Oil filler cap missing - oil everywhere!

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RandomGrinch

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After my partner had taken the car out, I noticed oil streaks on the bonnet; the engine bay was covered in oil, with the filler cap missing.
I've cleaned up most of the accessible oil - apart from refilling oil and ordering a new filler cap, would there be any other sesnsible precautions to take?
What could cause an oil cap to suddenly pop off, when it hasn't been disturbed for a couple of months?

Thanks
 
No reason at all for this to happen.....unless it wasn’t fully turned in the first place and waited until now to pop!
Excess pressure - for whatever reason - blows the dipstick out, if the engine has one.
John
 
Burnerman said:
unless it wasn’t fully turned in the first place and waited until now to pop!
Click to expand...

Oh dear.
There have been a couple of engine warning lights appear and disappear since I last topped up the oil; but given this engines reputation, that wasn't unexpected!
I mustn't have tightened the cap up properly. The heat today probably didn't help. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Agree no reason for oil cap to be blown off. This is a twist to lock cap?

Suggests not fully locked into place last time it was removed.
 
Can you remember which warning lamps actually came on?
(I gather that this is the PSA equivalent of the Ford Ecoboom motor......oh dear).
John :)
 
Burnerman said:
Can you remember which warning lamps actually came on?
Click to expand...
It's a generic "Engine fault: repair needed" message.
But since the recall for the wet belt change, I believe the software has been adjusted to be more sensitive to oil pressure issues - could it have been complaining if the cap was loose?
Burnerman said:
(I gather that this is the PSA equivalent of the Ford Ecoboom motor......oh dear).
Click to expand...
Yes, and that's why there was so much oil in the engine bay; the cap sits directly above the wet belt, which flung the oil everywhere :rolleyes:
 
Engines have all sorts of sensors these days - the generic fault code could refer to oil level, oil pressure or even positive crankcase ventilation (PCV)
which of course would vanish when the cap came off.
In other words, I haven't any real clue but just maintain the oil level and see what happens......with a bit of luck there will be no harm done.
John :)
 
Lower said:
Did you get an oil level warning?
Click to expand...
No warning, but zero oil on the dipstick this morning.

carmanmemoranda said:
Agree no reason for oil cap to be blown off. This is a twist to lock cap?
Click to expand...
I've just received an aftermarket cap (correct part no.) from Amazon, and feel slightly vindicated - the twist lock is really loose - I'll try and get an OEM part when I get a chance, but this heat may not have helped.
 
A long shot maybe, but the original cap isn’t residing in the engine bay somewhere?
Did the new cap come with a new rubber seal?
John
 
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