P21S to clean up oil from loose fill cap?

SamS · 12-18-2011, 09:33 AM

Hey gang,

Just took re-delivery of my car at PCD and drove 1100 miles back home. Before I left Spartanburg, I popped the hood and noticed a few drips of oil from the fill port. I figured PCD topped it off. I wiped it down, made sure the cap was tight and went on my way.

A few hundred miles into the trip, I got the Add 1qt message. Since no dealer parts department was open, BMW Assist supervisor said it was OK to use Castol Edge 10W30 until I could make it to my dealer (need 1200 mile service, anyways). So, I added a qt and everything is OK.

But, I noticed that the top must have been loose (hence the oil got out) and created a minor mess. Nothing on the hood, but there is oil in a 1ft radius around the cap. I wiped some of it down, but I need to clean up the rest. There is some on the engine cover, valve cover, and hoses.

I already have some P21S, should I use this? Any recommended procedures? If it would be better served by something other than P21S, is there something at Walmart/Autozone? I hate for the oil to sit while I wait a week for something ordered online to show up.

Thanks!

Detailers Domain · 12-18-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamS

Hey gang,

Just took re-delivery of my car at PCD and drove 1100 miles back home. Before I left Spartanburg, I popped the hood and noticed a few drips of oil from the fill port. I figured PCD topped it off. I wiped it down, made sure the cap was tight and went on my way.

A few hundred miles into the trip, I got the Add 1qt message. Since no dealer parts department was open, BMW Assist supervisor said it was OK to use Castol Edge 10W30 until I could make it to my dealer (need 1200 mile service, anyways). So, I added a qt and everything is OK.

But, I noticed that the top must have been loose (hence the oil got out) and created a minor mess. Nothing on the hood, but there is oil in a 1ft radius around the cap. I wiped some of it down, but I need to clean up the rest. There is some on the engine cover, valve cover, and hoses.

I already have some P21S, should I use this? Any recommended procedures? If it would be better served by something other than P21S, is there something at Walmart/Autozone? I hate for the oil to sit while I wait a week for something ordered online to show up.

Thanks!

sorry to hear about that.

you can use the P21S total autowash on your engine bay for sure.

make sure you rinse the area thoroughly

SamS · 12-18-2011, 09:54 AM

Thanks for the reply, Phil.

Yes, I have P21S TAW right now. So, I should rinse first, then just cover the affected area with P21S sprayed on? I have a soft bristle brush I can use.

Any and all tips are appreciated!

Detailers Domain · 12-18-2011, 10:08 AM

yes you can spray the area that you need to clean up agitate with a brush and rinse it, what I usually do next is turn the engine on to make sure everything will dry out quickly.

lmk how that goes will have no access to the internet till later today.

here is an engine clean up video.

click here.

SamS · 12-18-2011, 08:21 PM

Worked great, thanks Phil!

Detailers Domain · 12-18-2011, 08:59 PM

that's great, glad it worked out.

SamS · 12-18-2011, 10:55 PM

Ha. Did a bit of searching on this site, and found a loose oil cap has caused problems for several folks. I got the engine bay pretty well (for what I can see), but when I take it to the dealer, I'm going to make them clean underneath. The car was leaking oil enough for a decent size puddle to form behind the passenger from wheel. Not a good feeling, for a brand new car.

BimmerM · 12-20-2011, 06:55 AM

Take off the engine oil cap and inspect the rubber seal on the cap to make sure it didn't get creased or something. This could cause oil to leak out as well.

SamS · 12-20-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerM

Take off the engine oil cap and inspect the rubber seal on the cap to make sure it didn't get creased or something. This could cause oil to leak out as well.

Thanks for the tip. I'll be taking it into the dealer in a few days for the 1200 mile service. I'm going to make them clean the undercarriage. I'm pretty frustrated by this, the car is brand new! Never had anything similar happen on the dozen vehicles I've owned before.

THE TECH · 12-20-2011, 09:58 AM

Informative thread. Thanks.

SamS · 12-20-2011, 10:22 AM

Just to clarify my situation: the oil cap was loose from the VPC/PCD service dept. and as a result lost enough oil to activate the Add 1qt message.

Once I added oil and secured the cap, everything appears OK now.

12-18-2011, 09:33 AM	#1
SamS Banned 866 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	P21S to clean up oil from loose fill cap? Hey gang, Just took re-delivery of my car at PCD and drove 1100 miles back home. Before I left Spartanburg, I popped the hood and noticed a few drips of oil from the fill port. I figured PCD topped it off. I wiped it down, made sure the cap was tight and went on my way. A few hundred miles into the trip, I got the Add 1qt message. Since no dealer parts department was open, BMW Assist supervisor said it was OK to use Castol Edge 10W30 until I could make it to my dealer (need 1200 mile service, anyways). So, I added a qt and everything is OK. But, I noticed that the top must have been loose (hence the oil got out) and created a minor mess. Nothing on the hood, but there is oil in a 1ft radius around the cap. I wiped some of it down, but I need to clean up the rest. There is some on the engine cover, valve cover, and hoses. I already have some P21S, should I use this? Any recommended procedures? If it would be better served by something other than P21S, is there something at Walmart/Autozone? I hate for the oil to sit while I wait a week for something ordered online to show up. Thanks!
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12-18-2011, 09:54 AM	#3
SamS Banned 866 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the reply, Phil. Yes, I have P21S TAW right now. So, I should rinse first, then just cover the affected area with P21S sprayed on? I have a soft bristle brush I can use. Any and all tips are appreciated!
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12-18-2011, 10:08 AM	#4
Detailers Domain Major General 1991 Rep 6,916 Posts Drives: 20 M2C / 22 X3MC Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (24)	yes you can spray the area that you need to clean up agitate with a brush and rinse it, what I usually do next is turn the engine on to make sure everything will dry out quickly. lmk how that goes will have no access to the internet till later today. here is an engine clean up video. click here.
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12-18-2011, 08:21 PM	#5
SamS Banned 866 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Worked great, thanks Phil!
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12-18-2011, 08:59 PM	#6
Detailers Domain Major General 1991 Rep 6,916 Posts Drives: 20 M2C / 22 X3MC Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (24)	that's great, glad it worked out.
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12-18-2011, 10:55 PM	#7
SamS Banned 866 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Ha. Did a bit of searching on this site, and found a loose oil cap has caused problems for several folks. I got the engine bay pretty well (for what I can see), but when I take it to the dealer, I'm going to make them clean underneath. The car was leaking oil enough for a decent size puddle to form behind the passenger from wheel. Not a good feeling, for a brand new car.
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12-20-2011, 06:55 AM	#8
BimmerM Lieutenant 98 Rep 525 Posts Drives: '21 F95 X5 M C, '11.5 E92 M3 C Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW X5 M [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Take off the engine oil cap and inspect the rubber seal on the cap to make sure it didn't get creased or something. This could cause oil to leak out as well. __________________ Drives: '11.5 Interlagos Blue E92 M3 Comp, '21 F95 X5 M Comp DIYs: Enable Rear Fog \| Easy Side Gill Replacement \| Front Grill Replacement
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12-20-2011, 09:58 AM	#10
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Informative thread. Thanks.
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12-20-2011, 10:22 AM	#11
SamS Banned 866 Rep 6,248 Posts Drives: Tesla M3 Perf + '18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Just to clarify my situation: the oil cap was loose from the VPC/PCD service dept. and as a result lost enough oil to activate the Add 1qt message. Once I added oil and secured the cap, everything appears OK now.
	Appreciate 0 Quote