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Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

June 02, 2011, 11:46:12 pm

The dip stick was pretty hard to pull out the last time I checked the oil level. So I decided not to push it all the way in. When we got here, oil had run down the dip stick tube about 2/3 the way to the block, splattered on the air dryer, and speckled a few other places. Be sure to push it in all the way. 

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #1 – June 03, 2011, 05:45:37 pm

Why was it hard to pull out? Is the tube cracking just above the oil pan? I had an Opel  Ralley that if the dip stick wasn't in all the way all the oil would be pumped out of the engine .  JOE

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #2 – June 03, 2011, 11:11:56 pm

The tube is fine. The dip stick just seems to hang up at the end by the handle. I don't think it is a big problem, I just didn't expect oil to come clear up the tube.

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #3 – June 04, 2011, 07:16:56 am

Not being all that familiar with diesel engines but could excessive oil blowing out the dipstick tube be an indication of blowby of the piston rings, creating positive pressure in the crankcase? I know this was indicative of worn rings and seals in gas engines.

Maybe someone could answer that better than me.

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #4 – June 04, 2011, 07:27:03 am

Dick, Having the oil dipstick not fully seated, meaning not sealed in the tube, you surely can expect oil to work its way up the stick and make a mess. as would a missing oil filler cap, loose breather etc.
Understand why you tried leaving the stick out aways, but that will give you exactly what you got, a mess.
If the dipstick does not fully seat, you need to get it resolved and seated. 

There are many things you can do, I do not recommend it, but you could pull the stick out, store it some where and use a cap, maybe a plastic cap that fits the end of the tube that would snap on and seal the tube. 
Cheers and FWIW

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #5 – June 04, 2011, 10:53:17 pm

Nighthawk,

The compression ratio in your Foretravel is at least 16 to 1 compared to a gas engine at 9 to 1 or so and is a lot bigger cubic inch wise.  When you do a compression check on a car, the typical reading is around 125 psi. In order to ignite the diesel fuel, your diesel compression has to be at least 350 psi and an engine in good shape may read over 450 psi in a cranking compression test. Easy to see why they naturally have more blowby.  This can send what seems to be a lot of oil up the small dip stick tube. The black color of the oil doesn't help any when it gets all over things does it?

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #6 – June 05, 2011, 07:58:05 am

I'm certainly no expert on diesels - this is my first one. However, I had a similar issue on my trip home when I bought my 1991 U225.

As I learned when I poked around, all of the dipsticks at the back of my 5.9 Cummins have a screw locking feature. That is to say, the handles screw in and out, which causes the tapered rubber seal at the handle to expand or contract.

When you want to check the oil level, you unscrew the handle a ways, then pull the dipstick out. When you're done and have seated the dipstick, you screw the handle in until it snugs up. Once screwed in, the seal has expanded, and no oil can escape. In my case, whoever last checked the oil didn't loosen the seal when they pulled the stick, and thus didn't seat it properly when it was replaced.

Don't know if your setup is the same, but thought to throw that out there. If your dipstick arrangement is the same, it might explain why removing and seating it required somewhat of an effort.

Steve

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #7 – June 05, 2011, 08:32:39 am

Dick, Like you, I also have an 03, 320.  A careful inspection of the dip stick locking mechanism should reveal a d-shaped spring ring that locks into a land beneath the dip stick t-handle, with a O ring beneath that.  A quarter of a turn to unseat the spring ring from the land and vice-versa to lock might be the answer.  Maybe the spring ring jumped out of place, lost its tension, etc.  Hope this helps.  The 03, 320's are awesome coaches, one of the best Foretravel ever made.

Gregory
2003 Designer #6182

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #8 – June 05, 2011, 09:13:11 am

My 8.2 DD dipstick is almost the same as my 4.0L Ford V6. No special locking features, just push in until the "cap" stops forward travel.

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Re: Another dumb decision - Dip stic blowby

Reply #9 – June 26, 2011, 01:47:08 pm

Gregory you are so right. Thanks, a clever locking mechanism. Not a thing wrong with it, just pilot error. 

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