Hey guys, back with another issue. So i've been working on getting my 91 F350 4x4 7.3 non turbo 5-sp cc back on the road after it has been sitting for around 4 years after a crash messed up the front end. I've slowly been fixing stuff and recenlty got it running breifly after replacing the starter relay but while checking things out I noticed the oil dipstick has broken off from the handle.

I did a bunch of reading on here and learned how to pull the dipstick tube but after doing this the broken dipstick is nowhere in sight. I then pulled the starter so I could get the best view and even used a mirror and flashlight to look down the hole into the block where the dipstick tube goes. I can not see very far into the block but still have no view of the broken dipstick.

I'm assuming there is a screen that will prevent the broken length of dipstick from getting sucked up into the motor but I have never pulled one of these engines apart. I know the best fix will be to pull the pan, which from what I understand, involves basically pulling the motor which is not going to be possible for me anytime soon.

Is there a chance the flat part of the dipstick is gone and not in the pan at all (I didnt have it long before it was wrecked and I dont recal anything with it to be honest)?

Any ideas on tricks to get it out?

Will it be safe to run with the broken length of dipstick in the pan?

Thanks for any advise or information
Mark

 

Might try pulling the fuel pump and inserting a flexible wand with a magnet on the end see what you can fish out.

 

Maybe it was broke and gone before and somebody just jammed the handle back in the hole to plug it off?

 

Believeit or not...this has happened to me before...The pans on these are shaped in such a way that their shape actually helps, but might take some finesse...

If your oil pan is not dented up to where it is close to or touching the oil sump screen...you can remove the drain plug, let her drain until she stops dripping...maybe overnite...

After you drain her...you can use a powerful magnet to coax the dip stick close to the drain hole...If there is a broken piece of dip stick in there eventually the magnet will drag it to the hole. Just drag the magnet...maybe a hundred times on the outside of the pan to work the dip stick to the hole...That's how I did it....just takes some time and patience...

Of course the easy way is to see if you can rent a boroscope with a light to look around in there and if there...to snag it...I used a big horseshoe magnet...Good Luck!

BeerCan500

 

How long was the piece of dipstick tube that broke off in yours?

Mark

 

The piece of dipstick was only about 8" long...never have figured out how a dipstick breaks tho...kinda hard to think a whole one could get all the way down in the pan either, but I guess stranger things have happened...

Some say if there is a piece in there...they would just leave it and stick a big magnet on the bottom of the pan with some epoxy...or just hope it gets washed up by the crank splash and let the crank chew it up...I wouldn't try that tho...

 

the inspection camera (borescope, mentioned above) sounds like your best plan, and from there you get to decide if you have a problem or not. just make sure your camera has an oil-resistant head, otherwise its head will be destroyed as soon as it sees oil.
from there, the magnet tricks will likely work, and if not, just leave a monster of a magnet on the pan so hold it down

 

Yep, either drop the pan, or like suggested,...
Drain the oil, put a coat hanger in, where the oil comes out and fish around, slowly...
to see if you can move it to hole close enough to grab it or manipulate it out.

 

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I didn't even think about trying to rent a snake scope. The more I think about this while lying under the truck the less and less I think the dipstick is in the motor. The piece of dipstick that is missing is got to be over 24" long and with the angle it goes into the pan at I just can not see how it could get wedged into the oilpan without some extreme force shoving it down into it. I'm guessing it broke and was removed by previous owner and I just forgot about it being something to fix prior to the accident.

I'll be calling around today to see if anyone has one of those snake scopes since I need to drain the oil anyway.

Thanks again
Mark

 

Yeah if I'm right, the dipsticks are made with spring steel and theoretically should not break under normal circumstances. However, they do break on occasion for whatever reason...

Also, it is possible to "drop" the pan low enough without pulling the engine. Since you are only searching for a possible future problem this also might be the way to go...It's a PITA to clean up the sealing surface and run a good bead of sealant, but it can be done...If I remember right...there is no pan gasket...just a bead of RTV...If you decide to give it a try...It is important to follow the bolt-up pattern and use the correct ft. lbs. on the bolts...This helps insure no leaks...and I have always waited 24 hrs. for the sealant to "cure" before adding back clean oil and firing her up to temperature and check for leaks...

 

I do think it uses a gasket because we got one for my truck in case we had to drop the pan.

 

You may be able to buy a gasket for these engines, but they DO NOT use a gasket. Its RTV from the factory on the oil pan.