Ok I'm stumped. AFter wiggling my dipstick tube around a bit (and not mean like) to get the valve covers off and then back on after I did the injector - orings, I went to put it back on the mounting bolt and then slide my dipstick back down the tube. I get it all the way but for 8 inches. It is not going any farther.... I've stuck a ear plug in the hole for now to seal it up but..... that isn't too helpful long term.

any ideas? I'm not sure how to take that thing apart and I've searched gewwgle and this site trying to find someone with a similar problem, no luck. lots of people seem to have had problems with them leaking... not me... so far.

any ideas?

josh

 

I went through this on my '99 when I did the injector o-rings. What happened is you bent the tube about 5 or 6 inches up from where it enters the oil pan - there is already a slight bend and you made it worse. I was able to figure out where it was by sticking the dipstick down the tube as far as it would go and then putting my finger over the dipstick at the top of the tube. Then I pulled it out and had somebody crawl under the truck while I held the tube along the outside of the tube. Mark where the end of the dipstick is - this is where you bent it and slightly crushed it. Using some guesswork, I was able to unbend it and the dipstick worked flawlessly after that. If you end up needing to replace it, I believe this is a dealer or (if you can find one) junkyard only part. No auto parts store in my area could even order one.

 

Moved to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum.

 

When I did my injectors the nuts that hold the tube to the valve cover were frozen. I destroyed it getting them loose. I think it was $20 at the dealer, then some never-seize and no more worries. I was extra careful installing it though, it is kind of delicate for its purpose.

 

Yeah appreciate it. What I ended up doing was loosening everything off and then using a couple pairs of vice grips to re-round the tube out. eventually I got it. Very fickle little peice of metal.

 

The usual fix is to force the dipstick tube back towards the cab. Use a shop towel or something suitable and 'push' the top of the dipstick tube towards the rear of the truck. This bends the tube down below back to the correct shape. Just make small adjustments and keep trying to insert the dipstick each time. You should notice it gets easier and inserts further each time. Stop when it's nice and smooth with no binding.

It's easy to bend the tube by laying on the engine or just moving it out of the way. The dipstick won't go in that tube very far when the tube is bent too far forward. Moving the top of the tube back towards the cab has always solved that problem for me.