how to remove broken dipstick tube

TBarCYa

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
781
I went into today with a plan to remove the broken dipstick tube from my 08 3.0L. I had some 5/16"allthread and was going to thread it into the broken tube then use it as a makeshift slide hammer to pull it out. Worked wonderfully except that there´s very little of the 5/16" section of the tube left so the allthread pulled out. On to the backup plan... 7mm allthread for the smaller section except that 7mm allthread is impossible to find. I have a 7mm bolt but no way to grip it and after going through the 1"of 5/16 thatś left, thereś not much to thread into the tube.

So... What are my options? I can look online and order 7mm althread and wait for it to come in... Thatś what Iḿ leaning towards because I should be able to thread it 6"or more into the tube so I know itĺl grip. I could run a tap in it but thereś no shoulder on the tap to even get some leverage on plus applying pressure to the tap will likely break it, leaving me with no way to get the tube out. I could try an adhesive (epoxy or jb weld or something) but the tube is oily so its unlikely to stick... Any suggestions other than dropping the pan?

Thanks.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,426
pull motor, pull pan, use vice-grips, remove old tube, install new tube, install pan, re-install motor, go boating
 

stang32

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
513
where is the tube broken? is there any part of it extruding from the block? you should be able to get a pair of vise grip needle nose pliers on it.
 

kenny nunez

Captain
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
3,343
Dip stick tube quick fix.
Get a new drain plug, drill and tap it to 1/8” npt. Or weld a similar female fitting to it. Get a 1/8” npt male to 3/8” inverted flare female fitting and a 2’ length of 3/8” steel tubing with the flare nuts from NAPA. Drain the oil and install the plug and fitting, then gently bend the tubing to conform with the engine. Put 4 quarts of oil in the engine then with a tubing cutter start trimming the tubing until the dipstick reads full. Then secure the tube to hold it in place. Now you have a way of sucking the oil out with a pump to change it. Just another idea. Plug the old hole with some RTV sealer
 

TBarCYa

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
781
I'm sure it is easy to pull but I'd prefer not to until it's absolutely necessary.

To answer the questions, the tube is broken flush with the block. I don't have any pictures of where it's broken.

It looks like I'll be ordering some M7 all thread and nuts / washers.

Thanks.
 

stang32

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
513
`get a 3/8 easy out, the ones that are like 3 inches long, ratchet it into the tube and you should be able to pull on the easy out to remove the tube
 
Top