Oil Problem Very confused

[ed241]

I have a 2002 challenger 2000 with a 240 efi with the round top.
At the beginning of the season my oil light came on. I was low on oil so I filled the tank and topped off the reservoir and the light went out. I took it for a ride and after a while the light came back on. The oil tank was full but the reservoir was low again. I topped it off and drove it back to the dock and the same thing happened again.
The mechanic at the marina say it had a crack in the reservoir cap and he had to order a new resivoir unit, but if the resiviour cap had a crack wouldn't it jut leak oil ? why wouldn't the oil go from the tank to the resivoir. I thought the tank was pressureized

Any help would be greatly apreaciated

 

[jamepc]

There's a lot more people on this board with more knowledge then me, but how I understand it is if the reservoir tank cap (on the engine) is loosened, oil will be pushed up from the remote tank and fill the reservoir until the cap is tightened. So a crack int the reservoir should act the same way and oil just continue to leak out.
Now if any of the 3 caps are loose or cracked on the remote tank, I can see why it would need to be replaced since crankcase pressure will just leak out.
Perhaps he meant the remote tank needs replacing? And if so, why not just the cap if it's cracked?
If I'm mistaken, I hope someone with more knowledge with this will chime in.

 

[ed241]

Thanks for the reply. I get the feeling he doesn't know what he's talking about. He does mean the reservoir tank he gave me the part no. Any idea what would keep oil from going to the reservoir

 

[jamepc]

On the remote tank, pull out the pick-up tube (where the 2 hoses go into the tank), there's a screen at the bottom that mat be clogged.
Be sure all the caps are tight. On my Islandia there are 3. One remote fill up cap and 2 on the remote tank itself. If any are loose it wont pressurize.
There's also a fitting right below the cap on the reservoir tank, it's a check valve. I haven't heard of this ever clogging or getting stuck closed but I guess it's possible.
I guess you can also verify the tank is getting pressurized. If I had to do it, I would slowly unscrew the remote fill up cap and listen/feel for air to come out. Not sure if this is an official or safe way, it's just how I would do it.

 

[ed241]

I'll give a check tomorrow I really appreciate the help.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yes... if the cap has a crack... it would leak oil out everywhere. (Speaking of that... I need to remember to change the gasket on mine) So... the mechanic is just spewing crap. (as most of them do)


The system works by presureizing the main oil tank... and in turn... the oil is pushed up to the header tank on the engine.

So... if oil isn't flowing up....

1) The fill cap is lose, or the O-ring on the cap is bad, and the pressure is leaking out.

This is probably the most likely thing, since it was working before you got low. (right?)

2) The hose pressurizing the system is plugged or broken.

3) The feed hose up to the header tank is clogged. (That could have happened. when it went empty, some junk could have been pushed in)

 

[ed241]

Just wasted to thank you guys for steering me in the right direction.I fixed it. I'm not sure where the problem was but I changed the filter the reservoir the o rings and checked the pick up tube and now it's working

 

[Dr Honda]

Glad we could help.