a stupid question about oil filler caps

[softinthehead]

does it matter if you drive round without it on, he asks sheepishly? having just topped up my oil it appears ive been merrily whizzing round with the filler cap off for the last 2 months.

[ICSD]

Done it before as well - I actually left the cap in the engine bay and it stayed exactly where it was! I did notice that the car didn't quite feel right after a day or so, so mine wasn't off for that long but no apparent damage.

[softinthehead]

yup, mine too, resting in the engine bay where I'd left it back in october. so does this do either the engine or the performance any damage?

[ICSD]

Well I reckon my performance was down when the cap was off - which is how I noticed it, but no, I don't think there was any permanent damage but the mechanics out there will know better than me.

[nervous]

have you lost a load of oil? if not, looks like youre a lucky, lucky man.

note to self: be less stoopid.

[softinthehead]

there appears to be no excess oil anywhere in the engine bay, nor have I noted any oil on the floor of the garage.

as I said in a recent post, I am getting old. I had decided on a birthday tattoo across my forehead that says "cashpoint" (anyone with teenagers will understand) but now I think I will change it to "check the oil you plonker"

maybe this explains the straight line wheelspins though!

[nervous]

here, have one of these to ease the pain

[softinthehead]

now we've established I'm an idiot, can anyone actually tell me what driving around with the filler cap off will do?

[rumplestiltskin]

Not as big an idio as that BMW driver who lost the cap & decided to plug the hole with a sock...that promptly got sucked in.....

[nel]

On some cars (like my Golf for instance) if the oil cap is off with the engine running you get excess flow through the crankcase breather system and the engine runs rough and staggers a bit due to mixture dilution.

Apart from losing oil if it is splashed out by the cam, or a dust and grit getting into your oil and shagging your bearings, it isn't too serious I'd say. You didn't drive across any deserts with it off I suppose.....

[softinthehead]

there are many who would say somerset is a cultural desert....but no.

I have been having vague whimsical thoughts of late that somehow I want more oomph. always been enough for me before. just wondered if the performance has been a little off due to my errant ways.

only one solution - big blast tomorrow (with cap on)

>> Edited by softinthehead on Friday 9th December 19:08

[gadgit]

On the 944 S2 the cap is not part of the head, so apart from loss of pressure you would not loose much oil?

Is your filler seperate to the head ?

[softinthehead]

the layout is almost identical to the S2. in fact, apart from the variocam, its the same engine.

[BliarOut]

You've been lucky Some old cars have a rocker under the filler hole and will spit oil out at a fair old pace..... Now how do I know that

[gadgit]

nice car, Softinthehead, nearly as nice as my S2?

I'm sure you have done no damage at all with that set up !!

gadgit.

[softinthehead]

BliarOut said:

You've been lucky Some old cars have a rocker under the filler hole and will spit oil out at a fair old pace..... Now how do I know that

I am SO glad it isnt just me

[kgb1]

I would recommend an oil change before you give it big licks, just in case you did get any dirt/grit/sh*t into the engine.

[semprini27]

Shouildn't be much of an issue as you're not pouring oil directly into the engine - will be a bit rough without it though as there'll be a loss of pressure (notice how it goes rough when you're checking tghe oil ?).

I once left the cap off my then girlfriend's (now wife) Nova dersel after checking the oil prior to her long drive (in a Nova!) from Kent to Peterborough. Chucked oil all over the engine and onto the driveway of the friends she was visiting. I believe the RAC man called me a rude name....Cap was still where I left it - resting on the rocker cover !!

[Melv]

Er, I left oil cap off on my old 964 C4 -went for quick blast and ended up with oil covered engine and engine cover......

Now I put the oil cap on the flat ledge over the reflector lights when topping up so I can't close the lid!!

Rgds
Mel

[rich 36]

I think a tiny hole drilled in both the cap/filler tube with a thim metal cord or platic tie between,
would make this almost impossible