S3 owners, a favour please...

[Damo S]

Would someone be kind enough to pop their oil filler cap off and take a close up photo of the entrance please? Ideally with something like a ruler next to it for scale. Im trying to work out if its possible for a 25mm long bolt with a 10mm diameter head to get in through the hole.

thanks in advance

 

[Paul finch]

Sorry mate,you lost me there.

 

[AlS3BE]

Without looking I would say a 10mm x 25mm bolt will fit in the hole head first. How far it would get I have no idea. I know my funnel doesn’t get very far down the hole when I top up my oil but a small bolt might be able work it’s way down.

 

[Svenedin]

It's dark (and cold) outside so I don't fancy trying to take a photo. The bolt you describe will easily fit down the filler hole as far as I know but as said above, I'm not sure how far it would get.

 

[Damo S]

Someone told me its not just an open hole into the head. There are metal strips in the way which would make it difficult or even prevent a bolt from getting all the way through. My car is still at the garage being repaired (after a similar sized bolt apparently got into the head through the oil filler hole and trashed the exhaust cam) so I cant look myself, and Ive never taken off this cars oil filler cap so I have no idea what it looks like underneath. I just want to see what the oil filler hole into the head looks like as it may help my case. Appreciate its dark now so happy to wait.

 

[MikeParkin]

This any good pal.

 

[MikeParkin]

Sure I’ve just lost a bung from the engine cover somewhere or I’ve lost it earlier.

Any yes it’s cold out there.

 

[Svenedin]

Thanks for there photo Mike. Heroic. I've never properly investigated why a funnel doesn't fit properly and now I can see exactly why.

 

[AlS3BE]

It’s probably 1 in a million chance that a bolt can drop in their accidentally. The engine cover sits higher than the cap(annoying design) so the cap is actually recessed almost underneath.
Judging by mikes pic there a bolt could work it’s way into the engine. Suppose it’s designed to stop idiots dropping things like funnels and other stuff down there.

 

[Damo S]

This any good pal.

Yes that's great thanks. Much appreciated. It looks like there is an awful lot of "stuff" in the way for a bolt to drop in unnoticed. It would take some manoeuvring to get it to go through into the head, even if it will fit at all.