Howdy fellow Bricksters,
As i was changing the oil in my 96 850 with a healthy 180,000 miles on it, I noticed a green band on top of one of the values when I looked in to the area where you pour oil into. At first, I thought it was the "safety band" deal they stick on oil bottles to keep the cap from coming off. This struck me as very strange since: 1. I hadn't open a bottle of oil 2. I just open the cap on the engine and 3. The band was quite large. It was green in color and I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the value shims, so my question to you, time to do the values? I mean, good lord, could you imagine if that plastic band got stuck in an oil passage way? Game over, I would think. Anywho, took it out, changed the oil, been driving it for a few days, no problems, but I'm sure you gents are going to tell me something I don't want to hear (mostly value job).
Thanks in advance,
Blake

Some oils come in 5 quart containers and the cap retainer ring would be about 1 1/4 inches. May have come from one of these.

Blake, there are no plastic parts in the head or cams. Take 2 aspirin and get some sleep.

Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)

Thanks guys, what I need to hear. It was strange though, the ring didn't have those little tears from the cap, you know, when you open the cap and it rips off the "safety band." (maybe take a picture of it?) I swear it was the size of the values too, Well good to hear I'm crazy, guess the first step is to realize you have a problem....
Thanks guys,
Blake,
P.S. I learned how to double clutch, and now I use it all the time. "Boy, what a smooth downshift," hear it all the time.

Could the "band" have gotten in there during a previous oil change? Was it the same type of ring from an oil bottle? There are no plastic valve shims in the engine. Take it out, throw it away and forget about it.
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Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T,2000-S70 GLT-SE