Oil Dipstick broken
Oil Dipstick broken
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Discussion

Bluebottle

Original Poster:

3,498 posts

263 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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As the title, the dipstick has snapped at the top. Does anyone have a spare i can purchase or know where i can get one from please?

Also the guide tube has a slight kink in it which is what caused the stress on the dipstick, where can i get one of these and is it a push fit cos this one slides up and down with the dipstick.

Danattheopticians

375 posts

125 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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Wouldn't normally recommend these guys but why not try TVR Dean?

simonwedge

756 posts

203 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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Here: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID800005

The tube just pushes into the block but it's quite a tight fit.

Bluebottle

Original Poster:

3,498 posts

263 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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Thanks chaps...now I now why the tube is lifting, as item 71 is missing.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

172 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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I can't recall seeing item 71 on mine. :scratching: but then I've never looked that hard!

It took a small hammer and gentle tapping to re fit a friends as it's a tight fit, I seem to remember it was just a squeeze fit and pretty tight to go back in!

tvrgreg

45 posts

168 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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Yep TVR never used item 71,Just item 70 to hold tube in place.

Bluebottle

Original Poster:

3,498 posts

263 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
quotequote all
ClassiChimi said:
I can't recall seeing item 71 on mine. :scratching: but then I've never looked that hard!

It took a small hammer and gentle tapping to re fit a friends as it's a tight fit, I seem to remember it was just a squeeze fit and pretty tight to go back in!
hmm, this one is very loose, the only thing stopping it coming right out is it fouls the exhaust manifold flange plate.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

172 months

Wednesday 5th October 2016
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A part of it hasn't snapped off inside has it?
How long is the section that fits into the engine, it goes a fairway in!
It does seem odd.
Someone who has done more than one of these will be along shortly and inform us all hopefully smile

hillclimbmanic

679 posts

167 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
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Regarding the tight fit...ABSOLUTELY!! My tube kinked, as I tried to gently tap it home...New tube needed.!!

phazed

22,455 posts

227 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
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Mine was too tight and wouldn't go in the block.
I straightened it which is quite easy as it is a fairly soft metal and thin walled. I then cleaned it up with wire wool and tapped it back into the block.

My old 4.6 had a little bracket that screwed to the side of the head to hold it in position but this one is such a tight fit it doesn't need one..

As a matter of course I always use about a 4 inch long spring fixed to the exhaust manifold hooked over the end of the dipstick to pull it down. Reason for this is on my old 4.6 I would occasionally get a bit of a oil weeping at the dipstick tube to block junction during track days.

As for your broken dipstick, why not take it to a decent welder?

Bluebottle

Original Poster:

3,498 posts

263 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
quotequote all
simonwedge said:
Here: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID800005

The tube just pushes into the block but it's quite a tight fit.
The breakers will only sell me a dipstick...still attached to an engine frown

Just spoke to Rimmers and they haven't got a clue which one it is...anyone know?



Edited by Bluebottle on Thursday 6th October 09:27

N7GTX

8,263 posts

166 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
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simonwedge

756 posts

203 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
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Bluebottle said:
The breakers will only sell me a dipstick...still attached to an engine frown

Just spoke to Rimmers and they haven't got a clue which one it is...anyone know?



Edited by Bluebottle on Thursday 6th October 09:27
If you look at the pictures of the various tubes (different items 68) you should be able to match to the one you've got e.g. some are straight, some are kinked, some have a clamp attached & some don't etc? Failing that, if you give them your engine number they should be able to x-refer to the part number I'd have thought? BTW - my guess is ERR4556 or ERR4550 for the tube itself.

Bluebottle

Original Poster:

3,498 posts

263 months

Thursday 6th October 2016
quotequote all
simonwedge said:
If you look at the pictures of the various tubes (different items 68) you should be able to match to the one you've got e.g. some are straight, some are kinked, some have a clamp attached & some don't etc? Failing that, if you give them your engine number they should be able to x-refer to the part number I'd have thought? BTW - my guess is ERR4556 or ERR4550 for the tube itself.
It not quite that simple as the OEM item is not available, so i would have to get one of their conversion kits and then piss about cutting it to length to suit the sump etc...At least that's what the guy from Rimmer's told me.
Thankfully Racetech Direct have the right tube in stock, but I'm not paying £35+VAT+Delivery for a dipstick! so i just got my local fabricator to weld it up for a tennner smile

Richard 858

1,882 posts

158 months

Saturday 8th October 2016
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Iirc Bluebottle you have a supercharged motor? If so I can appreciate your predicament as I have had a couple of similar failures due to the additional kink required in the tube/dipstick to accommodate the secondary plenum.
My long term solution was to keep the original tube but use a modified Mk3 Discovery dipstick, which needs trimming a little for length and diameter, and gauging against the standard stick for level measurement. This dipstick is small diameter steel cable so bends as required and with the aforementioned fettling works well, all imho of course.