Oil around filler cap on valve cover of 240

dmg4 · Post by **dmg4** » 27 Nov 2011, 03:26

Clean it off, and about 100 miles later, there it is again. There's not a lot of oil there, but to my OCD mind there should be none. I just changed the flame trap, cleaned the brass nipple on the intake manifold, and checked and cleaned all hoses. The oil trap seemed OK, but it also looks original on a car with 220,000 miles.

So, do I need a new filler cap, a new filler cap gasket, is a recurrent oil film around the filler cap an indication of excessive positive pressure somewhere, or is this simply normal and I need to stop fussy about it and just wipe it off occasionally? Oil consumption is nil. We're talking about milliliters of oil here. Perhaps nothing to worry about, or perhaps a symptom of something amiss.

Post by **Juan62** » 27 Nov 2011, 05:19

You got it!
New oil filler gasket first. If necessary, replace the oil filler cap.

Post by **billofdurham** » 28 Nov 2011, 11:43

+1.

My opinion about engine oil is that it should be inside, not outside, the engine. The oil filler gasket is one of the least checked items on any car and replacing it will probably cure your problem.

Bill.

dmg4 · Post by **dmg4** » 18 Dec 2011, 05:09

BINGO! I replaced the filler cap gasket, and after two week and about 300 miles, there is not a trace of oil on the valve cover. The old gasket looked just fine, but compared to the new one it was a hard as a rock.

Post by **billofdurham** » 19 Dec 2011, 12:11

That is what happens to them. They look OK so are usually left in place. I change mine at 40,000 mile intervals.

Bill.