The farm I work for has a 2003 F-250 with a 7.3 and I noticed today that I didn't have a dip stick on the end of the handle when I went to check the oil. From what I can tell the stick is about 1.5-2 inches down in the tube. I was hoping to get some ideas from you guys with 7.3's on how to do this if it has happened to you before. The tube is pretty tight, so our options are probably limited (tried needle nose plyers, no luck there).


Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!


Adam

 

I'd simply remove the tube to get to it. Remove the nut that holds the tube to the stud at the front of the valve cover and it will pull out of the adapter at the pan. It should be just an o-ring holding it there at the bottom.

 

Crawl down under the truck. Just above where the dipstick goes into the pan, the dipstick has a joint there that can be separated. Remove the dipstick from the part that bolts into the side of the oil pan and you can get the dipstick out of the tube that way.

You'll need to remove a nut that holds the upper flange of the dipstick in place before you do this. The nut is on a bolt that holds the valve cover in place. Sometimes the bolt for the valve cover starts to spin instead of just the nut, so either grab some channel locks to hold the dipstick tube in place, or grab a back up wrench and hold the nut below the flange while loosening the nut holding the dipstick flange in place.

Edit: Or do what he said in a whole lot fewer words.

 

Will I need to drain the oil from the pan to do this?


Thanks for the reply's, it is definitely a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be.


Adam

 

No need to drain the oil.

 

I'm a lazy kind of guy so I just have to ask...do you have to remove the old broken stick or can you just leave it there and go get your new one?

 

If you can actually see the dipstick you might try a length of small wire with a loop or "noose" on the end and slip it over the dipstick. I have removed a broken axle shaft from a rear end this way before. May need to go fishing for a while but it does work.

 

Thanks for all of the advise. I am going to remove the dipstick tube when the new dipstick comes in, I'll make sure to let you guys know how it worked out.


Adam

 

First try using a strong magnet along side the tube and slide the magnet up until you can get a pair of needle nose pliers on the end. Mine broke off at the T-handle and i was able to pry it out with a small screw driver if I remember correctly. I purchased a replacement from Ford for approx. $30 +/- and I do not like the way the new stick fits the tube - oh well.

 

Magnetic retrieval tool

Just shove it down the hole and pull the dipstick out. You said only and inch or 2 right?

Or pull the tube....

 

Paid $42 yesterday with tax and it is narrower and I agree, the fitment of the handle onto the tube sucks.

 

Since I installed a new one from Ford, my oil level has read too high.. Will an OBS dip stick be the same as my '01?

 

I got the new one also when mine broke a couple years back. The new one seems a little longer & is much cheaper made than the original. I am back to the original now after a little repair job. Try to repair the original if you can & still have the pieces, just my .02.

 

I checked one from a 1996 and it was way shorter.

 

Ok that's the year that's sitting in my driveway. Why is it so much shorter if its the same engine?