Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick?

Topic: Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick? (Read 939 times) previous topic - next topic

Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick?

October 28, 2009, 07:11:30 PM

this isnt really a problem, per say, but could fool someone into thinking it is something alot worse id imagine.
while going over my recently purchased 86 thunderbird (3.8 v6)the other day and replacing the cut oil dipstick with a junkyard one. i now know why they cut it, at idle it makes a tapping noise when fully inserted. the noise is very similar to a valve tapping sound and when pulled out around a 1/4 inch or so the noise dissappears completely.
the noise is gone when revved just above idle as well. when inserting the dipstick you can feel it snag the bend on the tube real good before it goes all the way down.
i dove around into the archives last night searchng for somethng similar and didnt find anything relevant to this.
inspecting the area around the dipstick tube didnt seem to turn up anything like a bent tube or rubbing against anything, the hanger for it is bolted securely to the block. the oil pan didnt look denteded or anything as well. nothing looks out of place and i cant for the life of me picture what the dipstick could be rapping against except the oil pickup, my books are in storage so i have no diagrams to graze over for possibilities.

ideas?
the replacement dipstick is from the same year and motor and has the same part number on it.

Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick?

Reply #1 – October 28, 2009, 09:11:17 PM

What about the dipstick tube? Perhaps it is shorter than normal? Still not sure what it would tap against though - there isn't a whole lot down that low but oil and the crankshaft up higher.

Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick?

Reply #2 – October 29, 2009, 05:54:06 PM

i thought about it being shorter but nothing looks moved or bent to postition(adjusted)
ive never pulled a dipstick tube out before so i really have no idea as to how it could shorten up without cutting it someplace. the top of the tube looks rounded and normal is the best i can describe it so if it was shortened it would be at the bottom.
i was contemplating that maybe some work was done to the motor mounts or something in that area that would make it easier to work on by removing the tube, leading to it being put back in incorrectly or something but i couldnt find any reciepts for any work done to the area near it.
gonna have to wait to check that when i get it to my house as i cant work on it at work. i dont think they would care but its something that can wait.

Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick?

Reply #3 – October 29, 2009, 05:56:53 PM

Cut 1/4" off your new dip?

Engine tapping noise caused by oil dipstick?

Reply #4 – November 24, 2009, 09:26:23 PM

i spent my lunchbreak today messing around with this and solved my issue here.
the tube was shoved down too far. didnt notice it untill today untill i spotted the corrosion forming where the tube hanger shouldve been originally attached. this wasnt there when i first posted as it had a uniform patina(i guess you can call it that) to it.
popped it off, pulled it up some and pooped it back on and !bam! no more noise.