Dipstick question

[MarkS]

My dipstick has always been loose and rattley inside the engine. I had assumed it was missing a lantern-type clip that holds it in place (or at least wasn't thick enough near the top). But when I ordered a new one, it was much the same. The suppliers sell a soft/felt conical washer, which is supposed to hold it in place, or at least prevents the oil spitting out. But its the wrong size/shape, and doesn't do either of these things well. And it runs the risk of giving a false low reading. Whats the solution here,.? because this doesn't seem to be factory correct..

[mgcjag]

It would help if you put your car model in the signature area......felt washer...shape depends on what you ordered..conical is not for E type...there should also be a dipstick bracket attached to a longer stud that holde the exhaust manifolds..Steve.....ps look at all similar topics below

[MarkS]

The felt washer is the apparently correct one for my model (according to the supplier). But its deployment means the dipstick rides higher than it should. It is also too soft to be of any lasting quality, or durable, and is conical in shape in which the small end won't even fit in the hole.

[mgcjag]

Mark.....best to quote part numbers when ordering rather than rely on "the supplier"...Steve

[MarkS]

The part number is correct

[abowie]

As long as you actually have the correct dipstick, whether you have a felt seal, no seal or an O ring won't make a significant difference to your oil level.

Assuming you have a S1 or S2 car there is a bracket that bolts to one of the exhaust studs and holds the top of the dipstick.

If your dipstick is rattling bend the top a little so that when held by the bracket it is under a small amount of tension.

Alternatively, wrap the top of your dipstick with clingfilm, then put it into the bracket. Then apply silicone sealer around the top of the bracket so it holds the dipstick firmly. Once the silicone has gone off remove the clingfilm and your dipstick will never rattle again.

[mgcjag]

This is becomming like 20 questions....if you want help then you have to give us something to go on...you havent even posted what car/engine/model.....Steve

[MarkS]

Hi Andrew, the felt seal that I've been supplied with makes the dipstick ride 6mm higher. I've just found a previous post in which someone has used corn plasters from boots that look like a much better fit. Incidentally, I also bought a new dipstick. But the reading area is a couple of mm above my original, so that will be going back..!
I accept that there is a bracket holding the dipstick in place. But I was hoping there would be a bracket on the engine side of the stick that kept it firmly in place

[dlgis]

My dipstick did not have any washer so i ordered one from SNGB and it sounds very much like the conical felt washer described, and was part no was C17585. SNGB appear to no longer stock the washer but others do. I too was surprised at the size of the washer but took the view that providing the oil level is kept at or near maximum it won’t do any harm, and the felt may compress over time.

A pic from another supplier:

[mgcjag]

Hi Darryl......as i mentioned above the conical washer you show is not for E types. ....its still listed on the SNGB site......they also list what car/model its suitable for(if you click on the "suitable for" button...this conical shape is for dipstick tubes that have a flared end that accept the cone......however its easy to slice off the flat end and use it on an E.....Steve

[MarkS]

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#/UK ... d9c7b406d3

This is the same item having the same part number, and it clearly says what its suitable for, which it isn't. And, quite frankly, I'm getting tired of buying parts that I then have to trim to make them fit...

[dlgis]

Hi Steve, yes that’s my plan at some point, attack it with a knife but that’s after resetting the front ride height and new sump gaskets while the exhaust and reaction plate is off again. At least i got to drive it 6 miles last week, first time in over 4 months

[dlgis]

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#/UK ... d9c7b406d3

This is the same item having the same part number, and it clearly says what its suitable for, which it isn't. And, quite frankly, I'm getting tired of buying parts that I then have to trim to make them fit...

Remember the old saying, “ a person who is tired of buying parts and modifying them, is tired of e types”

[mgcjag]

Mark....re your link...yes its listed as a felt dipstick washer...but if you click on the "suitable for" link you will see it dosnt mention E types. .....Steve

[abowie]

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#/UK ... d9c7b406d3

This is the same item having the same part number, and it clearly says what its suitable for, which it isn't. And, quite frankly, I'm getting tired of buying parts that I then have to trim to make them fit...

The E type one is just a small flat washer. I usually substitute an o ring.

As above, what you have there is for the classic saloons, which have a metal dipstick tube that comes up from the block, rather than just a hole.

I do note that the SNGB page for the dipstick C21251 does say "For felt seal required with this item see part number - C17585", although when you go to the page for that seal it says "Suitable For Classic Saloons: 420 Saloon, Daimler Sovereign, Mk X / Mk 10 3.8, Mk X / Mk 10 4.2, S-Type 3.4, 3.8"

[dal2.0litrefrogeye]

Just , with a sharp blade , cut the felt washer in half then you're back to the correct level and get two washers for the price of one ....... simples

[rfs1957]

I accept that there is a bracket holding the dipstick in place.

But I was hoping there would be a bracket on the engine side of the stick that kept it firmly in place

Mark, the fact you are hoping for an “engine-side locator” suggests to me that your dipstick isn’t bent sufficiently.

With the hook shaped receiver (located on the ex manifold stud) in place, the dipstick should require a vertical effort to coax it into place - it is precisely this springiness which stabilises the dipstick in the hook, obviating the need for any other retaining artifice.

As regards lengths, heights and felt washer thicknesses, with one’s oil-level reading being subject to far more consequential vagaries such as front-rear ride-height settings, the settling of engine and gearbox rubbers, the rotational orientation of an engine’s installation etc - my personal guide has always been to put the correct amount of oil in the engine, read the dipstick, and consider THAT to be my personal MAX, and deduce where my MIN should be by deducting the depth of the cross-hatching.

I would hasard that within “a couple of mm” these levels make diddly squat difference in practice.