[DeTomaso] oil dipstick

[Christopher Kimball]

Thanks--I'll re-measure it again from the bottom of the cup stop.  If it's 38 1/4" from there, that would mean it would read "too full" if the oil was actually correct, so as long as I kept it right at the "full" line, I should have enough oil, I would think, even if that reading really meant I was 1/2 quart low.  The handle is blue, so I don't think it's been replaced since it's not yellow.

Chris
#3846

From: JDeRyke at aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:59:19 -0400
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] oil dipstick
To: chrisvkimball at msn.com; detomaso at realbig.com

In a message dated 10/21/07 4:02:02 PM, chrisvkimball at msn.com writes:



we measured mine and it turns out it's 39" (starting from the top, inside the cup, all the way to the end).  I'm showing 1/2 quart low on the dipstick right now, but is that dipstick too long for an accurate reading?  Note:  My car came with an after-market, larger oil pan of no known providence.



1- the correct dipstick length will be 38" long from the bottom (not the inside) of the cup-stop to the tip. An extra 3/4-1" will certainly give erroneous readings & if filled to the too-long mark, can cause oil leakage around the main seals. I'd fix it- but measure again first. 

2- an aftermarket oil pan thats properly made will read corrctly with a stock dipstick, as long as its not a drag race unit with a sump hanging below the subframe rails. A big pan's extra volume is from a longer sump thats the same depth as stock, not a deeper deeper sump. Good luck- J Deryke




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