Engine Shuts Off When Oil Cap Taken Off
#1
09-19-2014, 01:25 PM
Engine Shuts Off When Oil Cap Taken Off (Fixed)
Hi all,
I'm helping to fix on a 1997 Monte Carlo, and I wanted to verify that I got the correct information. The engine seems to run well, but when I take the oil cap off while the hood is still up, it stutters and steadily loses power until the engine shuts off. It takes maybe 15 seconds to occur. I'm told that's not supposed to happen, but I just wanted to be sure before I continued the search for the potential issue.
-montecowlo
I'm helping to fix on a 1997 Monte Carlo, and I wanted to verify that I got the correct information. The engine seems to run well, but when I take the oil cap off while the hood is still up, it stutters and steadily loses power until the engine shuts off. It takes maybe 15 seconds to occur. I'm told that's not supposed to happen, but I just wanted to be sure before I continued the search for the potential issue.
-montecowlo
Last edited by montecowlo; 11-30-2014 at 09:04 PM.
#2
09-19-2014, 01:55 PM
The engine turns off when the oil cap is removed because the engine is designed to do so. When the oil cap is removed a vacuum leak is created which causes the engine to turn off. *Maybe ? It does on some engines ?I would also check the hoses and the PCV valve since you are working on it. Good Luck 
Check back to see what our Expert tech member's post. * Note, I'm not one 4-Sure!
Last edited by Space; 09-21-2014 at 05:11 AM.
#4
09-19-2014, 05:58 PM
I don't think this is normal. The cap being off should not create a large enough change in vacuum to shut an engine down. There is possibly a leak/blockage/reverse vacuum somewhere else in the system, but removing an oil cap with the engine running would not normally do anything noticeable...you have a problem.
#5
09-20-2014, 11:25 PM
How baked were you when you made this reply?
Last edited by Space; 09-21-2014 at 05:12 AM.
#6
09-21-2014, 05:15 AM
LoL `Paul , yes I was pretty toasted (The Sun's been super hot here in Florida 
) 4-Sure & I've been working just 2 many hours 
Is that a good excuse ? > 
LOL (or sometime a debate will create activity to find a solution to a problem (?)
Oh, do you have a answer for this member's problem ?
p.s. Got a `light ?
+ Thanks for keeping this thread active by your words/post!
, yes I was pretty toasted (The Sun's been super hot here in Florida ) 4-Sure & I've been working just 2 many hours Is that a good excuse ? > LOL (or sometime a debate will create activity to find a solution to a problem (?)Oh, do you have a answer for this member's problem ?
p.s. Got a `light ?
+ Thanks for keeping this thread active by your words/post!
">What does it mean when a car stalls when removing the oil cap ...
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...
Mar 28, 2008 - What does it mean when a car stalls when removing the oil cap while ... If there is a problem with the engine,it would be that it is running on the ...
">1987 grand am remove oil cap engine dies - CarGurus
www.cargurus.com › Questions › Pontiac › Grand Am
CarGurus
Jan 18, 2013 - When you take the cap off, and there is a vacuum in the crankcase, and the PCV valve does not close, the engine will die. A PCV valve is cheap ...
">Car Stalls when I remove the oil filler cap - VW AUDI Forum
www.vwaudiforum.co.uk › ... › Audi A4 - B7 Forum - 2005 - 2008
Jun 3, 2013 - 7 posts
I removed the oil filler cap whilst the engine was running and the car ... try to drive with a missing oil filler cap, which is something you can't do, ...
Idle stalls when oil fill cap is off - Pelican Parts Technical BBS
forums.pelicanparts.com/.../595503-idle-stalls-when-oil-fill-cap-off.html
Mar 7, 2011 - 20 posts - 12 authors
Anyway, when I go to check my oil and remove the cap, the engine inevitably stutters ... My thought is that a switch to 20w50 will solve the issue.
">Removing oil filler cap with engine running? | Automotive General ...
www.bobistheoilguy.com › ... › Automotive General Topics
Feb 7, 2005 - 15 posts
The worse thing that's going to happen is that the engine will stall (if it has a crankcase vent system like my 78 320i had) or you'll get a little oil ...
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...
Mar 28, 2008 - What does it mean when a car stalls when removing the oil cap while ... If there is a problem with the engine,it would be that it is running on the ...
">1987 grand am remove oil cap engine dies - CarGurus
www.cargurus.com › Questions › Pontiac › Grand Am
CarGurus
Jan 18, 2013 - When you take the cap off, and there is a vacuum in the crankcase, and the PCV valve does not close, the engine will die. A PCV valve is cheap ...
">Car Stalls when I remove the oil filler cap - VW AUDI Forum
www.vwaudiforum.co.uk › ... › Audi A4 - B7 Forum - 2005 - 2008
Jun 3, 2013 - 7 posts
I removed the oil filler cap whilst the engine was running and the car ... try to drive with a missing oil filler cap, which is something you can't do, ...
Idle stalls when oil fill cap is off - Pelican Parts Technical BBS
forums.pelicanparts.com/.../595503-idle-stalls-when-oil-fill-cap-off.html
Mar 7, 2011 - 20 posts - 12 authors
Anyway, when I go to check my oil and remove the cap, the engine inevitably stutters ... My thought is that a switch to 20w50 will solve the issue.
">Removing oil filler cap with engine running? | Automotive General ...
www.bobistheoilguy.com › ... › Automotive General Topics
Feb 7, 2005 - 15 posts
The worse thing that's going to happen is that the engine will stall (if it has a crankcase vent system like my 78 320i had) or you'll get a little oil ...
Last edited by Space; 09-21-2014 at 05:43 AM.
#9
09-21-2014, 09:13 AM
> LOL>Thanks again `Mike, I was hoping that you would post your expert advice on this thread
#10
11-30-2014, 09:03 PM
Engine Shuts Off When Oil Cap Taken Off (Fixed)
Thanks, Space and 03SSLE. It turned out that the PCV valve needed to be changed. It was tested before and checked out all right but turns out that was severely wrong. Once that was replaced, no more engine turning off.