Blown out dipstick
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Blown out dipstick
Happened to me today on my first tow with the engine at near-max output for a couple of minutes. Oil temps reached 230, trans 193. I was pushing fairly hard to help break-in at 600 miles on the new engine. Oil spurted up onto the inside of the hood and over everything that was within a foot of the dipstick. Kind of a pain to clean up. Someone else reported the dipstick departure earlier. This is the second one I know of. Perhaps we should keep a log in this thread so we know how wide-spread this issue is. Anyone else?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
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Yea, second case I've heard of.
What's strange is that's a great deal of pressure causing that.
I say that because my oil dipstick does not pull out easily.
I’ve been checking mine every Sunday afternoon since I haven’t pulled anything heavy yet and I feel like I’m going to break something pulling that dipstick out.
Unless your dipstick is easy to remove after it's been in there several days, then that might explain it.
Mine has a great seal.
What's strange is that's a great deal of pressure causing that.
I say that because my oil dipstick does not pull out easily.
I’ve been checking mine every Sunday afternoon since I haven’t pulled anything heavy yet and I feel like I’m going to break something pulling that dipstick out.
Unless your dipstick is easy to remove after it's been in there several days, then that might explain it.
Mine has a great seal.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,246
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now we have to look at extereme crankase pressure and what could cause that"
how about you tech's
how about you tech's
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2009
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Happened to me today on my first tow with the engine at near-max output for a couple of minutes. Oil temps reached 230, trans 193. I was pushing fairly hard to help break-in at 600 miles on the new engine. Oil spurted up onto the inside of the hood and over everything that was within a foot of the dipstick. Kind of a pain to clean up. Someone else reported the dipstick departure earlier. This is the second one I know of. Perhaps we should keep a log in this thread so we know how wide-spread this issue is. Anyone else?
Epic....I reported that a while back....I think mine wasn't well seated....It hasn't happened since....My engine hasn't seen any type of load yet or extreme temps.
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Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
I checked my oil yesterday and reinserted the dipstick. I guess it's possible that I did not fully seat it. I know what you're saying about being difficult to pull out the first time. I too thought I was doing something wrong. Very difficult to pull out the first time. It was strange when I pushed it back in however. Almost like something was in the way, like binding on something. Call me crazy but is it possible that some moving part in the pan pushed it out? It's more likely that there might be inconsistencies in the rubber ring. Maybe some are thicker than others creating a better seal. Maybe it was just me not re-inserting it properly. Regardless, it's in fully now. If it does it again, we can eliminate that possibility. Should have taken a picture.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
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I checked my oil yesterday and reinserted the dipstick. I guess it's possible that I did not fully seat it. I know what you're saying about being difficult to pull out the first time. I too thought I was doing something wrong. Very difficult to pull out the first time. It was strange when I pushed it back in however. Almost like something was in the way, like binding on something. Call me crazy but is it possible that some moving part in the pan pushed it out? It's more likely that there might be inconsistencies in the rubber ring. Maybe some are thicker than others creating a better seal. Maybe it was just me not re-inserting it properly. Regardless, it's in fully now. If it does it again, we can eliminate that possibility. Should have taken a picture.
Due to the force it takes to remove it and as flimsy as that metal stick is, I would go as far to say nearly impossible.
However, please note I may not understand you correctly.
My brain starts shutting down this late…haha!
Edit: I have to feed the dipstick back in working it a few inches at a time. I can't hold on to the plastic and expect it to slide in easily.
Even turning it a little helps.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
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From: North of Salt Lake City
Nah, I'm not really thinking that. That dipstick line is one long bugger though and was difficult to remove the first time. The internal pressure required to pop it out from its factory seating position would have been enormous. In my case, it popped out after I checked the oil level so the force needed to pop out was much less. Still, it never occurred to me that there is enough pressure in the crank case to do that. Is that normal? I thought there was a vent somewhere to keep the pressure atmospheric.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
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You know, this has me thinking.
When I check it weekly, it's difficult to remove because of the seal.
However, if I put the dipstick back in and give it a good push, wait a few seconds and remove it, the dipstick is much easier to remove.
It seems over time it creates a better seal. I don't know how many hours or days since I have not checked it that often.
So, if you (or any of us) checks the oil before we pull a heavy load (which we would do "just because") and then start the engine and pull the 10k+ load up a few hills maybe it's not sealing as quickly as it should and the pressure causes the dipstick to pop out.
When I check it weekly, it's difficult to remove because of the seal.
However, if I put the dipstick back in and give it a good push, wait a few seconds and remove it, the dipstick is much easier to remove.
It seems over time it creates a better seal. I don't know how many hours or days since I have not checked it that often.
So, if you (or any of us) checks the oil before we pull a heavy load (which we would do "just because") and then start the engine and pull the 10k+ load up a few hills maybe it's not sealing as quickly as it should and the pressure causes the dipstick to pop out.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Black Hills, South Dakota
Interesting problem. Most likely cause is the most simple one, and that is not seating the dip stick firmly enough after checking the oil. In a vehicle/engine with a long circuitous dipstick pipe/route this problem is not going to be uncommon.
The other possibility is that the crankcase breather that should be routed to the exhaust is already plugged up jammed or otherwise out of service. If this were the case then crank case windage would be able to build quite a bit of pressure from the crank rotating and from piston travel.
One other possibility is that the engine oil is overfilled and that is causing crankcase pressure the build up more quickly than the crankcase breather can evacuate it.
Beyond that I am stumped, hence why I don't turn wrenches for a living.
The other possibility is that the crankcase breather that should be routed to the exhaust is already plugged up jammed or otherwise out of service. If this were the case then crank case windage would be able to build quite a bit of pressure from the crank rotating and from piston travel.
One other possibility is that the engine oil is overfilled and that is causing crankcase pressure the build up more quickly than the crankcase breather can evacuate it.
Beyond that I am stumped, hence why I don't turn wrenches for a living.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Here's some more info on the blow-out conditions. I was pulling 8500 lbs on a run over a mountain pass on a very good highway. You can go 65 mph up and over the 8% grade. It's 18 miles that changes elevation of 4,000 feet total. Ambient temps were 85 degrees. It's a really good and quick challenge for a tow vehicle. Gassers need 5000 rpm and can only hold 30 - 40 mph. It was no challenge for the 6.7L.
Someone on another forum mentioned a stuck PCV valve or a "base pressure evacuation problem" on some 6.7L's. Ever hear about those? The more I think about this the less comfortable I am with it. If there is improper pressure in the case, it must be bad for other seals as well.
Someone on another forum mentioned a stuck PCV valve or a "base pressure evacuation problem" on some 6.7L's. Ever hear about those? The more I think about this the less comfortable I am with it. If there is improper pressure in the case, it must be bad for other seals as well.