What a Dip Stick
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 98
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
What a Dip Stick
I have oil leaking from my dip stick shouldn't there be a O-Ring or seal at the top or not and if so where to get one I have searched and only ones I can find are aftermarket universal types.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 98
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Sorry its a 90, PVC is good, I just need to know if there should be a rubber grommet or O ring at the end of the dip stick just under the T handle. the amount of oil is very small and there is no signs of blow by. there is just a small amount of oil that's annoying. I tried searching for a new one but the only new ones I could find was for an 84.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Sorry its a 90, PVC is good, I just need to know if there should be a rubber grommet or O ring at the end of the dip stick just under the T handle. the amount of oil is very small and there is no signs of blow by. there is just a small amount of oil that's annoying. I tried searching for a new one but the only new ones I could find was for an 84.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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FWIW, my 85 DID NOT have any type of o-ring. in fact, my 85's FSM says to -
since this is a 90, the 90's FSM says -
nowhere in either FSM, does it refer to any type of o-ring. when I re-assembled my 85's L98, I just used RTV - black, oil resistant type. same stuff I used on the china walls. the "bead" they refer to is a rolled bead on the tube itself that limits the depth the tube can be set into the block.
Clean tube and apply sealant #1052080 or equivalent, around tube 1/2" below bead. insert tube...
Clean tube an apply sealant GM P/N 1052080, or equivalent, around tube 12.7mm (0.5 in.) below bead. Tube into cylinder block and rotate into position....
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 98
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
FWIW, my 85 DID NOT have any type of o-ring. in fact, my 85's FSM says to -
since this is a 90, the 90's FSM says -
nowhere in either FSM, does it refer to any type of o-ring. when I re-assembled my 85's L98, I just used RTV - black, oil resistant type. same stuff I used on the china walls. the "bead" they refer to is a rolled bead on the tube itself that limits the depth the tube can be set into the block.
since this is a 90, the 90's FSM says -
nowhere in either FSM, does it refer to any type of o-ring. when I re-assembled my 85's L98, I just used RTV - black, oil resistant type. same stuff I used on the china walls. the "bead" they refer to is a rolled bead on the tube itself that limits the depth the tube can be set into the block.
Race Director
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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There's NOT an o-ring on any of the early GM dip-sticks for engine oil.
OP - I'd check the dip-stick for a part # to confirm first of all that it's original, correct and GM.
A '90 I would expect a 10108430 on the stick. Joe C can likely confirm that from his '90.
There's multiple possibilities that create issues like you mention. Depends on how bad the problem is. Does it actually "lift" the stick from the tube?
OP - I'd check the dip-stick for a part # to confirm first of all that it's original, correct and GM.
A '90 I would expect a 10108430 on the stick. Joe C can likely confirm that from his '90.
There's multiple possibilities that create issues like you mention. Depends on how bad the problem is. Does it actually "lift" the stick from the tube?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 763
There's NOT an o-ring on any of the early GM dip-sticks for engine oil.
OP - I'd check the dip-stick for a part # to confirm first of all that it's original, correct and GM.
A '90 I would expect a 10108430 on the stick. Joe C can likely confirm that from his '90.
There's multiple possibilities that create issues like you mention. Depends on how bad the problem is. Does it actually "lift" the stick from the tube?
OP - I'd check the dip-stick for a part # to confirm first of all that it's original, correct and GM.
A '90 I would expect a 10108430 on the stick. Joe C can likely confirm that from his '90.
There's multiple possibilities that create issues like you mention. Depends on how bad the problem is. Does it actually "lift" the stick from the tube?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
If you're pushing oil out the top of the dip stick tube, you have crank case pressure. What causes crank case pressure? Combustion gasses getting past the rings; blow by. Even if your PCV valve were non functional, normal crank case gasses should easily exit through the intake side of the PCV system, into the intake snorkle. You could check "both sides" of the PCV system to ensure that they aren't closed off w/carbon. Beyond that, it would be time for a leak down test.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 98
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
If you're pushing oil out the top of the dip stick tube, you have crank case pressure. What causes crank case pressure? Combustion gasses getting past the rings; blow by. Even if your PCV valve were non functional, normal crank case gasses should easily exit through the intake side of the PCV system, into the intake snorkle. You could check "both sides" of the PCV system to ensure that they aren't closed off w/carbon. Beyond that, it would be time for a leak down test.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 98
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I just whent and removed the snorkle and looked through the TB with the throttle blades open and its bone dry inside. I was wondering if maybe I have to good a seal. I am not using gapless rings but if I remember correctly from about 30yrs ago if you ran the gapless rings you had to place a restrictor in your pvc line. I am running hypereutectic pistons with conventional rings and I don't ever remember hearing about having to run a restrictor with those.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
I once put a dab of RTV silicone into the end of the dip stick handle on an old Firebird I had. It didn't have an o-ring and leaked oil out there a little. I let the silicone set up until it dried and installed it back on the car. It never leaked out again. The packed in silicone worked just fine to seal the dip stick into the tube.
Team Owner
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Not done to a GM stick but a friend I believe sealed a dip-stick using an older umbrella style valve-stem seal jammed into the dip-stick handle.
Stop by a dealer/junk yard and check some later GM dip-sticks, the later use an o-ring and if you found a "fits the tube" maybe cut the stick and use the handle only.
OP - you didn't mention if the dip-stick is actually "lifted". If yes I believe you've issues.
Stop by a dealer/junk yard and check some later GM dip-sticks, the later use an o-ring and if you found a "fits the tube" maybe cut the stick and use the handle only.
OP - you didn't mention if the dip-stick is actually "lifted". If yes I believe you've issues.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 98
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Not done to a GM stick but a friend I believe sealed a dip-stick using an older umbrella style valve-stem seal jammed into the dip-stick handle.
Stop by a dealer/junk yard and check some later GM dip-sticks, the later use an o-ring and if you found a "fits the tube" maybe cut the stick and use the handle only.
OP - you didn't mention if the dip-stick is actually "lifted". If yes I believe you've issues.
Stop by a dealer/junk yard and check some later GM dip-sticks, the later use an o-ring and if you found a "fits the tube" maybe cut the stick and use the handle only.
OP - you didn't mention if the dip-stick is actually "lifted". If yes I believe you've issues.
Last edited by eutu1984; Mar 22, 2016 at 05:51 AM.