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Tips For Removing Broken Dipstick Tub From Block?

preist

By preist
in Ask A GM Technician

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preist Enthusiast

preist

Posted
Posted

2002 GMC, 1500 6.0L 4x4. In the middle of replacing my right side exhaust manifold (cracked) the oil dipstick tube broke off flush with the block. Can anyone suggest to me how to remove the remaining piece without taking down the oil pan? Alternatively does anyone have a picture or drwg of this part so I can see what I'm dealing with? I've tried tapping a screw into the remaining piece and pulling but it is just larger ID than 5/16 so the screw doesn't bite enough.

 

Any help is sincerely appreciated as I have to wait 4 days to get a new dipstick tube from the deal (holiday weekend here). I have clear access as I've removed the right fender, starter, manifold and everything else in the way.

 

Thanks,

preist

C6Racer Enthusiast

C6Racer

Posted
Posted

I agree with gorilla. You might, however, do some searching. An extremely experienced mechanic always seems to have a trick for weird things like that. Sorry about the broken tube. I would have cussed for hours as you probably did. Good luck! Lorenzo

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Get a bigger screw or a tap set.

 

And if it's THAT rusty...I'd be changing the oil twice in a week or two due to the junk falling off into the pan while you're messing with it.

preist Enthusiast

preist

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the comments.

 

If I drop the oil pan cover to work from inside will I have to replace the oil pan gasket? It's $100 !

 

Thanks,

Peter

preist Enthusiast

preist

Posted
  • Author
Posted

By the way, I tried your suggestion Wingnut. I think it would normally work but this is so seized the screw pulled thru. I even bought one of those concrete lag bolts (expanding style) and welded a thread adapter for my slide hammer to attach. That didn't work either - the center portion of the lag pulled thru.

 

Peter

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Wow...That's really stuck! Might try a copious amount of naval jelly (dissolves rust on steel & iron) on there and THEN try to pry it out of there. Just a thought.

C6Racer Enthusiast

C6Racer

Posted
Posted

Either way, unfortunately, you will have to remove the oil pan because I would want to make sure there isn't any crap in there from all the work. Do some research before paying $100 for a damn oil pan gasket.

BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

Posted
Posted
Do some research before paying $100 for a damn oil pan gasket.

 

 

Absolutely, www.rockauto.com lists the Felpro gasket part number OS30693R for $32.79 + shipping.

preist Enthusiast

preist

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well I've got my truck back on the road. I gave up on trying to get the old tube piece out of the block and inspired by another posting which I can't seem to find again, I've cobbled together a custom dipstick tube and block mount flange kind of thing.

 

post-50164-1211948923_thumb.jpgpost-50164-1211948952_thumb.jpg

 

Here are some pictures but in summary I drilled and tapped a #10 hole above the tube hole and used this to mount a flange made from welded hex nuts. With copious amounts of JB Weld I hope the thing holds together until I have a reason to open the oil pan and do the job right.

 

post-50164-1211948974_thumb.jpgpost-50164-1211948990_thumb.jpg[attachmen

=5785:NewTubeInstalled.JPG]

post-50164-1211949016_thumb.jpg

 

Thanks for the encouragement and ideas - we'll see if GM adopts the flange approach on future dipstick tube to block connections in the future.

 

By the way, should I be concerned by the seemly extensive rust on the outer walls of the block? The metal is actually peeling away in flakes!

post-50164-1211949006_thumb.jpg

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post-50164-1211948974_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948990_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211949006_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211949016_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948923_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948952_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948974_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948990_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211949006_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211949016_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948923_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948952_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948974_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211948990_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211949006_thumb.jpg

post-50164-1211949016_thumb.jpg

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Glad you got something figured out!

 

 

And...THAT'S A 2002? :rolleyes:

 

 

Trucks don't look like that or corrode to that extent for 30 years around here!

preist Enthusiast

preist

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Glad you got something figured out!

 

 

And...THAT'S A 2002? :rolleyes:

 

 

Trucks don't look like that or corrode to that extent for 30 years around here!

 

 

Yep - it's a 2002. The salt and brine used here is very unfriendly to a vehicle - I just expect an engine block to deteriorate like this.

C6Racer Enthusiast

C6Racer

Posted
Posted

HOLY CRAP!! That's a lot of rust! I guess I'm lucky I live in Cali. My truck still has the factory coating on the frame and the black paint on the block is still shiny if I wipe if down. Mine's a 2000 (see sig).

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted

Good job on coming up with a fix.

 

That rust is amazing. Nothing rusts here. I think a car would have to be something like 200 years old here to have rust like that. WOW!

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