North American Turbocoupe Organization



Leaking Dipstick Tube
fred k Offline
Senior Member
#1
Just replaced the head on my daily driver. Now it is leaking oil, I believe, at the back of the tube. I've used the thinnest rubber washer I could find, teflon tape (plenty of it) twice so last night coated the tube with Permatex silicon gasket maker. Guess what I lose. Still leaking.

I even tried a 2nd tube from a parts car, this last time.. Unfortunately I can't see the leak directly since it's not on the outer portion of the tube.

Come on Braintrust make me look silly, cause I'm stumped, tired and pissed.

Fred
fred l kennedy
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#2
Are you sure it's the tube that is leaking and not something higher up or nearby? Usually the washer and or the Pematex takes care of it.
Pete Dunham


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fred k Offline
Senior Member
#3
Quote:Originally posted by Pete D:
Are you sure it's the tube that is leaking and not something higher up or nearby? Usually the washer and or the Pematex takes care of it.
From what I can see it wells up behind the tube and flows down over the brace/gutter below the oil filter. Side of the block is dry. I'm going to see if my local garage can put it on the hoist for me tomorrow.
fred l kennedy
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Paulie Offline
Banned
#4
Sir what i do with the tube is install an AC O ring on the tube that enters the block and rework the bracket to mount to the lower intake and use a heavy peace of stock welded to the tube. I make it so that when i tighten the tube up it pushes the outer tube down into the block. The lower has a pad just under the upper and i drill and tap that boss for a 1/4-20 bolt. The stock tube bolts to a bracket that is bolted to the double ended lower bolt on the upper and is not very stable. My experience is the stock mounting bracket is to FLIMSY and the tube moves around. Now i know i will get some flack for this and a whole bunch of feedback and what the heck are you NUTS. Well here goes. Most of the engine builders i know do not run a dipstick. I am toying around with the same scenario. Reason being is when you shell out lots of bucks for a custom motor if it does not have a dip stick you will change the oil faithfully. What they do is measure the oil going in and out and this eliminates the dipstick problem or should i say forces you to do proper maintenance. Now you can beat me up guys and thank you.
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evintho Offline
Senior Member
#5
What I did was remove the dipstick, insert a punch in the bottom end and lightly tap. That flared out the tube just a smidge. Made sure the opening into the block was clean and smeared some RTV Blue around the bottom of the tube. Tapped it in and haven't had any issues at all.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

1986 Turbocoupe 5-spd - New daily driver!
1988 Turbocoupe 5-spd - parts car.
1989 Mustang convertible (Thunderstang). Built '88 TC shortblock, head by Boport, R/R, T3, Bobs log, gutted, rotated, ported mannys, AFPR, LA3, NPR I/C, etc.
Check out Thunderstang!
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gmaibach Offline
Senior Member
#6
you my have damaged the oil line for the turbo... its fragile and i broke mins by just tightening it... i went with stingers line
1988 Turbo Coupe 5 speed Red with Red cloth interior, K&N cone filter, Ported IHI turbo, ATR Header ported, Manual Boost Controller at 18 psi.

2013 Focus ST 2.0 Turbo, Buschur green filter, OCD Speed axle back exhaust.
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TurboE Offline
Posting Freak
#7
As long as you clean the area on the block (without getting it inside the engine), and dipstick with carb cleaner/towel, and use black permatex it wont leak! Make sure you let it dry completely before starting the engine. I personally hate the way the intake manifold has anything to do with the dipstick mounting... but its easier to just deal with it than change it lol.

As gmaibach mentioned, check the oil line (looks like a brake line) near the back of the head. If that's it you can always upgrade to a stainless flexable line if you didn't already.
-88 TC Black
5spd, Precision SC50 T3/T4, QH/SD Tune, Gillis, AFPR, 255FP, WB O2, K&N, Ported E6, 3" DP, ATR 2.5" Duals, 3:73 Rear, Konis, Eibachs, 18" Voxx Wheels, X Drilled Rotors.
-06 G35 Coupe Diamond Graphite
-97 Pathfinder
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natmac3 Offline
Administrator
#8
I used a thin layer of quick steel epoxy to seal it in.
Not a drip gets out.

Haven't used the intake bracket in years...
1987tc
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Paulie Offline
Banned
#9
I personally hate the way the intake manifold has anything to do with the dipstick mounting... but its easier to just deal with it than change it lol.

Sir not true when a poor design is brought to light it should be corrected. The problem with the tube is it vibrates because of the flimsy mounting arangement. The outer tube is basically vibrating itself loose. If you move the mountng to the pad on the lower it does two things. It makes the tube very RIGID and eliminated the vibration. And second is enables you to eliminate the cross bracket on the back upper bolts. This in turn makes more room and much easiet to remove the upper if needed. Once you remove the upper with the stock setup the tube is compromized. Just a little mod that costs notning and solves a big problem. Thank You

Note Silicone should be used with great care and avoided as much as possible. Just my $.02
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