Hello all,

Okay, I know I am getting old, but this is ridiculous. I also know that the only stupid question is the one not asked, however, this one is right up there next to that one. This is on the Bronco in my sig. I received it last December and up until recently have had no reason to put oil in it as it never leaked. Well, now I am seeing small oil puddles from time to time, and decided to check the oil level. It was a quart low, so I bought a quart and went to install it in the engine. And now comes the interesting part. I can't get the oil cap off. I have put oil in so many vehicles in the past, and never had an issue. But for the life of me I cannot get this cap off. I have tried pushing down on it and rotating it counter clockwise, and all it does is click several times. I even tried pushing down on it, and rotating it clockwise which normally you would think it tightens it, not this one. It clicks the same in either direction. No threads on it, that I can see, and it looks like the stock cap, no aftermarket unit. So what is the deal here? I know people have been able to take it off. There is no way this truck went 233k with the same oil in it.



That is the oil cap I am having the issue with. Any suggestions on how to remove it other than push down and rotate it counter clockwise?

Jim

 

Its a 2 piece cap and you'll need to pry the top piece off and use a pair of channel locks to loosen the lower half. And just get a new cap. I've had to do it a few times at the shop on customers cars.

 

Ok, sounds like something I can do. Will have to get a new cap before I break this one tho. thanks for the suggestion.

Jim

 

I'm sorry Jim but that statement cracked me up. On different note, i didn't even know these clicked. I had one on my 88 ranger and it didn't click. Though it would get stuck on sometimes but i just muscled it off. Anywho, once you get the new cap and before you destroy the old one maybe try tapping it with a hammer? If i learned anything at the GMC dealership, it was that if you have a stubborn bolt, say a head bolt, tapping it a bit is supposed to kind of shake loose any rust or grim keeping it stuck. I don't know if it would be the same in this case being plastic and all, but it might be worth a shot.

As for the leak, I can only hope it is a slightly loose drain plug. Good luck Jim.

 

Well, I was told by the person who gave it to me that the rear main seal leaked. And it is coming from that location. However, it does not leak all the time. Since it was free, I am not complaining about it, just noting that it is now leaking. As for the cap, it is similar to the gas cap, if you turn it one way it clicks, and the other way it gets tighter, except in the case of the oil cap, it clicks both ways. it does not get tighter, and then come off, it just clicks. I doubt taking a hammer to it will help break it free, since it is already free. I can spin it in both directions, and it will click. There is no sense of it getting loose, or tight.

Jim

 

I see. Yeah my gas cap doesn't click either haha but i do know what you mean. Yeah if it doesn't leak all the time then i don' think it is much to worry about. Unlike mine. Mine leaks every time i shut the engine off and generally leaves a not so small puddle. Oh well.

 

The plastic cap as a sort of ratcheting mechanism that supposedly makes it so you cant over tighten it. Once the mechanism breaks, it does exactly what yours is doing, it just freespins both ways. Just destroy the old one and replace.

 

Will do, looks like I will be going to the local junkyard tomorrow, unless Pep Boys has one.

Jim

 

Gotta love Autozone. I just checked their website, for a oil cap for my Bronco, and they show me an oil cap for an AMC/GM application. So I check another one, and it fits GM from 2002-2007. I guess they think a 93 Eddie Bauer Bronco is made by GM or AMC. Pep Boys is less than a mile from here, so I will check them in person tomorrow.

Jim

 

Success! I bought a oil cap from Pep Boys yesterday and was able to put it on last night. The old oil cap top was easier to break off than I expected, and I did not need anything other than two fingers to twist the remaining threaded part out. I put in a new quart of oil, and now I am a happy camper, as is the engine. Thanks all for the advice.

Jim