so you thought that was stupid

rtbates · Post by **rtbates** » Mar 18th, '08, 09:35

Sat was our first night spent on Seraph this year. Yea. Not only that but Sat had wind 15-20 and Sun had winds 25-30, Yea, ha.. We had a great sail. And since it was our first overnighter we used the ice box and after several hours I opened the bilge to see how much melt water was in there. Not much, but I see a round, what looked like a plastic lid or some sort floating, so I reach down to retrieve it and when I pull my hand out in contains a 1.5 inch round ball of goop?? Diesel, Oil? Where did that come from?? Anywho, I needed to go ahead and manually pump the ice melt out as it wasn't high enough yet to trigger the bilge pump switch. I take off the engine hatch to reach the bilge pump switch and see moisture all over the starboard side of the engine compartment. So I take off the access cover to investigate. I see alot of moisture on the exhaust pipe to hose connection and sure enough the clamps are a tad loose, So I tighten them down and fire up the engine and nothing is leaking out the exhaust connection. I shut her down and clean up what I can. I put the covers back on and we go sailing. After several hours we head back and fire up the diesel. I open the hatch cover and see more moisture in the air inside the engine compartment. Damn.. we hove to and I take all the covers back off and get lots of paper towels and start cleaning up and looking for the source of this 'moisture'. Oh no I see the end of the dip stick protruding below the pan. A hole in the pan. Naw. Wait a minute I can see the whole dipstick! It's wedged behind the metal fuel line ON THE OUTSIDE NOT in the dipstick hole. Duh, now I know where the moisture came from! Engine oil blowing out the dipstick hole!!!
I guess I need to be a little more careful about where I place the dipstick after I check the oil!!!!.. AND always turning the light on and looking to see where the dipstick is going instead of just going by feel..

Anyone with a 1GM can attest to the difficulties seeing the dipstick hole in the block..That's my story and I'm sticking to it

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Mar 18th, '08, 12:35

I hear you!

I have done that myself, but fortunately I caught it before I started it up. It was frustrating on my 25D that no matter how many times I checked the oil, for about a dozen years, I could rarely ever get the dipstick back in on the first try.

Dean

rtbates · Post by **rtbates** » Mar 18th, '08, 14:41

Dean Abramson wrote:I hear you!

I have done that myself, but fortunately I caught it before I started it up. It was frustrating on my 25D that no matter how many times I checked the oil, for about a dozen years, I could rarely ever get the dipstick back in on the first try.

Dean

I'm just glad/lucky that we weren't on a long winded motor when my first clue could have been an oil starved blown up motor...

Better to be lucky than good!!!

Zeida · Post by **Zeida** » Mar 18th, '08, 20:54

Same thing just happened to me two weeks ago! I started to check the oil on Goldie and pulled out the dipstick. Just then a friend came by to help me bleed the engine after having changed the fuel filters. We fully bled Goldie, I climbed out to the cockpit to start the engine, which roared to life... looked out the stern and checked the water coming out of the exhaust, then heard my friend below yell at me "ok, stop the engine"... which I did. He was looking up at me with the dipstick in his hand. "Put this back in place, then restart the engine and run it for about 20 more minutes... your're set!" And he left.

I went below to put the dipstick in the hole. YIKES! I spent well over an hour cleaning the mess. The oil that came out through that tiny hole was like a brand new oil well spewing the black gold! I will never again forget to make sure that the dipstick is in place before starting the engine.

Paul D. · Post by **Paul D.** » Mar 18th, '08, 21:23

Zeida,

Though this has not happened to me yet I totally understand how it could. But the joy of contorting my right hand to actually get the dipstick in and out keeps me focussed on placing it correctly in the ole' Universal.

My dumb story is starting while leaving a tool on the top front of the motor and coming below to watch it bounce towards the belt and everything that moves fast. After the first thought to just grab it, I calmed my Turrets Syndrome tendency and figured I could block it safely for a second till I could reach over the belts to pick it out.

One of the many joys of age. If it would have been a few years earlier i would have just grabbed it and now probably would not be playing guitar still! Anyway, we have to be careful out there and down there!

Paul

SPIBob · Post by **SPIBob** » Mar 19th, '08, 12:01

Here's a simple trick to make putting the dipstick back into the dipstick tube quick, accurate and easy. No more thrusting about blindly and sticking it into the side of the engine block!

After you have pulled the stick out and checked the oil level, wipe the stick clean, then make sure your fingers on the hand you are using to replace the stick are clean. Then grip/pinch the stick at the bottom end---the end that goes into the tube first---between your thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Let your middle finger touch the very end of the stick with your thumb and forefinger holding the stick an inch or so up from the end.

While holding the stick thusly, use your pinky and ring fingers to locate the dipstick tube opening by touch. (This method works even with your eyes closed.) While keeping your pinky or ring finger on the side of the tube opening, insert the dipstick and then let gravity take over by releasing your grip. The dipstick will slide down into the tube and then you can push it home so that the o-ring at the top of the stick seals the tube. It works the first time every time.

It's very simple and easy. Hope my explanation is too!

Bob

Zeida · Post by **Zeida** » Mar 20th, '08, 08:23

Hi, Bob... in my Universal 5424 Model 30 (CD-33) my hand can not get fully into the area where the hole is.

I have to insert the stick from the top and through a set of hoses and battery cables. I do it by pointing a flashlight at the hole. That way I can direct the end of the stick properly. I let it drop and then from underneath, one finger can reach it to press it back into place.

however, your explanation makes lots of sense. I will see if there is any way I can do it.

Cheers.

rtbates · Post by **rtbates** » Mar 20th, '08, 08:24

SPIBob wrote:Here's a simple trick to make putting the dipstick back into the dipstick tube quick, accurate and easy. No more thrusting about blindly and sticking it into the side of the engine block!

After you have pulled the stick out and checked the oil level, wipe the stick clean, then make sure your fingers on the hand you are using to replace the stick are clean. Then grip/pinch the stick at the bottom end---the end that goes into the tube first---between your thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Let your middle finger touch the very end of the stick with your thumb and forefinger holding the stick an inch or so up from the end.

While holding the stick thusly, use your pinky and ring fingers to locate the dipstick tube opening by touch. (This method works even with your eyes closed.) While keeping your pinky or ring finger on the side of the tube opening, insert the dipstick and then let gravity take over by releasing your grip. The dipstick will slide down into the tube and then you can push it home so that the o-ring at the top of the stick seals the tube. It works the first time every time.

It's very simple and easy. Hope my explanation is too!

Bob

Perfect explanation. The only reason I don't use the feeler method is an aversion to getting my hands dirty IF I don't have to. NOW I realize it just may be necessary!! The problem is that the location of the 1GM's dipstick hole promotes a drop or so of oil falling off the dipstick and oiling up the area surrounding the opening. You can bet that I'll be wiping my fingers off after each insertion if need be...Most likely I'll just turn on the light and LOOK!! Duh...

rtbates · Post by **rtbates** » Mar 20th, '08, 08:27

zeida wrote: Same thing just happened to me two weeks ago! I started to check the oil on Goldie and pulled out the dipstick. Just then a friend came by to help me bleed the engine after having changed the fuel filters. We fully bled Goldie, I climbed out to the cockpit to start the engine, which roared to life... looked out the stern and checked the water coming out of the exhaust, then heard my friend below yell at me "ok, stop the engine"... which I did. He was looking up at me with the dipstick in his hand. "Put this back in place, then restart the engine and run it for about 20 more minutes... your're set!" And he left.

I went below to put the dipstick in the hole. YIKES! I spent well over an hour cleaning the mess. The oil that came out through that tiny hole was like a brand new oil well spewing the black gold! I will never again forget to make sure that the dipstick is in place before starting the engine.

Zeida:

Amassing how much oil comes out that tiny hole, huh?

I'll be wiping up oil for awhile I'm afraid as it drips off the back of things and into the engine compartment..

Zeida · Post by **Zeida** » Mar 20th, '08, 13:08

Randy.... i did not wait, but started cleaning up the oil spill asap. I got a bottle of Fantastic Spray and denatured alchohol spray bottle and wiped and cleaned until I was sure everything was rid of the oil... drips and all. Oil can ignite sometimes when things get too hot. Even an oil soaked rag can ignite. It did take me about an hour to clean the entire mess up.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Mar 20th, '08, 15:14

SPIBob wrote:Here's a simple trick to make putting the dipstick back into the dipstick tube quick, accurate and easy. No more thrusting about blindly and sticking it into the side of the engine block!

The method that's never failed for me:

(Similar to the method I use to change the impellor)

Hold the top of the stick in one hand;
Hold the bottom of the stick in the other hand
Hold the flashlight in the other hand.

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » Mar 20th, '08, 15:16

Neil, that's a good one. Don't forget "one hand for the ship."

Wayne Brown · Post by **Wayne Brown** » Mar 21st, '08, 06:56

I glued a small mirror in the engine compartment at a location where I can see the dipstick hole, it sure simplifies reinserting the dipstick.

Wayne Brown
CD-27 WHISPER

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