Technical Oil cap

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Technical Oil cap

Princess,


You need some muscle to do the job of unscrewing the cap. Go to a petrol station or a service shop and let them do it for you = ). If they want to sell you oil they will happily do it.
 
Whats happened is that the cap probably hasn't been undone for a while, and the rubber seal on it has gripped the aluminium cover on the engine. Wear some thickish gloves and use both hands and you'll probably free it off.

Then when you tighten it up again, just 'nip' it up, rather than tightening it as much as you can, to save the problem occurring again in the future..
 
Whats happened is that the cap probably hasn't been undone for a while, and the rubber seal on it has gripped the aluminium cover on the engine. Wear some thickish gloves and use both hands and you'll probably free it off.

Not altogether surprising since these cars often don't need topping up between oil changes & the cap only gets taken off once a year at oil change time.

Then when you tighten it up again, just 'nip' it up, rather than tightening it as much as you can, to save the problem occurring again in the future..

My 500 oil filler cap incorporates a ratchet to prevent overtightening and it works like the fuel cap - if yours is like this, then just tighten it until it clicks. If it's insufficiently tightened, it can come loose in service and then oil will splash everywhere & your engine compartment will resemble the Black Hole of Calcutta - I've seen this happen & it ain't pretty. The best way to make sure it will come off easily again is to wipe a little engine oil over the seal before refitting - as bgunn says, if you get a dry joint, then after a while it will be much harder to remove.

Wasn't a problem when I started out motoring - my first car generally needed a pint of oil with every second fuel up - and that wasn't considered unusual then!

Even now, I still check the oil level every time I visit the filling station:).
 
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The Twin Air has a ratchet oil cap/dipstick - didn't know if the other models were the same.. As you say, it's a good idea to save over tightening :)

Separate dipstick on the 1.2 - so the filler cap only gets unscrewed if you are actually putting some oil in. Hence they can be hard to remove if it's been awhile...
 
What a sexist comment! (n)
I don't think it's sexist. Why keep a dog and bark yourself is a phrase mum and I use. If a man is silly enough to fall for a woman batting eyelids and asking to do a dirty job then more fool him! Saves me getting my hands dirty or nails broken! I love acting pathetic and blonde, it's rather fun!!
 
I didnt think it was sexist either. We don't know Princess80's gender and ahmett doesn't comment on it. The gist of ahmett's post is correct: if any of us can't get the oil cap off then taking the car to a workshop is a reasonable solution. Where's the sexism?
 
There are many reasons why someone may struggle to unfasten something which have nothing to do with gender.

My Grandfather was the best mechanic and engineer I have ever known, but was crippled by arthritis in his final years. I can still remember the sadness in his eyes when he realised the pain in his hands when he struggled to maintain his car was greater than the pain in his heart at having to ask for help to do even the simplest of jobs.
 
I don't think it's sexist. Why keep a dog and bark yourself is a phrase mum and I use. If a man is silly enough to fall for a woman batting eyelids and asking to do a dirty job then more fool him! Saves me getting my hands dirty or nails broken! I love acting pathetic and blonde, it's rather fun!!

I disagree it was definitely sexist!

What I was going to suggest was to sandwich the oil cap between two Spice Girls CD's and then clamp it all together with a G-clamp and then use that for extra leverage. Girl power!!!!!!
 
I don't think it's sexist. Why keep a dog and bark yourself is a phrase mum and I use. If a man is silly enough to fall for a woman batting eyelids and asking to do a dirty job then more fool him! Saves me getting my hands dirty or nails broken! I love acting pathetic and blonde, it's rather fun!!

I do agree with what you're saying, but in this instance maybe princess wanted to know if there was a special nack to get the oilcap off and being told to go ask a man in a garage to do it for her is, in my opinion, sexist!
 
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I do agree with what you're saying, but in this instance maybe princess wanted to know if there was a special nack to get the oilcap off and being told to go ask a man in a garage to do it for her is, in my opinion, sexist!
ahmett didn't say anything about it being a man who would help him/her. You're making assumptions. :) Perhaps ahmett simply suggested a workshop because they'll have a good range of tools.
 
I do agree with what you're saying, but in this instance maybe princess wanted to know if there was a special nack to get the oilcap off and being told to go ask a man in a garage to do it for her is, in my opinion, sexist!

What is Princess was a man?
 
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