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View Full Version : dipstick problems please help!!!


mtg6486
07-31-2008, 09:38 PM
ok so heres my problem i finished my sts turbo install on my 98 ls1 ta and under boost i was blowing oil out my dipstick tube where it goes into the block. the reason for this (which i realized when comparing dipsticks) was that 3 inches of the original dipstick tube was still in the block along with the o ring. this was broken last year while doing a header install but not realized until now. so my question is, is there any way to get the remainder of it out with out dropping the pan? and if not can you get the pan out with the engine in the car and if yes then how?

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 03:08 PM
any suggestions any one?

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 03:44 PM
So your oil dipstick TUBE is three inches too deep into your oil pan?

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 04:14 PM
notice the difference

sweetbmxrider
08-01-2008, 04:17 PM
i mean, you could cut the difference, but i wouldn't

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 04:17 PM
Ok so you have a bit remaining in there. Have you tried vise grips? Or anything really, to grab it and try wiggling it out?

sweetbmxrider
08-01-2008, 04:24 PM
i think its beyond that, like down there...

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 04:27 PM
Well, its an LSX at least it will be clean under there. Do you have access to a car lift? Makes it a whoole lot easier. If not, get some jackstands and get the car up high. Lift up under the crank hub, release the engine from the mounts, (have fun with the AC compressor) and drop the pan as much as needed. Reverse install.

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 04:37 PM
yea looks like im going to go that route

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 04:45 PM
Or just cap it, and forget about it. But please don't do that.

sweetbmxrider
08-01-2008, 04:57 PM
i did that for a little bit with my truck after i put on my gibson headers, didn't work too good

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 04:58 PM
Yea I still need to replace mine.... ugh.

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 06:02 PM
yea this **** is not going to be fun i am thinking of replacing my k member while im at it and someone on ls1 tech suggested doing the rod bolts as well

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 06:07 PM
Replacing the K member "while your at" seems a bit over zealous. Don't get me wrong its a great idea, but adds a whole new beast to the bag of problems...

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 06:31 PM
this is true

sweetbmxrider
08-01-2008, 06:33 PM
just put the old tube back in till you find time to replace it. see if it leaks. silicone it some if you want to drive it.

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 06:45 PM
i have to replace it because under boost the pressure sends it spraying out

LTb1ow
08-01-2008, 09:27 PM
Does that mean a lot of blow by and bad ring seals? Or just a lack of dip stick tube material?

mtg6486
08-01-2008, 10:54 PM
well thanks to a magnet i dont have to drop my pan. i took out the oil level sensor and managed to get the 3 inch section to fall into the pan. i used the magnet to move it into place and went through the oil level sensor hole to get it woooo hoooo!!!!!!!!! that little 5 dollar magnet has more that paid for itself and is now one of my favorite tools.

sweetbmxrider
08-01-2008, 11:47 PM
haha nice! we still haven't seen the turbo though???

JL8Jeff
08-02-2008, 09:34 AM
Nice grab! Don't you love it when you can pull off something like that. I had the speedo cable gear fall into the transmission on my SS396 and thought I was going to have to pull the tailhousing off to get to it. I fished around with christmas ornament hanger(great little tool that is cheap and adjustable :mrgreen:) and was able to hook it enough to grab it with needle nose pliers. So is your oil blowing out the tube because that lower tube portion had moved down too far? As long as the main dipstick tube connects to that lower portion which is down into the oil you should be fine. I never had any blowby issues on my supercharged 93 but that was only 4.5 lbs of boost.

mtg6486
08-02-2008, 10:31 AM
yea i felt like i did something that was horribly impossible and succeeded!!! that tube was one piece but broke off and where they met was an o ring. also i will get plenty of turbo pics today

sweetbmxrider
08-02-2008, 11:47 AM
nice!

LTb1ow
08-02-2008, 01:52 PM
But now you can't use that as an excuse to replace the K member....

Jersyboyy
08-02-2008, 03:12 PM
Good job bro

& LOL But now you can't use that as an excuse to replace the K member....

I was thinking the same thing

mtg6486
08-02-2008, 04:46 PM
thanks guys

mtg6486
08-02-2008, 04:49 PM
got turbo pics and no more leak from the dipstick
http://www.njfboa.org/forums/showthread.php?p=471219#post471219

bubba428
08-02-2008, 05:16 PM
is the oil gasy smelling? why would it do that?

mtg6486
08-02-2008, 05:29 PM
no gas smell what you mean?

johnjzjz
08-03-2008, 08:06 AM
in the end you will find the piston rings in the motor do not have the ability to keep the exessive pressures caused buy the turbo out of the oil pan, whats happening is the air is blowing by the rings and up the dip stick or even out the oil cap in some cases - we in building a thing like this would have put a total seal type of ring on the special turbo pistons with unique holes that are drilled in the ring lands of the piston to keep the crank case pressure against the rings them selves so power loss is kept in check so to speek - my guess you just bolted a turbo on a 70 thousand mile motor with 10 30 oil and put your foot on the floor works on jap cars not V8s - jz

bubba428
08-03-2008, 09:29 AM
exactly what i was thinking, but didn't know how to word it

mtg6486
08-03-2008, 11:01 AM
so your basically saying i need a rebuild with new rings and pistons

mtg6486
08-03-2008, 07:20 PM
so whats a good boost friendly engine combo?

LTb1ow
08-03-2008, 07:23 PM
Fully forged LT1 with a 383 rotating assembly. :)

mtg6486
08-03-2008, 07:49 PM
i like my ls1

LTb1ow
08-03-2008, 07:54 PM
Then a nice lightweight forged rotating assembly, maybe 355 and crank up the boost. I think you can get the STS to like 10-15psi?

mtg6486
08-03-2008, 08:10 PM
yea in its current state it can safely do 10 psi with meth injection. ill probably drive it as is for the next few months and look to do the rebuild in the winter

LTb1ow
08-03-2008, 08:13 PM
The STS kit blows its couplings over a certain psi.

mtg6486
08-03-2008, 08:24 PM
so far so good