The Case of the Missing Oil Filler Cap

Checking if the oil cap is still there is easy. Checking to see if an oil filter element was put in is very hard.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/no-oil-filter.748693/

 

Yep, I had dealer oil change 2 times, first time i didnt check i trusted them. 2nd time I did and oil cap was BARELY tightened..

Oh and when I did 3rd oil change myself, ended up breaking overtightened oil housing and barely was able to get the drain bolt off with proper torques.

So yea man, fk em, its free but it might cost you a lot. I hope nothing went inside there, especially if you drove in dirt areas.

 

put an air tag on it

 

Drill a little hole in the handle part of the cap and tie a piece of cord to the cap and to an close by anchor point. It may come the fill spout off but it isn't going anywhere far...

Mark the filter housing location with a scratch mark or sharpie and have a reference point mark somewhere, same with the drain on the filter housing. After oil changes verify your marks.

One time went to a major oil change chain for an oil change, (different vehicle). I marked the filter with a scratch. Surprisingly the new filter had the scratch in the exact same place...
I told the owner and then watched the oil change clown change the filter and oil while standing right alongside him with him all the time telling me he changed the filter...
Yeah right.

 

great now i am calling my lawyer

 

More than once I have removed the cap and found/noted the round cap seal left behind on the filler tube. I have also experienced the situation mentioned previous where it takes channel locks to break the cap loose when I had hand-snugged it down myself after the prior oil change.

 

Interesting. That is cool to hear.


Same on the tightness.

 

What's the deal with the spare tire carrier, how do you fix it?

 

Entries and responses like this are what makes this forum what it is and keeps me coming back. Thank you for sharing it.

 

It puts a dent in the sidewall. Crank it down when you get a chance and take a look. Easier than explaining it and you should crank it down at least once per year anyway to check for cracks and a rust-welded chain and hoist mechanism.

 

If cap is not on very tight......it will backout with the vibration of the engine, and finally pop the cap off.......crazy, but true......

 

My fix was a rubber stall mat from tractor supply trimmed to fit the tire. Sandwich that between the tire and the cradle and you're good to go.

 

My cap can feel so hard to turn I have to use a rag and adjustable wide pliers to loosen it off.

I have to be real careful not to torque too hard...the spout/neck is plastic!

 

Interesting thread.

I experienced the same issue TWICE. I attributed it to lube techs fucking it up at 2 different Pittsburgh area dealerships.

After the second time, I replaced it with the TRD cap.

Figured maybe having something shiny might help remind the tech to put the cap back on.

 

Super weird. Never had a customer report this as just loosening on its own! Worked at a dealership over 10 years. It's always just negligence after a service.

 

Googling of the loose cap issue brought me here.
‘22 Taco now with about 65K
Third or fourth time I’ve opened hood and found cap hanging on by a thread.
I replaced the fill neck at about 30K because of oil leak at mangled seal. Couldn’t locate just weird shaped seal so replaced whole thing. Not really expensive.
So not original, but OEM neck.
Cap is original.
Ordered new one to try.

This is legit issue.
I’m 58. Been working on vehicles since I was a teen. Have 5 different Yotas in my driveway. I know how to put on an oil cap , trust me.
Never come across this before. And now see it seems to be happening to a couple specific years for some reason.

 

Same!

 

This just happened to me! I check my oil monthly, and I’m the only one that’s ever changed the oil in this truck. Just checked the oil…full…looked fine. Did a quick visual check of the other fluids and general look around…oil cap was missing! It wasn’t missing last month, AND it was tight!
Found it down low, sitting near the skid plate. Just spent way too much money on the billet Aluminum TRD cap with hopes this won’t happen again!

 

Yeah I just put on new OEM plastic cap.
Only like $20.
See if stays tight.