Fixing a leaking oil dipstick o-ring seal

[clintonian]

I fixed my valve cover gasket and thought that would stop the engine oil leaking I was having, but it wasn't. On further inspection and research I found that the o-ring that is supposed to seal the engine oil dipstick piece where it enters the engine was archaic and leaking (from the bottom not the top). How I found it was by cleaning off the oil residue from under the engine, and then started the engine, gave it a bit of gas while the vehicle is stationary, and then turned it off again and looked at the area again from below. I could see fresh oil dripping down from that point very clearly. The leak looked at first like it was coming out between the gear box and motor and looked like a more serious problem, but I think it was just the air when driving that was blowing the leaking oil everywhere underneath.

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After removing the intercooler just for access to the dipstick, (which is pretty easy and takes one 10mm socket and about 3 mins) the dip stick is held in by one bolt, you undo the bolt and just pull it out from the engine itself. It's just held in by the friction of the o-ring.

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There is an o-ring on the bottom attached to the stick.

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My o-ring had become so hard that I thought it was plastic or metal as it had solidified and definitely wouldn't work as it should.

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Most stores should have a replacement o-ring of the correct size. I will be getting mine tomorrow probably from Lordco, if there is a specific number I will add it to this message. This is a very quick fix for an oil leak that you may have, and hopefully this helps someone who is new at this preventative maintenance stuff...

[Pajerist]

Good post, nice job!
Any news from Lordco?

Cheers,

[konadog]

Good to know and watch out for - Good job and Thanks

[clintonian]

Hey guys, thanks for the messages. Glad to be of service to this board. So I found the o-ring finally at Canadian Tire. The local Lordco in South Surrey here never had one the correct size. They guy behind the counter at Canadian Tire just came back with a few different sizes after trying to match the old one I gave him. The new one is just about the same size as the old one. I would say the interior diameter is about the same, but the ring itself is just a little puffier and the outside diameter is just the slightest bit bigger - and of course it actually feels like rubber, not plastic or metal. The guy gave it to me for free - said they just give away singles.

Based on how easy the job is I would say it is a great preventative thing to just do in advance. You'll be amazed at how hard the old o-ring is.

Anyway, I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but on the drive home I misplaced my old one and so I didn't get to take a picture of both side by side to post. Figures.

clint

[Fishtank]

Somebody smarter may correct me but I think the seal is actually a plastic one. I had mine leaking on me last year and I put on some sealing compound to stop the leak... hasn't leaked yet. Sometimes rubber is not the best choice for certain applications, but keep us informed if it happens to leak again.