Help! Oil Cap broken and there's oil all over the engine bay

[Stablelad]

Nearly had a fire just a minute ago in my 1992 Merc 190E.

Started to smell oil and as we pulled up outside the house smoke started billowing out the bonnet. Opened the hood to see that the oil cap has broken in to pieces! As a result there's oil all over the engine bay (including the manifold).

Would I be correct in assuming that a jetwash of the engine bay (and obviously a new oil cap,level-check) will be enough to make it safe to put any temperature back into the engine?

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Al

Edited by Stablelad on Saturday 27th September 15:10

[Steve_D]

Yes just clean it up.
Do you think any bits from the cap are still in the engine?

Steve

[Stablelad]

Steve_D said:

Yes just clean it up.
Do you think any bits from the cap are still in the engine?

Steve

It's possible Steve...The cap was plastic so I'm assuming the chain's have obliterated it by now. Seems to be running fine.

Cheers Fella.

[Holst]

Steve_D said:

Yes just clean it up.
Do you think any bits from the cap are still in the engine?

Steve

This would be my worry.

Chances are that the bits were blown away by the pressure in thecam cover, but it might be worth removing the cam cover jsut to be sure there are no bits in there to damage anything.

Pretty strange thing to fail, maybe you overtightened it ?

[ringram]

Blocked PCV and/or excessive blowby?