TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Mar 20, 2003 4:48 am

I just bought a 77 camper bus, which the whole family is thrilled about. His name is Pippin. He is in overall good shape and I've bought the John Muir Idiot book so I can learn how to take care of Pippin.

Now I'm finding out how <much> of an idiot I am!!! Don't laugh (well, Ok, go ahead), but I can't get the oil filler cap off to give Pippin a drink of oil!!! The cap is stuck fast - won't screw off (in either direction) and I'm afraid of pulling the whole thing off the engine (the stem is attached to the engine with a hose clip).

Is there some trick to getting the cap off? Or is this just an initiation rite into the brotherhood of the bus?

Thu Mar 20, 2003 7:03 am

It should just twist off. Is it dented? If it is buy a new one. The old stuck one drill or punch a hole in the center and pull.

Thu Mar 20, 2003 7:35 am

It is plastic. It just unscrews. Right hand thread.

Thu Mar 20, 2003 7:59 am

Mine sometimes is real tight too. maybe one of those strap wrenches would do the trick. Welcome to the wonderful world of vw's.

Thu Mar 20, 2003 9:18 am

I had the same problem when I bought my 77. I just held the stem with my left hand and unscrewed the cap with my right. It took a minute and some elbow grease, but it comes off everytime now.

Eric
77 Westy
www.lvcm.com/acme

Thu Mar 20, 2003 3:00 pm

Thanks to all who made suggestions on my oil filler cap!. Armed with your suggestions, less fear of <breaking> something, and an oil filter wrench, I went down and popped it off.

I added some oil but the inside of the cap looked really crappy - brownish, yellowish looking stuff and there was what looked like condensation in the fill tube. So I'm off to find Pippin's oil sump so I can drain out that nasty stuff out and put in new.

Thu Mar 20, 2003 7:34 pm

Check your thermostat and flaps. The goo in the cap is condensation. If your flaps are stuck open because the thermostat is blown or missing, the engine will not reach the correct temp, in the winter, for the water to evaporate out of the oil. The oil temp has to be at least above 190-195 F.
Condensation is a normal byproduct of internal combustion engines.