Dipstick doesnt show oil level?!

Taes

Good Evening all,

I purchased a Mk4 Astra 2.2 SRi few months ago...it would appear that the timing chain is on it's final legs. I bought it with a very minor rattle from top end unaware of the timing chain issues (mines is a 2004 model) so I will be changing the timing chain in the next coiuple weeks/month.

My biggest problem is that no matter how much I top the oil up in my Astra, it never ever registers on the dipstick low or high...any suggestions as to why this might happen? My biggest concern is the previous owner has poured some kind of sealant in to stop an oil leak and blocked/clogged some of the oilways.

Any advice or knowledge very much appreciated. If I can get a few issues sorted I'll be able to start modifying my project 🙂

Cheers,

Taes.

Dave_Gilbert

Are you sure its the right dipstick?

That would be the first thing to check if I was you.

Taes

Date, fairy confident it's correct as I had a 2.0 SRI a few years ago.

Any quick checks I can do to double check?

Sjdickso

Have you done a full oil change since your purchase?

Taes

Not yet but it's on the to do list...thankfully I bought the car as a toy so it's not in daily use.

evocarlos

sounds to me like at some point there was some sludge in the sump and its blocked the dipstick feed channel when you drain the oil next get an air line and blow down the dip stick tube 🙂

Taes

Thanks Evocarlos, that's the kind of thing I expected as the previous owner had "remedied" a leaking sump...only problem is I don't have an airline at my disposal. 🙂

evocarlos

Taes said:
Thanks Evocarlos, that's the kind of thing I expected as the previous owner had "remedied" a leaking sump...only problem is I don't have an airline at my disposal. 🙂

blow real hard ? 🙂

Timbo

evocarlos said:
blow real hard ? 🙂

:p:ROFLMAO:

Timbo

Could try poking a length of thin wire down the tube

evocarlos

im not sure you would get the wire in its a 90* turn at the bottom of the sump and theres a plate that runs the length at the bottom
outlined here dipstick is just at the bottom edge of the pic

Timbo

Yeah, granted. I was thinking of just clearing the tube itself. How far out the bottom of the removable tube does the dipstick come?

evocarlos

the tube itself fits into the sump about 1" with 2 o'rings if its been in there more than a year then it will be stuck fast
pic of example

Timbo

Carl, jumping off topic a bit, what's your thoughts on Slick50?

evocarlos

Timbo said:
Carl, jumping off topic a bit, what's your thoughts on Slick50?

dont ever use slick 50 in a hydraulic tappet engine!
ive seen the outcome and then watched me dad pay £1200 to have the heads rebuild on his v6 shogun

Timbo

evocarlos said:
dont ever use slick 50 in a hydraulic tappet engine!
ive seen the outcome and then watched me dad pay £1200 to have the heads rebuild on his v6 shogun

Ouch!!!!

Taes

evocarlos said:
blow real hard ? 🙂

Evo...maybe if I connected the end to my rear orifice I might get sufficent force haha!

Is there a huge amount of work involved in removing the sump from the Z22SE, only reason I asked I tried to do it an Audi A3 I had and there was one bolt near impossible to remove?

evocarlos

Taes said:
Evo...maybe if I connected the end to my rear orifice I might get sufficent force haha!

Is there a huge amount of work involved in removing the sump from the Z22SE, only reason I asked I tried to do it an Audi A3 I had and there was one bolt near impossible to remove?

there is quite a bit to remove them i have to do them when i do chains with cars that have snapped the front rail the hardest part is getting the dipstick tube out the sump
theres a bolt in the ac pump that goes in to the sump and then a hidden bolt in the v where the a/c pump bolts to
the engine would have to be lifted 1-2" to get the sump to clear the sub frame

http://www.speedsterclub.nl/bibliotheek/technische documentatie/tis/Standard Information/Engine and Engine Aggregates/00110323-Oil Plan, Remove and Install (Z22SE).pdf

Dave_Gilbert

Would that be the same on a NET? Im hopeing to get my NET sump off this weekend.

evocarlos

yes same process dave the sump is just wider than the z22se one