Dipstick Tube....

[Don Hiltz]

Yesterday, while having my oil changed, I noticed a thin film of oil on the right side of the crankcase. The Viper tech and I traced it to the where the dipstick tube enters the block. The tube was not completely inserted and was allowing small amounts of oil to leak out. Since the tube itself is curved and is held by a retaining bracket at the top, the solution appeared to be to reduce the curve somewhat, thereby effectively lengthening the tube, and allowing it to fit more completely into the block. Hopefully, this will remediate the problem.

However, several questions were engendered:

Do all Vipers have a dipstick tube which merely sits in the block or do they typically require tapping to seal the connection?

Is leaking at this junction a common problem?

Isn't there some method to "seal" the tube into the block via a clamp, slip ring, etc?

Thanks in advance........

Don

 

[95Viper]

Funny you would post this because it might be all Mopars, not just Vipers. My dad is restoring a 69 1/2 M Code Roadrunner. It will be in AutoRama in Detroit in a few weeks. He just had the same issue yesterday. There is a rubber gasket and it just pushes in.

 

[Don Hiltz]

Do you have a parts # for the gasket? Is it a Mopar specific part?

Thanks.....

Don

 

[95Viper]

Sorry, no idea (he used the old one) but I doubt it's the same gasket for 30 years apart.

 

[1TONY1]

Don, You need to pull the tube out and clean the end of the tube and sprat carb cleaner or similar around and into the hole in the block to make sure it is clean. Then put a bead of silicone around the tube, insert, put the bolt back and let the silicone dry before cranking the engine. FYI...I had a Viper here last week and the rubber was gone from the sealing end of the dipstick. There is no replacement stick, a new tube and stick must be ordered.

edit: assuming a gen1 is the same as gen2 there is no gasket.