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 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]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

That would be the clever thing,

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

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

[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.

[SVOboy]

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