for any big hits. They act like curb feelers and let you know when you've touched. It does look like the oil sump skid would have to be crushed to get to the filter. At most they're 16 gauge (1/16 in thick).

_________________
'05 Sport CRD 107k miles. NOBODY knows everything.

I have also thought it was not a great place but then I have factory skid plate option, been to Rauch Creek once too and came out fine. there should be a way to relocate it but to where?

_________________
2006 Liberty CRD Limited Deep Beryl Green Metallic Clear coat, Fumoto valve, MH ProVent (removed), GDE Eco tune,
OME 790/948 springs, OME struts, OME N132L shocks, Jeepin by Al A-arms, Hercules Terra Trac AT2 245/75R16
Weeks Stage 1 EGR delete, 5 volt steel glow plugs

absolutely agreeing with all this.
I just replaced my Mopar skids by real 6mm alu plates from ASFIR.
Besides the questionable fixation bolds, the protection ASFIR provides is excellent.

I had serious traces of hit on the oil filter when i was using the MOPAR skid.

_________________
Silver CRD
ASFIR skid front & central elements, MOPAR gas tank skid - SAMCO Turbo hoses - 4 breathers extension
2006 gaser airbox - Frankenlift with Koni at front.
Airtex lift pump