I was cheking the oil on my '77 and the dip stick tube fell out. Tried to push it back in but, it is far to loose to do that. I'm not sure that the tube is the right one for this L48 motor. The hole in the block looks like it is threaded. At the bottom of the tube there is a flared portion 1-1/2 inches from the bottom but, I can't press it in because the tube only inserts 3/4 of an inch. II would like to drive the car very temporarily but, I'm afraid oil will spill out. Could I insert some kind of plug to seal the tube or should I just order a new one and hope it will fit? I doubt I am getting an accurrate reading of the oil level. I have read here that some wrap aluminium foil around the tube to make it snug, however, this one is really loose and would take quite a bit of foil. Any suggestions would be much appreaciated. Thanks!
Use an oil resistant silicon like Permatex Ultra Black. Coat the outside of the tube then when you're inserting it gently tap on it's top with a small hammer. The tube is supposed to be a "light" press fit which would mean it shouldn't fall out by itself............................
Thanks for the replies. I was going to try the Permatex but the tube only goes in 3/4 of an inch. And, that is 3/4 inch below the flare in the tube, so, it looks like it should go in another 3/4 to the bottom of the flare. I'll do some more investigating. I'm really new at this sort of thing and I'm sure you guys are light years beyond me.
I'm feeling really dumb. Got this Vette about a week ago and should have ckecked the oil sooner. Looked at the dip stick tube more closely and then reversed it, top to bottom, and that was the problem. I must have put it in wrong when it fell out. Going with the Permatex to make it a bit more snug. Thanks, alot.
FYI . . . Another fix for a lose dipstick tube is "loc-tite" #609. But you have to make sure that there is no oil resiude on the tube, or in the hole. I used Q-Tips soaked in acetone.
No more loose tube, no more oil leak
Steve
You can clean out the hole in the block with a Q-Tip soaked in gasoline. After getting the hole and tube clean coat the O.D. of the tube with oil-resistant RTV then shove it in until the flange on it stops it.
You could also slightly egg the upper part of the tube that gets inserted into the block, causing the tube to be a little tougher to insert into the block, this would increase friction making it less likely to come back out.
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