Silver9k

I agree with channel locks and a rag...

Slows2k

Channel locks and a rag, a rubber strap wrench, both work. A gym membership may help too

BigpoppaHurtm

[QUOTE=Slows2k,Jan 21 2006, 04:58 PM] Channel locks and a rag, a rubber strap wrench, both work.

Wildncrazy

Of course the option is to have it come off while driving and spray oil all over the place. Once that happens to you from that day forward you tend to over tighten rather than undertighten.

xviper

In those cases where it comes off, it comes off for a reason. I've talked about this "ad nauseum", so I won't go into it again here. Suffice to say, it has something to do with that little plastic ring just under the cap. If the cap is put on correctly, there is no need to tighten it too much. It won't come off.



ps. Re: Or you can learn how to do the "double handed" correct grab and secret thumb leverage technique.

Wildncrazy

I have never even seen a post on the cap coming off, I just had it happen to me once upon a time.

There's a secret plastic thingy?

riceburners2001

xviper

The cap coming off has been posted here on several occasions since the car came out. So I take it you've never seen my posts about why.

That plastic ring can sometimes stick on the valve cover when the cap is removed. If it's dark, you won't see it and continue with your oil fill. In the process, the ring may shift. If this happens and you try to put the cap back on, no matter how hard you screw the cap on, it will have that ring crooked and not seat in its groove. In time, the engine vibration will shake the cap loose.
For those who do see the ring, they may not put it in the cap in the right way. It will NOT fit upside down. Screwing the cap down with an upside down ring will not provide the required holding force to keep the cap from vibrating loose.
If you happen to knock that ring off and never see it and put the cap on without the ring, the cap will not stay put.

If the ring is in the groove in the correct direction and if you wipe the valve cover clean and then wipe the underside of the cap lid clean before putting the cap on, it should never come loose. If fact, if it is screwed on even moderately, it will still take a lot of force to get it to unscrew weeks later.

Wildncrazy

Cool! I had no idea. I'll go check mine now!

So if I understand you right the ring is supposed to stay on the cap, not be loose between the cap and the valve cover?

Since I have never really paid attention to the gasket I am assuming I
a) either lost it
b) it is stuck to the valve cover and looks like it belongs there
c) it's in the right place and the times mine came loose is because I just didn't tighten the cap down nearly enough, which is hard to believe, but then again stranger things have happened.

Thanx

xviper

Well, it's "supposed" to be in that groove in the underside of the cap. However, the ring can stick to the valve cover when you take the cap off. If you look at it carefully (or even purposely remove the ring) you will see that it is an exactly fit and it can only seat in one direction. There is no slop or movement when seated in the groove. If the ring gets stuck on the valve cover and you nudge it even a 1/2 a mm, it probably won't seat back into the groove. The cap will then be raised off the valve cover the thickness of that ring. You may not notice the difference till the cap simply disappears one day.