Thread: dipstick removal

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Hey guys,

I'm installing my headers, i need to remove the oil dipstick tube. How do I do it? just keep pulling up? dosn't seem like its moving at all. thanks.

Are you going to reuse it? If so you won't want to damage it, but if you are using a new one like a chrome one, vise grips can be used to turn it back and forth to loosen it. The tube is just a press fit into the hole.

I had one that was really stuck and had to slip a bolt that was a tight fit into the tube, then clamped the vise grips on that portion where I could really clamp it tightly'

Normally, if you put the vise grips (ones with the rounded jaws) around the bottom as close to the place where it enters the block, you can spin it loose and it will start working it's way out. I have also clamped vise grips on and tapped upward on them with a small hammer to dislodge the tube.

Don

Thanks for the quick reply, I tried all of your sugesstions though and none of them worked. It's late though and I was getting really frustrated so I quit for the night. I'll try again tomorrow night after work. Is it always this hard to remove a dipstick? Or am I a dipstick?

Serious question though, the dip stick on the block is a chrome unit (probably a cheapo one just like everything else on it), when I vise gripped it a bunch of chrome flaked off, do they chrome these on the inside too? What are the chances of it flaking off on the inside when i did this and if so could it hurt my motor?

Thanks for the help as always guys.

it should not be plated inside no worry there, this may be a case where you have to destroy it to get it out. ive got a slide dent puller with a pair of vise grips attached to it. if you have access to one of these it will get it out. if not your just gonna have to get mean with it and buy a new one to replace it.

if you are working on a small block chevy its not that big of a deal if you break it.....they sell brand new ones at autozone and advance auto parts for like $10-$15 i think they are MR. Gasket brand which isnt that bad....when you put it back in just rub a little red RTV on the end of it and it should hold fine i ave never had one leak doing that and they are easy to get out

i'll try some more tonight to get it out without destroying it, i'm afraid I'll break it off in the block if i twist on it to hard

Any suggestions for getting it off destroyed but in one piece?

Originally Posted by joehalford01

i'll try some more tonight to get it out without destroying it, i'm afraid I'll break it off in the block if i twist on it to hard

Any suggestions for getting it off destroyed but in one piece?

It wont fall into the block....it is only in by about 1/2"
There should be a lip right at the block.....take a screw driver and try prying there

i got it out. I clamped down some vise grips as hard as I could on the lip, prayed, and smacked the vise grips with a hammer for a good five minutes, then i put the vise grips higher up and I was able to twist and pull until it popped out. It's about a 1/2" long from the lip, it's an aftermarket dipstick (or it broke off on the inside dosn't look like it though). I think it's still usable but the lip is a little damaged so I think i'll get a new just in case. Thanks for all the help guys, installing these headers is a real bear, I ordered the wrong header bolts from summit so now i need to go buy some cheapies at auto-zone to get it done. Who knows what else will happen next.

I think the guy who invented vise grips should be given some sort of award. They have saved the day for me only about a zillion times over the years, and how else would we clamp stuff together?

Glad you got it out. Nothing is left in there, I just bought a chrome one for my 350 from Summit, and the part that went in was only about 1/2 inch long, so you are ok.

Don

as much as we all hate the idea of having to use vice grips, being an improper fit tool and such..... its amazing how much you end up using them.... for some of the strangest things too..... i keep in my toolkit in my car, a screw driver, vice grips, a flashlight, bailing wire, and electrical tape.... thats all you'll ever need in an emergency

i shudder everytime i have to use the vise grips, I feel like I destroy more stuff then I fix sometimes. I'm getting better though with each project.