Dipstick leaking
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
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From: Charles Town WV
Dipstick leaking
Has anyone had a dipstick leak on a bigblock? I have a Milodon pan and a lokar dipstick. The part of the dipstick that goes into the pan is a billet piece with 2 o-rings.
I'd like to avoid RTVing the thing, mainly because I don't want any slopping down into the pan.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I'd like to avoid RTVing the thing, mainly because I don't want any slopping down into the pan.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Hi Steve. Wish I had some experience there. That would mean my 454 is running.
I'm using the Moroso racing pan and had to tap the snout of the pan to accept the screw-in base of Moroso's custom dipstick. It held the base & tube together via compression fitting.
I've heard of guys using silicone to seal, and I think the 350 from my '89 Sub just had sealant at the junction.
You've certainly had your share of oil leaks.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,630
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From: Fountain Hills AZ
One of the most common causes of oil leaking past the dipstick is excess crankcase pressure which forces the oil past the weakest seal. A defective (or incorrect) pcv valve or excessive blowby are a couple of possible suspects.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
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From: Charles Town WV
Vetterodder, I don't really have much blowby, but I think my pcv is sucking oil. I just ordered a baffled grommit, maybe that'll help with that. The builder put a high volume oil pump in the engine when it probably doesn't need it. What else could cause excessive crankcase pressure? Would a PCV sucking oil do it?
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Steve Straus
Thanks Len, yeah I've had my share of leaks, but I think that's over as soon as I get this one nailed. Tell me more about this dipstick with a compression fitting.
I got the dipstick from Sumitt, it's a Moroso, supposed to match the pan. What they don't tell you is that you have to tap the oil pan dipstick snout. The dipstick comes with a screw in base for the dipstick. Then a 3/8 (I think) compression fitting and cap nut slides over the dipstick. Slide the dipstick. cap & compression fitting into dipstick snout & tighten. Just thought of this though, you'll create metal shavings when you tap the pan.
See you're from WV, how close to Pittsburgh & Western Pa?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
Yep, I'd have to remove the pan to do that, but if I have too much crankcase pressure I need to resolve that first. The dipstick that I'm running has a double o-ring seal, so that shouldn't leak under normal circumstances methinks.
I moved to WV about a year ago from the Northern VA area. I'm about 60 miles from the DC area. I'm about 1.5 hours from Carlisle.
I moved to WV about a year ago from the Northern VA area. I'm about 60 miles from the DC area. I'm about 1.5 hours from Carlisle.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Roswell GA
You may wanna look into crankcase evacuation system for your
motor if haven't already. Your problem could very well be your high volume oil pump and/or low vacuum. Been lotsa discussion on CF. Do a search.
motor if haven't already. Your problem could very well be your high volume oil pump and/or low vacuum. Been lotsa discussion on CF. Do a search.
