1GR-FE mistery tab drivers side

After years of owning my 2009 Tacoma, I just noticed a tab in the engine, driver's side, that seems to have been placed there for a reason, but there is nothing attached to it. So am wondering if anything fell off or broke off. See attached photo. The tab is bolted onto on of the supports between engine block and plastic intake top. You can see the bottom of the engine oil filler port at the top left of the photo. This is not a little tab and seems that is served some purpose...?

Any help appreciated.

 

Just looked and mine has it too, it appears to be some sort of deflector. There's nothing attached to it so your not missing anything.

 

Is it metal? I wonder if it's an alternate grounding point for jumping your truck. I know the owners manual states the V6 uses the oil cup for that purpose but it almost appears as if the 4cyl uses a similar tab as the grounding point.

http://www.ttguide.net/if_the_vehicle_battery_is_discharged-152.html

Edit - you could always look up the part number and figure out it's purpose that way

 

Toyota refers to it as a Oil Baffle Plate (P/N 122160P010). Not sure this really helps much.

 

I believe its there for protection of the alternator from dripping oil when filling sloppily. Other than that it serves zero purpose.

 

Ah, mystery solved. I was thinking to myself it looked like it might catch/deflect oil dripping from the fill tube.

 

Yup, looks like its shrouding the alternator and its green electrical connector in OP's pic.

 

It's some sort of attempt at "protective drip cover" for the alternator.

As far as Toyota is concerned it's a cheap piece of metal that is easily installed by a robot at the factory and helps cut down on premature alternator failures by .00045%

Win win for the bean counters

 

Yes, it is the oil baffle plate attached to the front plenum support.

During my valve cover gasket task, I relocated this plate to the bottom of the bin. I do have a drain hose running from below the oil filter catch basket down to the bottom of the engine. Any drips will be routed under the truck. Regarding filling.....a funnel is a very handy tool to avoid spills and errant drips.

After removing that dead weight, my truck is now 1.58 sec faster.

 

MANY THANKS to you all !! ...yeah, seemed to me a bit odd... being retired now I have plenty of time on my hands so been doing some maintenance work on my truck, instead of taking it to the dealership.

Thanks again !

 

...I should have added, while we are at it, has anyone found an easy way to reach the engine coolant block spout just near that tab, further in and below the exhaust manifold ? It seems a bit of a PITA to reach from the wheel well, and almost impossible from below...

 

Thru the wheel well with a stack of extensions.

Be gentle on it......only brass and may be fused. If you bust it off, then you have a world of hurt to repair.

 

Thanks !!!