Tips For Removing Broken Dipstick Tub From Block?

preist · May 18, 2008

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

Wingnut · May 20, 2008

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 · May 20, 2008

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 · May 20, 2008

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

cammiller · May 20, 2008

You need to remove the oil pan and drive the remaining part of the tube out.

Wingnut · May 20, 2008

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.

preist · May 28, 2008

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.

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.

[attachmen

=5785:NewTubeInstalled.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!

Wingnut · May 28, 2008

Glad you got something figured out!

And...THAT'S A 2002?

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

C6Racer · May 28, 2008

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).

ZZ327 · May 28, 2008

holy crap, where do you live? Do they dump shitloads of salt on the roads?

Zembonez · May 29, 2008

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!

preist · May 28, 2008

Glad you got something figured out!

And...THAT'S A 2002?

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 · May 20, 2008

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.

C6Racer · May 20, 2008

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