Oil change extras: name that part

[Jonathan]

I changed the oil in the car today. New oil filter, drain plug sealing washer, and 6.75 litres or so of Castrol 20W50.

It all looks to have gone pretty well. No leaks that I can see and my gauges are all where they should be after the job.

I was taking my time doing it, cleaning up certain dirty areas underneath, and just otherwise doing a lot of inspecting while it was up on ramps.

I took the filler assembly out of it's hole and had disconnected the hose running to the air filter housing to give some more slack. I peered into the hole and saw this. I extracted it as it was just lying in there and I feared it was on it's way down further to possibly cause problems if I didn't remove it. It was not attached to anything, just sitting in there.

14133

From this parts breakdown page:

http://store.delorean.com/c-333-1-4-0-air-inlet-systemair-cleaner-assembly.aspx

It looks like it is the underside of the oil filler assembly, or possibly what is labelled here as #10 oil filler screen. On this same page, it shows a #9, but not down below in the list. When I look at the underside of my filler assembly, it has a black screen/grating that looks to be all part of the same chunk of plastic, and behind it is what looks like steel wool in some ways. The filtering media I would presume. The oil filler assembly is not loose and right ready to fall apart or anything, so I'm wondering how this deformed, orangey-red plastic screen I found sitting in there fits in to the mix?

Anyone know what it's all about? And can my car live without it being part of it?

[dmc6960]

Its an oops screen, to catch anything big you might drop into the oil filler. Yours looks like it has seen better days, has your engine ever overheated? Yes you can get by just fine without it as long as you good to never accidentally drop anything in it.

[Jonathan]

Got it. Thanks Jim. So is it then #10 on the parts diagram? I know there is no picture of that part on the website, so can't say for certain. And if I could buy a replacement, would you be able to install it from above? Or by doing so would your oops screen become the large part you're trying to protect yourself from dropping in there? I'm sure it's likely a snug fit so that the screen can't wiggle down below like mine was on it's way doing.

I'm not aware of my engine overheating as long as I've owned it (since 2007). I know nothing about the car's past or owner history so that is a guess. I'm not aware of much else on the car that looks like it got overheated. My rear fascia metal support strip is quite crooked and might have got this way from excessive muffler heat. Or it could have been the bolts got rusty and let go and then it wasn't supported and started warping. This screen though is not looking like it is in it's original shape, so you're right, it could have got pretty hot at some point.

[Dangermouse]

How tight a fit is that filler assembly supposed to be? Mine feels really loose.

[Jonathan]

Dermot,

Do you mean how tight does it sit in the hole during normal day to day operation? Or do you mean how tight/loose does the filler assembly feel in your hands if you were trying to see if it was about to peel open?

For comparison, mine sits in the hole pretty snugly, in fact, I removed the hose end from the air filter housing to give me enough slack to pull it out. I would say it is a pretty good fit in there, but not sealed on the sides around the column. Like if the whole thing was upside down, gravity would have it fall out because it's not squished in there at all. You know what I mean? It's a pretty close fit but it doesn't take any effort to pull it up and out. And it doesn't rattle around or move at all from what I can see when sitting in there.

[Dangermouse]

I mean - How tight does it fit in the hole ? (so to speak)

The first time I pulled mine out I thought that it must be missing O rings or something, it was that loose Yeah, it just drops right in there, no friction or anything. And yes, if you inverted the car, it would fall right out (except the hoses probably restrain it)

Sounds like mine is normal. I must remember to try another on on the next tech day.

[Tillsy]

How tight does it fit in the hole ?

That's what she said ;)




Sounds like mine is normal.
Mine just plonks in as well, doesn't go anywhere

[Nicholas R]

They often deform if the engine has ever overheated. Also I know several people who have powder coated their valve covers and because of the curing process, it usually deforms or melts out. There is no need major need for it. Who exactly is holding nuts and bolts in their hand while they're pouring oil?:hmm::hmm::hmm: