Thread: Dipstick pops off

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Has anyone had this happen? When the rpm's get over 3000 the dipstick handle pops off the tube and oil ends up burning all over my headers. What's causing this?

What type of crankcase ventilation do you have? Sounds like what ever it is , is maybe not enough and the pressure is building until it push's the dip stick out.

RS

Or lack of one!
Pat

Originally Posted by badchevy

Has anyone had this happen? When the rpm's get over 3000 the dipstick handle pops off the tube and oil ends up burning all over my headers. What's causing this?

Back in '64 when I come home from overseas my Dad had a real cherry '57 Ford Custom 2dr waiting for me. California had been into their smog B.S. for a couple of years and since this car came off a new dealer lot it had the mandatory smog garbage on it. Everything was fine for a couple of months and then one Fri. nite driving to Anaheim from Camp Pendleton the dipstick blew out with such force it put a dent in the hood and covered the right side of the windshield with oil. I got to a gas station and cleaned everything up and continued on to my Dad's house. The next morning I pulled the rubber plug that had been stuffed in the road draft tube and the garbage that came out made one hell of a mess in the driveway. It wiped out the bearings and I very quickly got rid of the car as it burned oil and smoked like a freight train.
I suggest that you vent the crankcase properly or you'll be rebuilding an engine in short order if it's not ruined already.

The engine has a PCV valve (new) and an air vent on the driver side valve cover. The motor has been fine for years and this just started last week. I used a thicker oil when I changed it last week. Maybe I should switch back to the 5w30.

You are catching crank case pressure, very possibly from the thicker oil.

This is(was) a typical problem for the 02-03 Indian chiefs with the PP100.. only they would lauch the dipstick like a rocket!

I'm going to change the oil today and go back to the 5w30 to see if that makes any difference. Expensive thing to do for a guess as I use synthetic oil.

5W30 will give you better economy than more viscous oils. And if it is synthetic it is plenty good for the engine. You might consider going to a 'closed' PCV system. Replace the open breather with a tube and plate that connects to the outside of the air cleaner. This will provide additional suction and vacuum in the crankcase.

Kitz

I've changed the oil to 5w30 and bent the end of the dipstick a little. Haven't had it pop off since.