# Oil cap left loose by mechanic

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-cap-left-loose-by-mechanic/2096>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** damage, engines, oil\
**Created:** [July 23, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-cap-left-loose-by-mechanic/2096 "2007-07-23T14:59:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Veronica\_Young](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3e96dc/32.png) [@Veronica\_Young](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Veronica_Young)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-cap-left-loose-by-mechanic/2096/1 "2007-07-23T14:59:40Z")

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The Dealership’s mechanic left the oil cap loose. Engine, belts were all covered in oil for 2 weeks. So far, the serpentine belt needed replacement. With only 18,000 miles, I am worried the oil damaged more. Dealer wiped visible parts of engine and filled oil, which was down 1/4.

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-cap-left-loose-by-mechanic/2096/2 "2007-07-23T15:16:11Z")

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Oil on belts is not a good thing, but that’s about oil there is to fret about. You might be entitled to have your engine steam cleaned. I imagine it looked messy at first but that’s oil.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-cap-left-loose-by-mechanic/2096/3 "2007-07-23T17:29:51Z")

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Being low by only 1/4 quart will not damage the engine, and neither will some oil on the outside. I would ask for new belts, since they’ve been soaked in oil, but other than that you should be OK. I’m assuming they cleaned up the mess.

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**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 10:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-cap-left-loose-by-mechanic/2096/4 "2007-07-24T10:34:04Z")

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You didn’t say what kind of car you have, but if it has a timing belt, that also might have been compromised. The plastic cover is not oil-proof. Ask the mechanic if he’s willing to guarantee that it will not break, and if it does, that he will fix whatever it takes out with it.