TD4 oil filler cap submerged!

We had some horrendous rain on Sunday morning, in the afternoon i looked under the bonnet and the oil filler cap was submerged under water! it looked like the water had got in from the nearside washer jet (it was parked slightly downhill(nose first)), ran along the pipework and then dripped onto the filler cap - as the filler is in a "dent" in the engine cover it just filled up. Great design!:doh:

Needless to say i was worried any had got into the oil, i mopped the water out and had a nose around - all looked ok.

Has anyone else had this problem, i'm thinking of drilling a hole in the dent bit in the engine cover now to stop it happening again, does anyone have any thoughts/ideas???

but surely the cap is solid,(not vented) and screws down on to an o ring

I had the exact same problem last year, in fact the last two until I drilled a 3mm hole in the top cover. At the back of the recess so it dribbles away down the back of the engine. There should be a clip on cover too but they never last. Your next oil change should sort out any worries about water ingress.

I have seen them with clip on covers (a la Haynes manual) but mine is a different cover with no provision for it, i'll get the drill on it at the weekend!

freelance - yes it is solid with a rubber o ring seal, i'm just not sure it is designed to hold off that amount of water!

might be worth checking that the rubber hose feeding he washer nozzle is intact. mine had perished, and everytime I used the windscreen washers, it leaked out into the recess for the filler cap.

replaced the whole lot with cheap clear plastic tube from B&Q, no problems anymore

Fake Elvis said:

I have seen them with clip on covers (a la Haynes manual) but mine is a different cover with no provision for it, i'll get the drill on it at the weekend!

freelance - yes it is solid with a rubber o ring seal, i'm just not sure it is designed to hold off that amount of water!

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I wouldn't be too concerned, if the seal keeps normal crankcase pressure in then it will easily keep out a little standing water.

Not sure that drilling a hole is a good idea.... seen posts on here about water getting down to the injectors, sitting there and corroding the area around them meaning they are extra hard to get out. So, when drilling a hole, ensure the water is not going to be draining anywhere near the injectors or the glow plugs.

Steve

I drilled as far back as possible allowing it to drain away from the block and wiring. It's always good to check whats below or behind before drilling.