Dip Stick 2002 SANTE

[rcazwillis]

My dip stick is incredibly difficult to reinsert. It feels like it hits something. After much manipulation it will go down. However, it always shows way over full. This is not a fill issue. It is like the stick hits a windage tray in the pan and slides across the top. One person suggested it was too long and hitting the bottom of the pan and moving along it. I checked, it is not that long.

Any ideas or experience?

[TDalton]

I just purchased a 2003 SAN and it has the same problem. Hopefully someone can help.

[Rconautique]

My 2007 SANTE 210 with excalibur 330 has the same issue. I have to really force the dipstick in with 2 hands while trying not to bend it. It scared me at first but I've gotten used to it. Kinda weird. Good to know I'm not the only one though

[Drock]

My 03 is the same

[rcazwillis]

I was looking at the tube yesterday and all the bends are not in the same plane. I think this is what causes it to be difficult. Looks like there is enough length and space to correct it. I am going to remove the tube and attempt to get the bends all in the same plane.

[fyrhog]

Mine is like that to,,,I just turn it 180 and it gos in much easier. I think the lettering on the handle will be upside down but no biggie.

[rcazwillis]

I finally did something about this issue. I removed the tube and corrected the issue. The tube was held in place by a single bolt on the front of the head. The bolt held a spark plug loom also. The tube runs to the bottom of the pan not just into the block, I guess to allow the extraction of oil for an oil change. When removing the tube from the block it hit the exhaust manifold. A gentle pull away from the header allowed it to clear.

Once removed, the problem was obvious. There is no way the flat dipstick is going to easily follow the curves and bends in all directions. The bends were in multiple planes. Using a bench vise, I gently removed the bends that were causing the issue. When I reinstalled the tube I discovered it hit the number one spark plug. the tube exits the block and makes a long gentle bend towards the front of the boat. This bend needed to be enough to run below plug number one. After the plug it needs to bend back up. I was able to carefully increase the first bend without creasing it and add a second bend with a good tube bender from an auto parts store. I also replaced the missing O-ring that seals the tube to the block, sourced from same auto parts store as tube bender.

The tube now clears everything and is in a single plane. When layed on the ground it is flat, where before it was not. The dipstick goes in very easy and give accurate readings.

This woudl have been a lot better with a few pics. Sorry about that. I guess my point is don't be afraid to pull that tube out and correct the bends. Checking the oil is easy now.

[Skidave]

Do you have a photo of your finished tube? Below is mine from my 03 Air with the 330. I'd like to see what you did.

Excuse the poor photoshop with red outline of the tube...

[rcazwillis]

Is that on the starboard side? Mine is on the port side. I don't have a pick right now.
Regardless, mine follows about the same path. I did not make a dramatic change. The tube was drifting away from the block as it rose to plug one. That drift away from the block allowed it to clear plug one, but it was also causing the bind. When I removed the drift, it interfered with plug one. I then has to increase the first bend out of the block to go under one and add an upward bend to ease access to the tube from the hatch opening.

I will get a pick soon.

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[Skidave]

Yes, starboard side. Looking forward to the pic.

[slidin_out]

It would be super duper fantastic if you could show some more detailed pics. My is a royal PIA!!!! And now I'm paranoid it's not reading the oil level correctly. Mine gets about 1/2 to 2/3 then it's a frickin fight to get it the rest of the way.

[rcazwillis]

I will get a pic. Assuming the design is the same as mine and as long as the tube is seated in the block properly, it will read correct. The dip stick does not exit the tube in the pan and is made of steel. It has no other option to take a different path except into the oil. Has to read correct. Fixing the issue causing the bind will make you feel a whole lot better about it.

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[slidin_out]

Pic would be huge. Feel like I'm screwing something up every time I check the oil.

[rcazwillis]

This pic shows the handle, and the bracket that holds it in place. The tube travels through the bracket and below spark plug #1


This pic shows the tube traveling below plug one and down into the block. It enters the block down by the starter.


The tube exits the block, gently curves towards the front of the boat beneath plug #1. After plug #1 it curves back up through the bracket. When I first removed it, the tube traveled outside of plug #1, not under. This was adding the additional plane to the tube that was preventing the flat dipstick to go through the tube.

[slidin_out]

Yep that's a winter project for me. Annoys the crap out me it was built like that. So you just gradually bent the pipe with a conduit bender?