The previous owner mangled the dipstick tube and broke the dipstick on my 90 Iroc. Luckily I found a new tube in the trunk, but I put a 76 350 dipstick in that I had laying around.

It's all the way in and it's bone dry. I added a quart just to make sure, still dry.


By the way, it's damn near impossible to get a new dipstick tube in there with the A/C installed.

 

Mine is 26" not including the handle.

 

Dude, I hope you don't catch as much hell as I do to this day from my friends for asking that very same question... BTW- who do you think pointed out this thread to me I never did get an answer either really, just a lot of crap!

My suggestion is to check it with the car running. I had a heck of a time getting my tube back into the block after a header swap and it was about 1" out of the hole (here come more jokes for sure). I tried greasing it up a bit too... I guess unlike J-Rod, my hole is too tight (sorry... couldn't resist)!

What I ended up doing was to change to oil and add the right amount. Then I put in the new dipstick to check the level (with the car running and off as well just to be sure). I then took my tube cutter and progressively took off about 1/2" of the top of the tube until the oil level read in the normal range. Worked for me, hope it helps some...

 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I replaced the dipstick in my LG4 for less than $10 from the junkyard. An L98 might not be easy to find in the yard but I'd be willing to bet that an L03 or LG4 or LB9 would use the same dipstick. Why fool around with modifying this that and the other when 10 minutes and $10 would assure you that you have the correct dipstick. If the tubes off, you're on your own.

 

Just go buy a new one from the dealer. Can't cost more than $20. I had to buy one for my ZZ4 and that's about what it cost me.

 

Yeah, that's the plan now. I need to get replacement rear springs (stock height, my car is low enough) so I figured I'd price them while I was there.

Thanks for the help. The dipstick tube leak is fixed, but the oil pan leaks now. =(

 

I got one today at the dealership, brand new tube for $9.

 

maybe it was easier for me since I have edelbrock headers, but I got my dip stick in just fine with the AC installed. I needed to sande the part that goes into the block alittle just so it would slip right in but it went in pretty easy. Just make sure it goes in all the way, cuz the first time I put mine back in it didnt slide all the way into the block (there is a little nub on the tube). I lined it up from under the car then twisted it in from the top. good luck

 

The problem I was having getting it in was it would either wedge itself up against the silver tank for the A/C, or the bracket would get hung up on the AIR tubes on the exhaust manifold. The driver's side of the engine is a breeze to work on, why'd GM shove everything on the passenger's side?

Just got the new dipstick on order too... 11.95 from the dealer. Then I'll finally be able to see how much oil I really do leak from the pan gasket.

 

Too get mine to clear the AC, I just had to bend the dipstick a little more than stock. Then it slipped right in, just had to experiment with the angle.