Dipstick not staying in

[blue190]

Is it a bad thing that my dipstick always seems to be slightly out whenever i look under the bonnet? There doesn't seem to be any evidence of oil escaping and its only ever out as far as the bottom of the plastic moulding. The engine seems to have used oil but no sign of any leaks. I'm confused, any ideas anyone?

 

[KLP 92]

Is it a bad thing that my dipstick always seems to be slightly out whenever i look under the bonnet? There doesn't seem to be any evidence of oil escaping and its only ever out as far as the bottom of the plastic moulding. The engine seems to have used oil but no sign of any leaks. I'm confused, any ideas anyone?

there's a rubber seal at the top of the dipstick. Change that first, should be under a £1.

 

[television]

Is it a bad thing that my dipstick always seems to be slightly out whenever i look under the bonnet? There doesn't seem to be any evidence of oil escaping and its only ever out as far as the bottom of the plastic moulding. The engine seems to have used oil but no sign of any leaks. I'm confused, any ideas anyone?

I think that you are lucky to own a dip stick, I wish that I had one

 

[Ian B Walker]

And my dipstick is downstairs and she wont go out

<Dead man walking alert>

 

[Andyni]

And my dipstick is downstairs and she wont go out

<Dead man walking alert>

PMSL

 

[blue190]

appreciating the humour, but i am worried about my car and hoped that some useful advice might come from this.

 

[BlackC55]

It maybe breathing a bit heavy.

how many miles?

 

[blue190]

It maybe breathing a bit heavy.

how many miles?

215k on the clock but as far as i know the engine was changed some time just before 200k although i did recently have to have a new head after the gasket went, which makes me wonder how professionally the new engine was fitted and how new it was.

 

[Ian B Walker]

start the engine and let it get warm. Remove the dipstick and see if any mist comes out of the hole. Place thumb over hole and see how much crank case pressure there is. Also check the crank case breather for blockages as if it is blocked it will push the dip stick out.

 

[blue190]

start the engine and let it get warm. Remove the dipstick and see if any mist comes out of the hole. Place thumb over hole and see how much crank case pressure there is. Also check the crank case breather for blockages as if it is blocked it will push the dip stick out.

not meaning to sound dull as a brush, but where do i locate the crank case breather?

 

[Ian B Walker]

Its on the left hand side of the rocker cover and goes to the air cleaner.

 

[television]

You can also place your hand over the oil filler hole and check for blow back there.

you could tighten the v section in the dip stick to make it tighter if there is one

 

[rufman]

I've got exactly the same problem in mine. Dip stick always out a little and further so after hard driving. The word crankcase pressure was mentioned by the specialist too but i didnt pay attention. However, this may also explain the oil leak Im getting from a new rocker cover gasket.

Any one got any diagrams or clear methods on how to check the breather and if it is indeed blocked then how to clear?
More importantly, where exactly is it and what does it look like? I know the left side of the rocker cover was mentioned.

I'm really worried now about this car which is fast turning in to a money pit!

 

[Ian_C]

Rufman, hang on there....I know the feeling with the E55 that anything at all gets costly and thats before you have worked out that yet again the car is doing 24MPG....

Stick with it, it's fun....Well unless you have a cracked front bumper and you were thinking of selling.....Or you have that feeling it will never feel perfect....

Cheers

Ian

 

[rufman]

Rufman, hang on there....I know the feeling with the E55 that anything at all gets costly and thats before you have worked out that yet again the car is doing 24MPG....

Stick with it, it's fun....Well unless you have a cracked front bumper and you were thinking of selling.....Or you have that feeling it will never feel perfect....

Cheers

Ian

Cheers ian..im taking things very personal with the E55. It has got all the love and attention it could need..new tyres, pads, discs, oil, plugs, filters, atf, brake fluid, zymol, poetry before i leave it for the evening, etc and the bloody thing keeps letting me down. Its now even getting a new facelift. I'm very scared that the oil leak, dipstick etc is a sign of much worse things to come and paranoia has set in badly. You are right, great car but is it really worth it?!

 

[television]

I've got exactly the same problem in mine. Dip stick always out a little and further so after hard driving. The word crankcase pressure was mentioned by the specialist too but i didnt pay attention. However, this may also explain the oil leak Im getting from a new rocker cover gasket.

Any one got any diagrams or clear methods on how to check the breather and if it is indeed blocked then how to clear?
More importantly, where exactly is it and what does it look like? I know the left side of the rocker cover was mentioned.

I'm really worried now about this car which is fast turning in to a money pit!

the crankcase ventilation pipes are the ones
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GA=722.624&CT=M&cat=07F&SID=14&SGR=030&SGN=01

 

[Ian_C]

Cheers ian..im taking things very personal with the E55. It has got all the love and attention it could need..new tyres, pads, discs, oil, plugs, filters, atf, brake fluid, zymol, poetry before i leave it for the evening, etc and the bloody thing keeps letting me down. Its now even getting a new facelift. I'm very scared that the oil leak, dipstick etc is a sign of much worse things to come and paranoia has set in badly. You are right, great car but is it really worth it?!

I have to say yes. In my day I have owned a few TVR's and those just make you worry, 'how much have I spent on that only to use at weekend','when will it et me down next'.

I got an E55 as a mate chopped his Cerbera in for an E55 and has had it 6 years and it has 175 000 miles on it. All he has replaced in that time is the cat and gearbox (never changed the fluid, went at 120 000).

The one thing I have learnt is that ANY performance car will have problems, it's just how many. When you read up on it Porsche's have a fair number of problems; though I have a 911SC, 23 years old and it starts every time, even when left for months....

Is it worth the hassle....at times it is when you catch that M3 driver napping

Failing that, get a cheap run about.....Then you think about a convertible and you get into more hassle....

Ramble over...

Cheers

Ian

 

[blue190]

Another dull as a brush moment - why is crankcase pressure bad and what bad things does it cause?

 

[television]

Another dull as a brush moment - why is crankcase pressure bad and what bad things does it cause?

When the (or one) piston rings are worn or broken, and it only takes one ring.

What happens is as the piston comes up on the compression stroke, the compressed mixture of fuel/air goes past the rings and into the sump, and it has the effect of blowing it up

 

[blue190]

i'm guessing its a very big (and expensive) engine to bits sort of job to fix piston rings