| Oil Dipstick Tube Broken @ Block [message #213183] |
Wed, 03 July 2013 16:30  |
Dave Wilson
Messages: 94
Registered: September 2009
Location: Livonia, MI
Karma: 0
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Hi all,
We encountered a broken oil dipstick tube on our trip. The lower portion is still stuck in the engine block. After making sure the oil was full one last time, we inserted a metal screw into the opening and caulked the heck out of it.
I'm traveling with my Dad in his 73 CanyonLands, so I'm adding oil as he does on his unit. Our engines have the same everything on them and typically used the same amount on previous trips. Obviously, this isn't the ideal way to travel, but seems to be working for now. Tomorrow we plan on draining both our GMC's to get a consistent amount of oil again.
Tomorrow we will be in Fort Collins at the KOA, does anyone know of a mechanic in the area that may be able to get this broken portion out? Also, is the lower portion of the dipstick tube a fairly standard piece? Or will I need to get an overnight from Applied? Thanks for your help and comments!
Dave Wilson
'77 Eleganza II
Photos @ http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member.php?uid=2183&protype=1
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| Re: Oil Dipstick Tube Broken @ Block [message #213201 is a reply to message #213183] |
Wed, 03 July 2013 18:13  |
C Boyd
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
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Senior Member |
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Sir: any 455 oil tube and dipstick will work temp but you have to raise the hatch to check oil. Applied would be your best bet for new oem. I have had good luck bending a coathanger with a hook on the end and inserting it till the hook catches the bottom of the broke piece then wraping the other end around a prybar and lever it out. Tap in the new one with a wrench that fits over the tube but not over the knot at the block.
| Dave Wilson wrote on Wed, 03 July 2013 17:30 |
Hi all,
We encountered a broken oil dipstick tube on our trip. The lower portion is still stuck in the engine block. After making sure the oil was full one last time, we inserted a metal screw into the opening and caulked the heck out of it.
I'm traveling with my Dad in his 73 CanyonLands, so I'm adding oil as he does on his unit. Our engines have the same everything on them and typically used the same amount on previous trips. Obviously, this isn't the ideal way to travel, but seems to be working for now. Tomorrow we plan on draining both our GMC's to get a consistent amount of oil again.
Tomorrow we will be in Fort Collins at the KOA, does anyone know of a mechanic in the area that may be able to get this broken portion out? Also, is the lower portion of the dipstick tube a fairly standard piece? Or will I need to get an overnight from Applied? Thanks for your help and comments!
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C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
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| Re: [GMCnet] Oil Dipstick Tube Broken @ Block [message #213221 is a reply to message #213201] |
Wed, 03 July 2013 20:32 |
Bruce Hart
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Dave,
Will you be in the area for a while. I live 15 miles south of Fort
Collins but east of I-25. I have a dip stick tube you could use until
you can get one. My problem is that I am working 7:00pm to 7:00am
Wednesday and Thursday night. Check the black list, there are several
names including mine in the area.
On 7/3/13, Charles Boyd <covered-wagon@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> Sir: any 455 oil tube and dipstick will work temp but you have to raise the
> hatch to check oil. Applied would be your best bet for new oem. I have had
> good luck bending a coathanger with a hook on the end and inserting it till
> the hook catches the bottom of the broke piece then wraping the other end
> around a prybar and lever it out. Tap in the new one with a wrench that
> fits over the tube but not over the knot at the block.
>
>
>
>
> Dave Wilson wrote on Wed, 03 July 2013 17:30
>> Hi all,
>> We encountered a broken oil dipstick tube on our trip. The lower portion
>> is still stuck in the engine block. After making sure the oil was full one
>> last time, we inserted a metal screw into the opening and caulked the heck
>> out of it.
>>
>> I'm traveling with my Dad in his 73 CanyonLands, so I'm adding oil as he
>> does on his unit. Our engines have the same everything on them and
>> typically used the same amount on previous trips. Obviously, this isn't
>> the ideal way to travel, but seems to be working for now. Tomorrow we plan
>> on draining both our GMC's to get a consistent amount of oil again.
>>
>> Tomorrow we will be in Fort Collins at the KOA, does anyone know of a
>> mechanic in the area that may be able to get this broken portion out?
>> Also, is the lower portion of the dipstick tube a fairly standard piece?
>> Or will I need to get an overnight from Applied? Thanks for your help and
>> comments!
>
>
> --
> C. Boyd
> 76 Crestmont
> East Tennessee
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
1977 28' Kingsley
La Grange, Wyoming
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| Re: Oil Dipstick Tube Broken @ Block [message #213227 is a reply to message #213183] |
Wed, 03 July 2013 21:48 |
Dave Wilson
Messages: 94
Registered: September 2009
Location: Livonia, MI
Karma: 0
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Thanks guys for your replies.
Bruce, thanks for the nice offer. Do you know of a mechanic that could pull the broken dipstick piece from the block? My Dad and I are pretty handy, but we're out-classed here (after spending an afternoon alternating attempts at pulling it out). I'll order the lower tube from Jim K if I know I can get the old piece out. Hopefully this can be done at the KOA from the inside of the coach!
And thanks again, I appreciate your offer!
Dave Wilson
'77 Eleganza II
Photos @ http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member.php?uid=2183&protype=1
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| Re: Oil Dipstick Tube Broken @ Block [message #213256 is a reply to message #213227] |
Thu, 04 July 2013 04:08 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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If Jim K. should happen not to have one (which I doubt as he has almost everything GMC), Dick Paterson (Springfield Ignition) has them.
Be careful adding oil. Oil consumption on these engines is all over the place. Mine goes 6000 miles on a quart of oil. Others have reported as low as 200 miles to a quart.
If you do not get the dipstick tube replaced, I would drain the oil and replace the filter. Then add 5 quarts of new oil and start and run the engine for a minute or so to fill the filter. After that let it sit for 10 minutes to let all oil drain back to the pan.
Remove your plug and fashion a dipstick out of something. I happen to like stainless cable from most any hardware or farm store. A coat hanger might also work. Put a loop in one end so it can not fall into the engine and stick the other end in the hole and read the level of the oil. Mark the oil level on your home brew dipstick and can compare it to future readings as necessary. Do not forget to replace the plug in the engine.
As a side story. We had a GMC show up one time in Indiana with the engine locked up. He had just bought the coach and the seller told him to check the oil and add a quart as necessary. Evidently the owner missed the words "as necessary" and he had been adding a quart of oil at every stop. I understand there was about 12 quarts of oil in that engine. We did not fix it. They had it towed to Florida.
Be careful not to over or under fill the oil.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Oil Dipstick Tube Broken @ Block [message #213284 is a reply to message #213259] |
Thu, 04 July 2013 11:26 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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Senior Member |
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I like Terry's method for removal:
Drain the oil and don't put the drain plug back in yet. Run a long piece of bailing wire down thru the hole where the tube was and out the oil drain hole. Then with a small punch push the stub on thru and it will slide down the wire and into your hand. Pull the wire out and put the oil drain plug back in.
And Rick's method for putting the new tube in:
Select a crow's foot socket that just fits over the new dipstick tube. Slide it down to the expanded collar of the tube. Insert an extension bar and use it to hammer the new tube into place.
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