Broken Dipstick

[Ian D c]

Can someone tell me why / how i have lost the end 2 inches off my dipstick TWICE. It first happened a few months after i got the car KCC with sbc. orderd a new one from real steel 6 months ago. went to check oil and its snaped off at the full mark . I dont have a cooler or temp gauge but there is plenty of oil and good presure. x(

[Barry Davolls]

Ian,
Cannot help with the dipstick problem but wonder whether you are the Ian Da Costa that used to live in Enfield Middx?
Baldric

[Ian D c]

Hi Barry, no sorry never lived up that way i am down in the new forest.

[Barry Davolls]

Ian,
Oh, that’s a relief , thought I was going to have to leave the club.
Baldric

[Ian D c]

I wont ask why?

[CobraMat]

Hi

I'm wondering if the dipstick is fouling on the moving parts in the engine somehow? Having just taken the sump off my newly built SBC (just to have a look...like you do!), it's all rather tight in there. I've attached a picture from my engine, which shows the position of the dipstick as being inbetween 2 of the crank counterweights. It clears, but if the dipstick is angled incorrectly or bent, it may catch. Even if it doesn't snap off immediately, if it rubs against something then the repeated flexing of the dipstick could have caused a fatigue failure (at the weakest point, which would be the groove marking the full level on the dipstick).

Just an idea anyway!

Mat


Current progress: Dax rediscovered, 383 Chev just arrived from the USA, Tremec TKO in a box, and various bits on the shelf!

[Kallie]

Ian

That can be a pain in the butt, a few years ago I had a lorry with the same problem. In the end I used a dummy dipstick and had the real one in the cab to use when ever I wanted to check the oil.
Could never find the cause of the problem(did not look very hard for it though)

Kallie

[Ian D c]

Hi Mat,

Thanks for your reply,from what you say it could well be fouling the crank.I might check the oil with the engine running i should be able to feel something rubbing or some vibration on the dip stick.and maybe move the guide tube round as it dose go in at a tight angle to get it past the battery.I will have to drop the sump at some stage to get all the ends out.:}

[Ian D c]

Kallie,
great idea in the short term,lets just hope the half dozen magnets on the sump are doing the job:tu