Busted Oil Cap

[95metro]

My wife's Stratus has one of those "racheting" oil caps on the valve cover. You know, basically like a gas cap - tighten until it clicks.

Unfortunately it seems like it's busted - it just clicks in both directions now. I wondered at first if it was a "child-proof" feature :p so I kept pushing on it and turning it, but it won't budge.

What's the solution? Crack it with a chisel? I'm slightly worried about plastic falling into the crankcase if I do that.

[SVOboy]

I'd cut the edge with a hacksaw so any debris would fall outside until it was too loose to stay on.

[95metro]

I suppose another solution would just be to pull the valve cover off...

[SVOboy]

That would be the clever thing, :(

[Gary Palmer]

What about just drilling it with a very small drill and put a coat hanger in, to lock the top and bottom together, so it will turn?

[95metro]

I would still worry about plastic debris if I drilled or hacksawed it. I think I will remove the valve cover first and then I can do whatever I feel like to get the cap off.

[95metro]

That would be the clever thing, :(

Why the sad face? Cause you didn't think of it right away? :p

Don't worry about it. I've been thinking about it off and on for two days! :D

[SVOboy]

I ought to have thought of it, since I've been playing with valve covers for days.

[95metro]

Bah, you would have thought of it sooner than I did. :cool:

[SVOboy]

Nope, I would've just smashed the threaded portion off the outside.

[DaX]

B.f.h.!!! :)