After I drive my car, and then I pop the hood, about 90% of the time, the dipstick has its head out of the tube, maybe from the heat, (so there is room for stuff to slide down the tube.) If anyone knows what I am talking about, what can I do to it to make it stay in its place? -89IRO

 

You might want to check your PCV system for blockages.

 

Pressure is building up in the crankcase and pushes out the dipstick. You probably have a lot of oil leaks also. Check the PCV system to make sure it's sucking.

It's also possible that the dipstick or tube are just worn out and just don't seal together properly.

I had that problem on my race car when I was experimenting with different crankcase ventilation systems. I fixed the dipstick by pushing a long spark plug boot over the dipstick. It seals around the tube. My crankcase doesn't build pressure any more but I've never taken the boot back off either. Just added insurance that the dipstick stays in place.

 

PCV system? What is that? Just let me know if I have a major problem on my hands or if it is any easy fix. What do I do to check my "PCV" system. The engine hasn't put down a drop of oil since I tightened up the oil pan last month- no leaks. The engine may be burning a little oil though, if that helps. Well, it seems to me that there is some kind of pressure pushing it out because it does that only when it is hot. -89IRO

 

PCV=positive crankcase ventilation its the little valve thingy that plugs into the valve cover, it breathes the case and bleeds off excess pressures..like $3 for a PCV valve at any autoparts store, and make sure the tubes it feeds are not blocked

 

I have the same problem.. but it does not just come part way out..

If it was blowby, I would be inclined to believe that it would push out to thepoint that there would be no restriction between the dipstick and tube (as in just far enough to let the excess air out). But, mine is going out almost 1.5".

I think vibration can also be a cause. But a plug boot might also work for that.

 

Is the pcv valve on both valve covers, or just the driver's side one? If on both, do I need to replce both? At least on the driver's side one, sometimes I notice a little oil on the gramet (I don't think I spelled that right.) Yeah, mine usually comes out 1" to 1.5". So does it sound like it is due to this(these) pcv valves or vibration? -89IRO

 

Oh I forgot- Is it a really big deal if I don't get this fixed immediately, is it gonna hurt anything? Because my plans for this weekend are doing my exhaust and changing my oil. -89IRO

 

PCV valve in one valve cover, breather in the other (doesn't matter which way you set it up but you must have one of each). It's designed to draw in fresh air through the breather and then draw that air (and the oil vapors it picks up) into the intake through the PCV valve on the other side of the engine, which is basically a calibrated vacuum leak.

Don't just check the PCV vlave- make sure the hoses aren't plugged with schmutz and that the hose from the PCV valve to the intake is plugged into a large port that has full manifold vacuum at all times.

I have engines that the dipstick practically "falls" into the dipstick tube and they don't pop out after running the engine.

A big deal short-term? No. Messy and annoying only.