My engine blow its dip stick off

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Wes Bender
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#16 Post by Wes Bender »

Strange thread... I think we need to know more.... That photo must be a "before" picture. I think I can see a dipstick. I suppose you need the dipstick to make sure the sump does indeed stay dry. Do we need another forum category for Troubleshooting Highly Modified Engines?
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Mike Wilson
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#17 Post by Mike Wilson »

My guess...if you didn't hear it rattling around in the engine bay, it's on the work bench or inside that oil rag you check the oil level with....

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Rafik Dous
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#18 Post by Rafik Dous »

Ok, I had a real good look, nowhere to be found
I owned the car for about 4 years now. When I did the first service on it, I noticed the previous owner put a zip tie around the dip stick which I couldn't figure out why nor it was connected to anything anyway
Last week when I was cleaning off the the oil after losing the dip stick, I noticed a little hook attached to the tin next to the dip stick. So it all made sense. The PO put the hook and had the dip stick attached to it with a zip tie
Here is a picture I took this morning after replacing the missing dip stick. Look closely and you will see what I mean

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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#19 Post by Rafik Dous »

and the pic
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Mike Wilson
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#20 Post by Mike Wilson »

I've never seen or heard of this. Internal pressures in the engine blow the dip stick out instead of venting through a breather?

Check the deck lid. Maybe it's stuck in there!

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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#21 Post by C J Murray »

If I had an engine with that much crankcase pressure I would be worried. I assume you have many oil leaks with that much pressure but it doesn't look dirty. :?
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#22 Post by Rafik Dous »

Not a single oil leak (till this incident)
I have a pressure gauge at the engine. Will fire it up today and get some pics

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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#23 Post by Jules Dielen »

I still wonder what you are measuring down there. Does the car have an external oil tank? Your dip stick should be in there if you have one (a dry sump will have one)
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#24 Post by Rafik Dous »

At about 1200 rpm
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#25 Post by Rafik Dous »

Jules Dielen wrote:I still wonder what you are measuring down there. Does the car have an external oil tank? Your dip stick should be in there if you have one (a dry sump will have one)
Yes and yes

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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#26 Post by C J Murray »

Is that an Accusump I see, the blue cylinder? Is that what you are calling a "dry sump"? If so, that is not a dry sump.
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#27 Post by Wes Bender »

I think you've got it Cliff. Inquiring minds really want to know. It would explain the dipstick alright, but not why it's going AWOL.
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#28 Post by Heidi Frances »

Hi Rafik,

Just a suggestion, but I would swap out that plastic gas filter with a metal one... I had one cause a nice fire in a Beetle years ago. Just a thought.

Franny
 

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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#29 Post by Wes Bender »

OK. I think I can make a good guess as to what the problem is. (Long distance troubleshooting is a bit haphazard though.) Whether or not he has a dry sump engine, which I rather doubt, or if he is using an Accusump, is immaterial. The answer to the dipstick blowing out is probably in one of his first pictures. Instead of the breather going to the right air filter, there is a small filter installed on the oil filler canister. That filter is too restrictive. It is either blocked with dirt, or possibly blocked off intentionally to prevent oil and condensation residue from dripping onto an otherwise pristine engine. If that is the case, the only breather that the crankcase has is through the dipstick tube. Not only is it not large enough, it makes an excellent launch tube for dipsticks. The problem precedes Rafik's ownership.

The oil breather should be either routed to the right hand air filter or vented overboard. This would ease the pressurizing of the crankcase and dipsticks would stay in place without needing to be tied down.

If the engine DOES have an Accusump and there is a solenoid valve in the system that is connected to the ignition so that it opens when the key is turned on and closes when the key is off, it is a very good thing. It's then providing oil under pressure to the system during starting.

Any other thoughts?
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Re: My engine blow its dip stick off

#30 Post by Tom Coughlin »

Wes: Great detective work and great theory. I have one question. How did the dip stick exit the compartment without leaving a hole (or other evidence)?
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