Losing the Dipstick....
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Castle Rock CO
Losing the Dipstick....
Lately under boost my car is pushing the dipstick out and it is shooting oil everywhere... Getting tired of cleaning that up! I run a D1 with about 10 lbs of boost. The Oring on the dipstick feels pretty loose now. It dosen't take any effort to pull it out. Would just fixing that solve the problem or do I need to address the blowby/crankcase pressure some other way? For now I guess I'll ziptie the dipstick so it dosen't pop off of there anymore...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Tinker till it blows... then back it off a notch, maybe!!
St. Jude Donor '08
I would first check engine idling and light throttle, with oil cap off.
If you gets puffs of smoke, then you have big problems.
Otherwise, If it didn't do it before and it is doing it now under same conditions, sounds like you need to relieve more pressure or look at rings.
What's the engine? oem...ls1,2,6 or otherwise
Not great in any case
Good luck with it
If you gets puffs of smoke, then you have big problems.
Otherwise, If it didn't do it before and it is doing it now under same conditions, sounds like you need to relieve more pressure or look at rings.
What's the engine? oem...ls1,2,6 or otherwise
Not great in any case
Good luck with it
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock CO
I would first check engine idling and light throttle, with oil cap off.
If you gets puffs of smoke, then you have big problems.
Otherwise, If it didn't do it before and it is doing it now under same conditions, sounds like you need to relieve more pressure or look at rings.
What's the engine? oem...ls1,2,6 or otherwise
Not great in any case
Good luck with it
If you gets puffs of smoke, then you have big problems.
Otherwise, If it didn't do it before and it is doing it now under same conditions, sounds like you need to relieve more pressure or look at rings.
What's the engine? oem...ls1,2,6 or otherwise
Not great in any case
Good luck with it
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,876
Likes: 8
From: Las Vegas NV
St. Jude Donor '06 & '12
If you take the oil cap off while the car is running, chances are, it will huff a little smoke/vapor. But thats not uncommon when you un-cork your PCV.
If your running boost, and popping the dipstick every once in a while, it sounds like your building a little too much crankcase pressure. Most guys just vent directly to a catch can and eliminate the PCV all together. Cause if you pushing the dipstick out, chances ar, your also ingesting a bunch of oil in the intake.
I WOULD NOT ziptie your dipstick tube...WHY?? Cause right now, thats the fused link. If you ziptie it, the pressure will STILL escape..You just wont know where its gonna go..
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,239
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We have had problems with the dipstick o rings wearing after use and fitting loose. A slightly thicker o rings cures the problem, and the dipstick will fit tighter, and more than likely you won't experience anymore problems with it.
A valvecover breather like this one http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=756
can help out dramatically, as these engines do build up a lot of pressure, as has been mentioned above. Bob
A valvecover breather like this one http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=756
can help out dramatically, as these engines do build up a lot of pressure, as has been mentioned above. Bob
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock CO
We have had problems with the dipstick o rings wearing after use and fitting loose. A slightly thicker o rings cures the problem, and the dipstick will fit tighter, and more than likely you won't experience anymore problems with it.
A valvecover breather like this one http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=756
can help out dramatically, as these engines do build up a lot of pressure, as has been mentioned above. Bob
A valvecover breather like this one http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com....html?item=756
can help out dramatically, as these engines do build up a lot of pressure, as has been mentioned above. Bob
Does that breather actually replace the oil fill cap or does it go somewhere else on the PCV system? I assume there aren't any problems with spitting oil outta that thing once it's installed? Also, does that little bit of unmetered air change the tune at all?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: malibu ca
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 43
From: State of Confusion.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: malibu ca
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 43
From: State of Confusion.
Using these springs and stuff like that is like using a piece of duct tape to put a cut off finger back on. They both fix the immediate symptoms, but not the problem. Just my opinion!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Tinker till it blows... then back it off a notch, maybe!!
St. Jude Donor '08
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,210
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On almost every turbo car I've owned this has been an issue, from freshly rebuilt engines to old worn out ones. First thing, like many have already said, is to make sure you are venting crank case pressure.
Then to stop the problem from happening again I crimp the dipstick holder a little to keep the dipstick in place, usually does the trick
Then to stop the problem from happening again I crimp the dipstick holder a little to keep the dipstick in place, usually does the trick
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I'd go w/ a thicker O-ring on the dipstick, get an oil cap breather, and run your PCV system into a catch can.
I'm NA and I've had mine come out a few times at 7000 rpm. I ended up having a stuck PCV valve.
I'm NA and I've had mine come out a few times at 7000 rpm. I ended up having a stuck PCV valve.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 43
From: State of Confusion.
Good advice! Mine was from the blower pressurizing the crankcase and the PCV wasn't wented correctly. Please be careful because it can take off like a missile (not to mention make a HUGE, oily mess)!
Good Luck!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Stealth So Cal GOCC ...comming to invade your neighborhood soon
If the motor isn't already hurt it's really a matter of installing a properly designed PCV system to keep the crankcase from being pressuized in the first place. Installing a bigger 'o' ring, crimping the dipstick tube, and/or installing a spring on the dipstick are all just bandaids.
Do a search as this topic has been discussed extensively and there's alot of info out there on it.