the plastic piece is a splash guard in place under the front of the engine on 01-03 trucks (not sure about 00)

 

The factory shroud comes down to meet the crossmember on mine, but there is a screw out plug about 5 inches in diameter to allow for access to oil filter. I use a piece of cardboard rounded and stuck below the filter to drain it away from everything.

 

Just flexing my psychic muscles.

 

Well I bought this a month ago... it leaks like the top of a beer can....

It has developed a head gasket issue, it will not run properly at startup...

Good thing I only paid $1500 for it... the interior is really nice....

Time to look at a re-power for it as this engine has 218K on it
If I could fit in a SBC I would - maybe a perkins or a cummins Diesel - this 4.7l appears really delicate

The cooling system needing to be bled - this is the first engine I have ever had to do this on, and there is no way to make sure you have all the air out...

Need to find the engineer who designed this and make him bleed all the 4.7l that are having cooling issues for the REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE...

 

like i said, you clearly got a severely neglected and abused engine, but based on most reports on the engine and how few bad ones there are compared to how many have been sold, it is a solid engine when treated with a minimal amount of care

 

Sorry guys I've been busy but yes like Mr. Psychic said. Its 2000 4.7 4wd durango. It may have 235k on her but there's not a leak ANYWHERE. Well except occasionally I hear something like water dripping on exhaust when I get home.

Anyways the place Im talking about is where the drain plug is and I'm pretty sure the piece below it is metal.

 

Like shrps said, replacing the drain plug with a valve and using a hose to direct the flow will allow for a much neater draining process.