Foriegn body down the dipstick....

[BonzoGuinness]

Don't I feel like a right tit for this! Bought a small hand pump to change gearbox and diff oil, and it came with a really thin 'dipstick tube' - for easy engine oil changes(!). I gave it a go yesterday and got about 2 litres of oil out, before *clink* and everything stopped flowing. Removed the tube and it's missing about an inch off the end, which I presume is now floating around in the oil pan somewhere.

I refilled the engine and drained the lot the old fashioned way - waste of a bottle of Mobil, as nothing came out the drain hole. So it's definitely in there somewhere... what I'm wondering is, am I right in thinking that it will be floating around in the sump, and if so, are the oil pickups filtered? As far as I can see from here, there is a mesh filter, but I'd like to be sure!

Cheers from an incompetent home mechanic

[OnlyMX5ives]

What was it made of ?

The pump won't pick it up whole but the crank will probably mash it up.

Really it needs removing.

[BonzoGuinness]

Seemingly quite brittle plastic

[OnlyMX5ives]

Keep changing the oil and hope.

Or remove the sump (can be done with the engine in car- just)

[dylan0451]

OnlyMX5ives said:

Keep changing the oil and hope.

Or remove the sump (can be done with the engine in car- just)

can you elaborate as to how it's done? i thought, from looking at it that that was also the case but ended up having to drop the subframe, suspension, ARB etc.

should've pulled the engine :-s

[bluetone]

Nightmare; you have my sympathies.

You could consider contacting the supplier with this problem;
1) You might have a case for asking them to contribute to any remedial work.
2) They *should* appreciate feedback on dodgy product quality.

They may of course tell you to ps off but worth a shot IMHO.

[OnlyMX5ives]

dylan0451 said:

OnlyMX5ives said:

Keep changing the oil and hope.

Or remove the sump (can be done with the engine in car- just)

can you elaborate as to how it's done? i thought, from looking at it that that was also the case but ended up having to drop the subframe, suspension, ARB etc.

should've pulled the engine :-s

I haven't done it myself but know several who have, they lifted the engine up.

[BonzoGuinness]

Completely forgot about this thread, thought I'd best provide an update. At the time I had to reposition the car on the driveway, which was a gamble I guess in that I had to run the engine. The piece floated out after 3-4 flushes with oil, albeit in a few large pieces - it fits together fully though, so I'm sure all the chunks are out. Car has been absolutely fine since, twas a good couple of months ago.

[dylan0451]

OnlyMX5ives said:

dylan0451 said:

OnlyMX5ives said:

Keep changing the oil and hope.

Or remove the sump (can be done with the engine in car- just)

can you elaborate as to how it's done? i thought, from looking at it that that was also the case but ended up having to drop the subframe, suspension, ARB etc.

should've pulled the engine :-s

I haven't done it myself but know several who have, they lifted the engine up.

as in, unbolted it from the gearbox, removed electrics, fuel, water pipes etc. ?!

i jacked until the g'box connector on top met the shell and it wasn't coming out, no way, not with the pickup there

[Gizmo!]

BonzoGuinness said:

Completely forgot about this thread, thought I'd best provide an update. At the time I had to reposition the car on the driveway, which was a gamble I guess in that I had to run the engine. The piece floated out after 3-4 flushes with oil, albeit in a few large pieces - it fits together fully though, so I'm sure all the chunks are out. Car has been absolutely fine since, twas a good couple of months ago.

Good.