Hi everyone.

Long time member, but haven't been active on the forums in awhile. I did a preliminary search, but I figure I'd ask as well...

My S2000 is currently in hibernation. I went to check my oil yesterday via the dipstick. Oil level was a bit low so I decided to "top off". To my horror, I noticed that my OEM oil cap has a small crack in it. The threaded part is missing a small sliver. I do not do my own oil changes, so I unfortunately have no clue when/why/how this happened. Now, for all I know, whoever did my last oil change my have dropped it on the floor, stepped on it, over tighten, etc. BUT...what if...

So..what would you do? Easy things- I will check with a pen light, maybe the piece is just floating somewhere. Would you remove the valve cover? Oil pan? I am by no means a mechanic. I would like to *think/hope* there are some safety mechanisms built in. Would the oil filter afford some protection?

Any input would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks in advance

-c

 

well lucky its plastic so if gets between any moving parts in the head it "should" not break anything... on the other hand those bits can block oil passages.
I would take the valve cover off and try to look for it if you think it fell onto engine.

But i suspect what has happened during oil change someone droped the oil cap on a floor and broke it... so you might not even have anything to look for

 

Buy a new cap first off.

How big is the piece? The oil ports that allow the oil from the head back to the pan are quite large and would surprise a lot of people of what could make it from the head to the pan.

I would take the valve cover off and inspect. If it is not there, it is likely in the pan or since you don't know when the cap was broken gone with one of the last oil changes. The only likely way the broken piece of the cap could cause harm is if it made it past the oil pump pick up screen block.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I'd estimate the piece to be about 3/4 of an inch long (maybe a bit less), and very thin...like the width of one thread of the cap itself (if that makes sense). I'd call it a 3/4 inch sliver of plastic..

I'll take the valve cover off...

Thanks again

-c

 

How long has it been since the last time oil was added/changed? I feel the same as miloking.
Levi

 

I would just drive it. Something that small, and plastic, isn't going to do any damage. The only way it xould be harmful is if it clogged an oil passage, and its not big enough for that to be a problem.

Since you don't do oil changes, I presume you are not a regular wrench. Therefore there is more chance of damage from you working on it than there is from the thing you are looking to fix. Leave it alone.

 

I agree.

 

I'm somewhat anal when it comes to potential foreign objects in my engine. I would remove the valve cover and make sure it's not there. Removing the head cover isn't very complicated.

If it did make it down to the oil pan, no worries. The oil pickup screen has a relatively fine mesh and it still would have to get past the oil filter. The filter media is bypassed on cold starts but not entirely. The worst that could happen is that a few tiny specs of plastic make it past the filter. Plastic is soft, so the chance of damage or wear is almost nonexistent.

However I would never go back to that oil change place. It just goes to show you they could care less about your car even though you're paying them to take care of it.

 

What oil filter did the oil change place fit? The specific S2000 filter?

-- Chuck

 

I'd remove the valve cover. If you find the piece, you'll have infinite peace of mind.