Can't unscrew the oil filter cap......any ideas?

[Jonny88]

Went to change the oil in my GT TDi 150 today but it seems the garage that serviced my car in July have put the oil filter cap back on so tight, it simply won't budge!

I was trying with oil filter pliers but the small area around the oil filter cap makes using the pliers quite tricky. I stopped when the plastic was starting to peel away from the cap itself.

Wondered if anyone has any ideas??

Thanks a lot.

[vwcabriolet1971]

Use a large adjustable spanner on the "finger" tongue and push down whilst turning.

[Jonny88]

Thanks for that but what is the "finger" tongue?

[Crasher]

I often see these caps done up too tightly and in the early days of this design I was using big adjustable grips but these damaged the fitting so I had to buy the correct oil filter cap tool from VW.

[vwcabriolet1971]

Thanks for that but what is the "finger" tongue?

Sorry I misread your "Filter" for "Filler" - must get a bigger PC screen.
I too have had very tight Filter caps on a MK4 Golf. I always just managed to turn the cap with a rubber strap "Boa Constricter" . These can be bought from most accessory shops although there's not a lot of room around the filter cap. Also there are large toothed plier type filter tools which are designed for the metal spin on type filters. These would probably damage the cap but at least it should remove it.
It might be worth while fitting one of the later model caps with the hexagon heads although you would need to make sure it fitted correctly. Perhaps someone else can can confirm this is feasible ? Some precision measurements would be required if you can compare both types of cap.
As Crasher says there must be a proper VW tool for the job that fits in the small "flutes" around the outside diameter.

[Jonny88]

Managed to get it off in the end. Nothing a bit of sheer brute force and determination couldn't manage. The engine being cold helped as well.

From my measurements I reckon around 3 litres of oil was emptied from the engine and I put back in just over 4. I guess the missing litre is just what has leaked from somewhere/the engine has consumed over time.

I noticed that it was not possible to get every single last drop of old oil out, and that when I added the new oil, it was immediately discoloured slightly by the remnants of the old oil - any tips for getting out those very last dregs of old oil for next time round?

Cheers.

[herby0001]

The new oil turns black the instant you turn the engine over. Don't worry, it's normal. The normal oil capacity is more like 4.5 litres, with about 0.5 litres of that in the oil cooler. I use a Pela pump to remove it. See here for a good guide to servicing.

[Crasher]

I use a Pella to get the last oil out of the filter unit, I reckon there is a good 1/2 litre in there. If you were to do three oil changes like that in a row, the oil in the forth change would still go black instantly.