Well, it's a minor question, but I'm dying to know. My 85's 617 has a metal, brass colored oil filler cap. Most engines I see on eBay, and on friend's cars has a cheaper looking black plastic cap. What gives? Two different caps? Thanks!

I heard once that the fuel tank cap will also fit the oil filler. Do you think it might be a fuel tank cap?

My cars have metal fuel tank caps and plastic-cover oil filler caps.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

It's just like the fuel filler cap, but this one says OEL! I dunno, it's strange...

I think the cars originally came with the metal oil filler cap that does look like the fuel filler cap (and are interchangable).

Now they have two different caps. The metal one is for fuel and the plastic one is for oil. The new metal fuel filler cap is also different. (nicer I think)

I prefer to keep my old metal oil filler cap as it completes that "metallic" look to the OM617 engine

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

But I doubt they would have just changed caps during production. Unless the plastic ones seal better, I dunno...

I think they changed the caps to avoid confusion... or so I've read (from here)

The oil filler caps are interchangeable from model to model, and when the new cars came out with the plastic engine shrouding, starting with the W201 series, the oil caps changed to the new plastic covered ones to match. There is only one oil cap now, and it is intended for the color coordinated engine compartment. It fits the old cars, and is not quite a match with the metal parts under the hood. When the old cap starts to leak, it is common to see the new replacement. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Jim S is correct - Kinda one size fits all - now you just have to decide which fits your wallet. When I replaced the oil cap it was
<$6 at MB compared to <$20 for the bright metal cap.

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

I think OEL is German for Oil - and that is what diesel fuel is called in Germany. So its likely you have a fuel cap on there. Not that it will hurt anything - its probably a higher quality item than the plastic-covered cap most of us have.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

All I can say is that I bought a metal fuel cap (complete with MB star on it) for my 83 300D turbo from fastlane, and it most certainly doesnt fit onto the oil filler. The plastic part that would go inside the fuel filler neck doesnt fit properly ionto the oil filler hole.
While they look interchangable, htey dont work, from my experience...

JMH

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

The word "Oel" does mean oil, as in "motor oil" when found alone on a cap on an engine. The fuel for the car is called "Diesel Oel" and reference to "oil burners" for Diesels is more or less slang. US cars typically say "Diesel Fuel Only" under the filler door on the car, and in some cases you might find the word "Diesel" alone to mean "Diesel Fuel" or "Diesel Oel." As the caps are kind of small and printing all that on them is made unnecessary by the decal under the fuel filler door, the fuel cap ususally has nothing written on it. Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)