My 95 Honda Accord with was due for it's 3,000 mile oil change at 210,000 miles. I realized I didn't have a filter last night so I bailed on changing the oil last night. It usually burns 1-1.5 qts. over 3,000 miles, so I usually add about a quart at 1,500 miles. I hadn't done this yet, and I was getting towards 3,200 miles so I decided to add a quart last night because now I don't plan on changing it until after I take the Camaro to Summit Point this weekend.

Well, the dog was bothering me, and I don't care too much about the Honda and I ended up forgetting to put the oil cap back on the valve cover! I drive about 5 miles on the highway this morning and I'm smelling burning oil. I know I didn't spill any last night so I'm like.......hmmmm maybe I forgot to put the oil cap back on. I stop about 5 miles later at a gas station (5:45am) and pop the hood. Yeah, there is oil on the hood, the intake, belts, etc.! I ask the attendant if he has duct tape which I can see behind him. He gives it to me, I rip off a piece and put it over the 2" oil cap hole in the valve cover while the engine is running. (decent amount of air pressure puffing out at idle!)

I checked it about 40 miles later when I filled up with gas right outside work (drove about 80-90mph most of the way at 3,500+ rpm) and the duct tape oil cap held up amazingly well.

Oil Filter $4
(4) qts. of the cheapest oil I can find $4
Not giving a $hit about the Honda while pampering the Z28 before
the next track day while blowing oil all over under the hood Pricele$$

Was going to pick up a cap at lunch, but it wasn't part of anyone else's plan so......if I don't see the cap laying in the street or the driveway when I get home, I'll have to take a trip to Autozone.

why spend the money on another cap?save it and keep the duct tape. :drive:

...and consider it a weight mod.

Weight mods are my favorites now.....but on the wrong car.

5:45 am.... too bad it wasn't 2 weeks ago when the sun was up at that hour!

not about you having the problem...just kinda sunk in with that comment how much that car means to ya

I did this once,many years ago stuffed a rag in it

Funny thing....got home, popped the hood. The cap was upside down right on top of the little power steering reservoir cap where I had left it the night before. The top soid of the oil cap is slightly concave, so I guess it hung there after 100 miles of my commute.....and I don't drive easy! Not sure why I didn't see it there either time I stopped this morning? Usually I put the cap on the shock tower, but I know I put it on the PS reservoir last night for some reason.......weird!

What a great bedtime story. I'll tell it to my kids. "The EnginEER that could"!!!!!




Priceless!
Steve

lol.. I know what you mean..

This is why I try to keep a somewhat organized garage.. the reduce the clutter..

Also, I try to designate a spot to put any parts, and a spot to put my tools.. Cause I hate it when a bolt or wrench mysteriously grows legs and walks away from you.

Well, the Honda is out in the driveway b/c the Camaro is in the garage b/c it can't get weathered. The garage is fairly clean and organized. The Camaro has an Excel spreadsheets for maintenance! It gets pampered. For the Camaro, the oil always gets changed HOT, funnel gets a good wipe down, oil bottle gets a wipe down so no dust would fall in the funnel, etc. I always fill the filter with oil too.

:drive:

Hah, glad to hear I'm not the only person to think of that idea. I keep one for my beater (the Beretta) though too with the mileage on it. Helps to see any trends that might be happening with the poor mileage and maintenance just goes in another column.

I had a similar story last year when I had a '91 Trans Am GTA except I left the dipstick off. Only mine didn't end as happy. Something happened and I ended up with a lot more blow-by after that one. Ended up trading it for the Beretta + some cash from a local guy who wanted it even with the problems.

I left oil caps off at work a couple of times. One was a used car inspection where after fishing the cap from the belly pan during the road test, I simply added to the inspection sheet: "Needs engine compartment detailed." Now whenever I remove an oil cap I set it on top of the hood latch. No problems since!