End of dipstick fallen off - What now?

[flashman1207]

I noticed that the end of my dipstick (the bit where you actually measure the amount of oil) has fallen off (in the engine). I know that it is a press fit and not welded and was a bit loose some time ago so I re-pressed it (did a crap job though). Has anyone had this happen? Is it gonna screw the engine or will it just stick to the sump plug magnet?

[Bloodyaussie]

Oh bugger!!!!!!!

No advice from me but to say how annoying... and I would think it would just sit in the bottom of the sump.

[GQ TANK]

Are you talking about the long bit?, if so it should still be in the dip stick tube - with the bottom in the sump

You might be able to lever up the tube the dipstick sits in - it will be a mongrel job - consider pulling the starter?

On the rb30 the tube is a press fit, I'm assuming its the same for a tb42

Im not sure if the sump can be pulled of a TB insitu.

[AB]

Only one way to find out. I would be letting the car sit for a while, get some new engine oil ready and drain it out.

If its not on the sump then drain the oil and go fishing with a magnet or old speaker and pray it comes out.

[Dales300exc]

It will be heavy enough to sit at the bottom of the sump and cause no issue. Even if it were to float up to the pickup it will not get through the pick up. And if the crank happened to splash into it on the way past it would just push it to the side and it would sink again.

But if your really concerned just drop the sump and get it out.

[flashman1207]

Its a TD42 and its just the bit at the end of the dipstick (about an inch long). The engine seems to run OK (in fact just done a 1000km down South). Just replaced the damned oil so I guess could drain and re-use it..... Now where to buy a new dipstick?

[AB]

Its a TD42 and its just the bit at the end of the dipstick (about an inch long). The engine seems to run OK (in fact just done a 1000km down South). Just replaced the damned oil so I guess could drain and re-use it..... Now where to buy a new dipstick?

If your really quick you might be lucky.

Let the oil cool and undo the plug and right before the bung comes out you could take it out, remove end of stick and put it back in real quick...lol

You might only loose half a litre or so and just top up.

I check water contamination in tranny, gearbox and diffs this way and can release little bits at a time easy but don't need to take bung completely out like you need for this.

[Spotman]

This happened to my mates drift car. Luckily it ended up coming out with the oil!

[flashman1207]

AB, I'll give that a try.... thanks

[AB]

AB, I'll give that a try.... thanks

Messy job though, good luck!!!

[my third 256]

ebay for the dipstick mate or try nizzbits (garry)
http://www.nizzbits.com.au/

[flashman1207]

Nizzbits informed me that the dipstick for my year is no longer available. Can only get up to 1991 and from 1996..... WTF !!!! Anyone got one in Perth they wanna offload?

[BigRAWesty]

Nizzbits informed me that the dipstick for my year is no longer available. Can only get up to 1991 and from 1996..... WTF !!!! Anyone got one in Perth they wanna offload?

I can't see what changed??
I'll meassure my wire length tonight to see if the 91 model is the same.

[AB]

Click on parts link at the top of forum for Patrolapart. They'll sort you out mate.

[flashman1207]

Damn, removed sump plug but no dipstick end there..... must be sitting in the sludge somewhere !!!!!

[Dales300exc]

Fill it up with oil and be in your merry way :)

[fracster]

Damn, removed sump plug but no dipstick end there..... must be sitting in the sludge somewhere !!!!!

We used to pop some diesel in the oil when working on plant engines, run them for a short while and then change the oil, helps clean the crap out, could be worth trying that when changing the oil.

Are the sump plugs magnetic on your engines?

[flashman1207]

Yes they are magnetic..... Engine has donw 228000 so maybe theres some sludge down there

[fracster]

Might be worth buying a strong magnet and putting it next to the sump plug, I would not rest easy until I found the bugger to be honest.

Just thinking aloud here pal, but it may just work for you.

[Cuppa]

Without going & checking .............. the missing end is steel isn’t it? Like Fracster I wouldn’t rest easy until it were found, but if it were softer aluminium I’d be less concerned.

[flashman1207]

Perhaps someone could check theirs for me. Don't think its hard steel as I managed to crimp it (badly)

[BigRAWesty]

Yea I though it was alloy to..
I'll check tonight if no1 beets me to it.

[flashman1207]

Thanks..... if its alloy then I should worry less right?

[flashman1207]

Kallen, did you take a look?

[BigRAWesty]

As thought, Its alloy.
Length of stick from base of handle crimp to tip is 45cm. At a guess I'd say cable length is 42cm

So if yours is the same length then grab a 91 model one.

As for getting it out. I would.
I'm not sure how big our oil pickups are, but you don't want a chunk of alloy being sucked up.

I'd be grabbing a new sump gasket, and getting dirty..

[Dales300exc]

To save everyone they heartache of this. Here is a td42 pickup there is no way in the world a dipstick end would fit in it:

[flashman1207]

Thanks Kallen, I'll check the length at the weekend while replacing the injector pump o-ring......

Dales300exc, I had no idea they looked like that... Worse case scenario then would be it restricting the oil flow a bit should it get 'attached' to that gauze.... Wot year engine is that from? are they all like that ?

[Dales300exc]

The amount of oil flow that it restricts would probably be less than the amount of sludge restricting it in a high k engine.

Thats a silvertop td42. So 88-90 something.

[XT43]

Beat me to it...

http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo331/XT43/Mobile%20Uploads/2B6F5DE0-8B10-46A1-B9F1-21F00BE03872_zps5lwroqfl.jpg (http://s389.photobucket.com/user/XT43/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2B6F5DE0-8B10-46A1-B9F1-21F00BE03872_zps5lwroqfl.jpg.html)

[BigRAWesty]

Cheers dales..
Yea I wouldnt worry about it now.
It'll come out oneday. Maybe.

[flashman1207]

Thanks to all.....

[flashman1207]

I bet I got you all checking your dipsticks in case the end has fallen off !!!!!