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Dipstick tube problems!!!

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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:35 PM
  #1  
JWAbercrombie's Avatar
JWAbercrombie
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Dipstick tube problems!!!

Recently had injector work done on my 2002 7.3 psd. Went to check my oil today and the dipstick had to be forced back into the tube. So my question is... Can I fix this one or do I need to replace it. If I replace it, where do I find one without going to OE Ford and buying a new one?? All I can find on the net are the dipstick adapter that goes into the oil pan and tube o-rings. Any help would be awesome. Thanks...
 
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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:46 PM
  #2  
indyF-350psd's Avatar
indyF-350psd
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does it have a kink in it? they can be bent pretty easy....if you dont want to buy a new one then try some junk yards or ebay maybe....when i bought my new one i think it was only 30 bucks or something like that....is it bolted to the head up top?

ok it was a little bit more.....here is a link: http://www.xtremediesel.com/fordoild...FfBaMgodOQcAkA
 
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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:49 PM
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The tube is bent. Just push it back towards the cab and the dipstick will slide in nicely. Try a little at a time until it feels normal.


Edit: To clarify...push the open end of the tube towards the back....leave the bracked on the valve cover stud, just loosen it a little bit.
 
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Old May 15, 2013 | 09:51 PM
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After I tried to reinstall it I noticed the nut holding it to the head was loose. My guess is if its tight it makes the kink worse. It goes in 6-8" then has to be forced past that point.
 
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Old May 16, 2013 | 08:35 AM
  #5  
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If you remove the tube... you can maybe get it sorted out on a bench...
Just know that you will need a new oring where it goes into the tube adapter flange...

To remove... take off the nut at the valve cover... if its stuck to the bracket hit it with a little auto tranny fluid and let it set for half an hour... then grab ahold of the bracket with a pair of hefty channel locks... that way you have some leverage against the nut...
 
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Old May 16, 2013 | 11:14 AM
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This is a fairly common issue and really simple to remedy. No need to remove the tube. What happens is the tube sometimes can get smashed down when someone works on the engine. Lots of times the mechanic will lay a pad or blanket over the area and lay on it while working on stuff deeper in the engine bay. This smashes down the open end of the tube and decreases the radius of the bend further down the way. When the tube is deformed, inserting the dipstick is quite difficult and sometimes next to impossible.

I've seen it dozens of times. Each time the fix is simple. Remove the dipstick, cover the open end of the dipstick tube with a rag and push back on the top of the tube with the palm of your hand. As you push back, the open end of the tube will raise up, the curve down below will return to normal position and the dipstick will slide in like normal.

Next time it happens to one of our fleet trucks I'll try and take some photos. Our 7.3 trucks are in the shop so rarely that it might be a while...
 
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