N20 oil everywhere. Filler cap??

[Pondy]

My N20 has sprung an oil leak. I noticed a 'burny' smell when sat stationary today (actuallly thought it was a clutch smell).
Opened the bonnet and there is quite a lot of oil around the filler cap and it has dripped down and filled the well in the casting (as per photos). It has then dripped down and is everywhere, including splatters on the offside front wheel!
It looks as though it has come out of the filler cap, as there is oil around the neck and some on the engine cover around the neck.

The filler cap is tight and looks perfectly OK internally.

Is it possible for oil to escape through a tightened cap?
Is it possible it has been over-filled with oil? Could that cause it?

It was serviced recently and had an oil and filter change but hasn't been used until now. I changed the plugs just after the oil service and the oil wasn't there then. The computer says the oil is at 'max'.

Pictures taken when I noticed it after a 200 mile trip today. It also did a 300 mile trip at the weekend.

 

[B21]

Doubt it’s the cap, system is designed to run at low / negative pressure …

If the oil level system says it’s full not overfilled it should be alright…why do you think it’s overfilled? How much oil did you out in?

Cracked cam cover or fault in PCV system are your other options…any fault codes? I’m

 

[Chippie]

You could try having someone review the engine to about 3000 revs and see if you can spot any obvious leaks or smoking, obviously whilst parked up with the bonnet open and engine cover removed

 

[Pondy]

I think I may have found the problem!
Oil filler cap has one of the plastic pieces missing; sheared off!
Enough to cause it not to seal???
Chances are a ham-fisted mechanic broke it when changing the oil. Best bit is there is now a 10mm x 6mm chunk of hard plastic somewhere inside my engine! :x
I hope it doesn't find it's way near the timing chain!!

 

[Pondy]

I think I may have found the problem!
Oil filler cap has one of the plastic pieces missing; sheared off!
Enough to cause it not to seal???
Chances are a ham-fisted mechanic broke it when changing the oil. Best bit is there is now a 10mm x 6mm chunk of hard plastic somewhere inside my engine! :x
Another call to Sopers in the morning then!

IMG_8854.JPGIMG_8857.JPG

Doh! Pressed the quote button instead of the edit!

 

[Zedebee]

Glad you found the source of the problem. That’s going to be a bitch of a mess to clean up though

 

[Pondy]

Glad you found the source of the problem. That’s going to be a bitch of a mess to clean up though

I'm presuming that is the problem. :?
Yes, it is a mess and the engine bay on my car was spotless until now.
Luckily I have 10 litres of degreaser which I bought for cleaning up a motorbike I bought recently.

 

[john-e89]

I think I may have found the problem!
Oil filler cap has one of the plastic pieces missing; sheared off!
Enough to cause it not to seal???
Chances are a ham-fisted mechanic broke it when changing the oil. Best bit is there is now a 10mm x 6mm chunk of hard plastic somewhere inside my engine! :x
Another call to Sopers in the morning then!

IMG_8854.JPGIMG_8857.JPG

Doh! Pressed the quote button instead of the edit!

Don't make it public on say a forum or something in case PVR spots it and rips the piss....oh....wait.... :|

 

[Reamesy]

I'm presuming that is the problem. :?
Yes, it is a mess and the engine bay on my car was spotless until now.
Luckily I have 10 litres of degreaser which I bought for cleaning up a motorbike I bought recently.

Personally I would be removing the cam cover to find the plastic lug. About 2 hours to remove and refit. £30 ish for a new seal kit as the often go hard and will leak if not changed once disturbed.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Personally I would be removing the cam cover to find the plastic lug. About 2 hours to remove and refit. £30 ish for a new seal kit as the often go hard and will leak if not changed once disturbed.

Agree, you need to get it out.

Perhaps the mechanic who broke it could do the work for you? If you trust them to not mess anything else up.

 

[enuff_zed]

Fair enough answers, but he could have done with this advice back in April 2023.

 

[pvr]

2023 - that must be about 15 cars ago?

 

[MikeyH]

Why do we have to have these idiots working on our cars It doesn't seem to matter where you go these days! Did you find it?

 

[Pondy]

Fair enough answers, but he could have done with this advice back in April 2023.

Yep. All oil under the bridge now!