Hello everybody. I need your help big time on this one... I have a brand new crate engine, never been fired. When I installed my headers, I had to figure how to secure the dipstick tube. I decided to use ultra copper to install the tube so it wouldn't move. I put it on the base where the tube meets the block. Of course I moved the tube and this broke off several small pieces of RTV. I kept taking out the dipstick tube and kept putting more RTV on it. I couldn't get it to secure behind any header bolt. When I pull the stick out now there are small beads of RTV on it, and I'm sure there are some in the pan as well. These pieces are very small, small enough to go through the oil pump screen. My question is, could these pieces clog up the oil passages, or wreak other havoc? Sorry this is so long. Anyone's advice on this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

p.s. how the **** did y'all attach that damn dipstick tube anyway?!

 

Silicone isnt going to hurt anything granted its no something I would want floating around my new engine but it wont damage anything so dont worry. AS far as putting in the dipstick it just use a hammer and tap it in and if it the passenger side It should bolt to the engine or ex manifold.
SSC

 

I wouldn't worry about the RTV in the pan, most likely it will cause no harm. (unless you used the whole tube in there.. )

As far as attatching the dipstick, the headers I used (SLP) had a little boss built into the header, the stick tube attatched there.

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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R
and 2 POS commuters...

R.I.P. #3
"He can see air"

 

As long as the pieces are small enough to go through the pickup screen, the filter should catch them (unless you're using a Fram, that is...) but if they get caught on the screen, they'll block a little (or a lot!) of your oil flow forever.

You have to be the judge of how much is in there, how big the pieces are, and how much risk you are willing to accept. Odds are, it'll be fine; but we all know how the odds do funny things sometimes.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

Only thing I might worry about is if the piece is small enough it could lodge in a lifter. This will make it collapse and be noisy. I had a problem like that in an engine once, where small particles kept plugging the lifters.

 

Definatly go ahead and change the oil to get as much out as you can before starting her up, and probably change your filter afer you run it for a bit. Good luck!

 

next time you install a dip stick tube if you feel the need for sealer try a non hardening type, like liquid teflon.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

Ouch! (The truth can hurt.)

I'll be the guys and girls at Allied Signal/Fram really love this site. Then again, if you market crap, you've made your own bed. Kinda like Mitsubishi, eh?

The filter should catch the smaller particles that get past the pump. And I doubt that the RTV is hard enough to lock up the oil pump. If you've ever cut apart a filter on a new or rebuilt engine, it's amazing what gets past the pump and into the filter pleats.

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Later,
Vader
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Down with the Sickness
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

Whew! I'm glad it isn't all that bad. Thanks everyone for responding. This is definitely a load off my shoulders. I called a machine shop about it, and they told me I should drop the pan! I told them if I did that, I would probably end up screwing something else up I knew if I ran it by these boards, I would get the right info. Conversions can be such a bitch sometimes. Thanks again everyone for helping me out. It is very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike

 

One thing I heard about somewhere else is RTV clogging up the pressure relief vale in the oil pump and jacking the oil pressure way up, resulting in an exploded oil filter. I wouldn't rip the pan off over it, though. Just watch the oil pressure.