Broken Dipstick Tube?

[jacknifetoaswan]

I'm in the process of swapping out my leaky composite valve covers with the aluminum covers from the GT500. Unfortunately, when I pulled the dipstick tube, this is all that came out.

The dealer has been into this engine at least twice, replacing valve cover gaskets or doing the valve cover bolt TSB. I have exactly zero way to determine if THEY did this and put it back broken, or I did it. I didn't get any resistance when I pulled it, so I'm feeling good about the assumption that they broke it. It's been several years, so if it's in there, it's been rattling around awhile.

I tried to fish anything I could out of the oil gallery, but couldn't feel anything.

Do I just reassemble and pray?

JR

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[AZlb5.0]

It doesn’t look like the tip is broken but you never know. In all honesty the only way to be sure is to drop the pan. But that’s up to you.

 

[Cobra Jet]

looking at the part, it appears it may have been a twist in/out part instead of just being able to pull it straight up and out... Yes it has an o-ring, but look at the "threaded" yellow section where it has what appears to be interlocker spacing to thread in and "lock" its position.

 

[Strokerswild]

Can you see the tube crammed into the cylinder head?

When I did the GT500 cover swap on my '15, my dipstick tube broke in similar fashion when I was removing the tube, apparently they get brittle. Luckily the end of the tube stayed put in the head and I was able to pull it out with a needlenose pliers. It was light friction fit.

If it fell into the pan, it might be OK. Might. It shouldn't be able to be ingested by the pump. It would be nice to be sure it's out though...

 

[80FoxCoupe]

If you pull the VC without removing the dipstick tube, it will snap the tube off of the yellow section. U could drop the pan a bit, use long needle nose pliers, grab the tube and push back up to top. Have someone up top pull it out.

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

I pulled the dipstick tube before pulling the valve cover, so I'm almost certain I didn't break it. I looked down the oil gallery, but didn't see anything. I'll get a better light and look again when I get home. I really, really don't want to pull the pan.

Can anyone point me to the location of the tube?

JR

 

[80FoxCoupe]

You would be looking down a oil return passage back to pan, not an oil gallery. The tube could have been broken during previous service as u mentioned.

 

[Nitrousfedlx]

I pulled the dipstick tube before pulling the valve cover, so I'm almost certain I didn't break it. I looked down the oil gallery, but didn't see anything. I'll get a better light and look again when I get home. I really, really don't want to pull the pan.

Can anyone point me to the location of the tube?

JR

Make sure u clean the grit off those cam journals before reassembly!

 

[Strokerswild]

The location of the rest of the tube will correspond roughly to its spot on the valve cover.

Mine broke as I was trying to remove it from the cover also, and was a sphincter puckering moment when just the yellow end came out with a little stub of the black tube attached.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

Make sure u clean the grit off those cam journals before reassembly!

Cam cap. That tiny bit is nothing, that's a very clean engine.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I pulled the dipstick tube before pulling the valve cover, so I'm almost certain I didn't break it. I looked down the oil gallery, but didn't see anything. I'll get a better light and look again when I get home. I really, really don't want to pull the pan.

Can anyone point me to the location of the tube?

JR

Why are some of those cam journals so badly worn through the smooth polished layer? Not only worn through, but unless I'm mistaken, in that photo I'm seeing some good scoring on them too... Something floating around in there, perhaps rocker guide bits? The bits that folks claim break off?

How many miles on that?

Not trying to scare you, but to me - and seeing many opened engines with low and high miles, the cam journal surface wear looks abnormal and out of place to me...

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

Why are some of those cam journals so badly worn through the smooth polished layer? Not only worn through, but unless I'm mistaken, in that photo I'm seeing some good scoring on them too... Something floating around in there, perhaps rocker guide bits? The bits that folks claim break off?

How many miles on that?

Not trying to scare you, but to me - and seeing many opened engines with low and high miles, the cam journal surface wear looks abnormal and out of place to me...

I couldn't tell you about the wear. I can wrench stuff on and off, but I don't know a whole lot about wear patterns and indicators. The engine has about 56k on it. It's had nothing inside it but Amsoil Signature or Royal Purple oil with Amsoil or K&N filters, and it's been changed every 10k miles or one year, since new.

I've never done a UOA, but perhaps it's time. The top of the head looked very clean to me, but I was only really looking at varnishes or staining from heat or oil.

JR

 

[80FoxCoupe]

Why are some of those cam journals so badly worn through the smooth polished layer? Not only worn through, but unless I'm mistaken, in that photo I'm seeing some good scoring on them too... Something floating around in there, perhaps rocker guide bits? The bits that folks claim break off?

How many miles on that?

Not trying to scare you, but to me - and seeing many opened engines with low and high miles, the cam journal surface wear looks abnormal and out of place to me...

I noticed that too. I bet that wear seen on the lobes is smooth as glass. No scoring that I see. Could possibly be weakening valvesprings, where the cam followers are bouncing off of the lobe at higher rpms, or at low rpm when oil pressure is low. I wonder if this car sees alot of high rpm and or lots of idle time?

Either way, I'd run it and not worry about it. If op ever does opg/cs, I'd do chains/tensioners/valvesprings too.

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

I noticed that too. I bet that wear seen on the lobes is smooth as glass. No scoring that I see. Could possibly be weakening valvesprings, where the cam followers are bouncing off of the lobe at higher rpms, or at low rpm when oil pressure is low. I wonder if this car sees alot of high rpm and or lots of idle time?

Either way, I'd run it and not worry about it. If op ever does opg/cs, I'd do chains/tensioners/valvesprings too.

Very little idle time. Honestly, I hate sitting there, wasting gas, so I turn the thing off almost immediately. I do have the 2018 IM and a tune with the rev limiter raised, but it's rarely revved out beyond 7000 RPM. Never tracked, either.

I have no crazy plans for this car, and I'm the only person who's ever driven it, save for a dealership tech or my FIL. I can attest to all but maybe 150 miles of this car's life. Anyway, if she gives up the ghost, it's an excuse to build it bigger, better, and faster.

I just wish I had any idea what would have caused that wear.

JR

 

[jacknifetoaswan]

The location of the rest of the tube will correspond roughly to its spot on the valve cover.

Mine broke as I was trying to remove it from the cover also, and was a sphincter puckering moment when just the yellow end came out with a little stub of the black tube attached.

I see zero indication that there's the remainder of a tube in there. Short of pulling the pan, which I'm disinclined to do...

I suppose I can ask if anyone I know has a scope...

JR

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