I just got in my new Mugen oil cap and have not had time to put it on. I washed up the car after a whole week of on and off rain so decided to put on the cap. I can't get the OEM cap off at all. I tried just turning, pressing down and used a rag to help me grip and it is not moving. I keep thinking it can't be that hard - I've had my oil changed a few times and I've always been able to remove my old vehicles caps. Any suggestion or is their a secret Fit removal protocol I am not following? I got the radiator cap changed out with the Mugen easily.

Cat :x

 

Mine was actually hard to get off too when I put the JDM one on. I think because it's sits on there for so long because of the large oil change interval. Take something you wont damage the cap with and lightly tap on it on top and on the sides. Usually doing this creates very small air bubbles that will loosen it up a little. This is what I have to do when I clean my blender and can't get the bottom off.

 

Glad I am not the only one - thought I must be doing something wrong! Do you push down while turning or is it just a straight turn?

Thanks,
Cat :x

 

use a rag and a slip joint pliers or adjustable wrench on the handle part of the cap

 

try a plumbing strap wrench. It's made of cloth so it wont damage anything and grips about as hard as a regular pipe wrench. It also makes getting tight oil filters off incredibly easy!

 

this is wat i did as well. i used my good ol' channel-locks.

 

It could be that the person that changed your oil decided to tighten it like it will never need to be remove again .
Did u get the old style or the GE version of the oil cap?

 

No secret, just lots of muscle, and bad words a-plenty LOL The rubber gasket in the little weasel gets welded on from our long change intervals. The first time i changed mine I was like WTF!? I knew I didn't put it on that tight.....FYI, a little oil on that gasket helps it slip off when you're ready.

 

I dont get whats with the changing of the oil caps?

 

some folks like to change it for dressing up the engine bay.

same goes with the radiator cap, dressup battery tie-downs, adding grounding wires, etc. my FitS is a dd so it's pretty dirty in there... i just keep the hood closed.

 

The marketing blurb on websites that sell Mugen parts is that the stock plastic oil cap tends to break or crack.

Then again I'm assuming the breaking or cracking has something to do with race-use situations where one opens and closes the oil cap and tops off the oil much more often than any of us would care to.

Other than that dubious reason, yeah, exactly like what Kenchan posted: mostly just an aesthetic thing.

 

well if you ever held the stock cap in your hand and dropped it on the ground, they usually do crack.. i work at a dealer and ive done that plenty of times

 

Had to do that on my last oil change. Definitely easy way to go about it.

 

Thanks for all the great helpful hints and I will be trying these out this evening - if all else fails I will call one of my local car guys to help me out. They just give me heck for having to ask them to help. Yes, the new cap is the new gold one that fits on the 2007 model from Mugen. I had replaced the radiator cap, now the oil cap and my JDM CF mannifold cover gives me a little something more than stock under the hood. There is a great car show this Saturday that is more geared towards imports so I am keeping fingers crossed we can do another win like in May. They are actually having a limbo contest to see who has the lowest car - too bad my Fit is not slammed!

Thanks Again!

Cat :x

 

14 years later and this saved my bacon, except I used one of those rubber strap wrenches that Grip-wrench pioneered way back in the day (mine must be at least 20+ years old if not older ;P) First time in 12 years of owning this car that I couldn't get the cap off, came to check the forum, and as usual it did not disappoint...