Pulled my dipstick out to check the oil today before taking the haynes roadster out and the bottom of the dipstick snapped of and tinkled off into the sump. Bugger. Tried everywhere to get a long magnetic attatchment to try that, looks like draining the oil and then probably removing the sump, not good. Anyone know if i will need a new gasket foe the sump?? or is there one? 1.6 pinto engine.

It can't go up the strainer on the pick up pipe so don't worry about it. Look for a magnetic sump plug and change the oil to fit it. You will need a new gasket to refit the sump.

DP!

[Edited on 20/10/10 by Strontium Dog]

It may come out when you drain the oil if you're really lucky. I have a small magnet on an alloy shaft that would fit into most drain plug holes. Mines made by Facom but I've seen similar ones in the market and cheap tool shops!

As to the sump gasket you may get away with it and you may need some (apply sparingly) silicon instant bodge I mean gasket!

Agreed. Leave it where it is, it'll do no harm. If you're worried either fit a magnetic sump plug or if you don't want to drain the sump, just get a strong magnet and stick to the side of the sump.

adrian

Use an old speaker, they have nice big magnets.

It's not a big job to remove / refit a sump no a pinto so why not do the job right ?

quote:

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Originally posted by jacko
It's not a big job to remove / refit a sump no a pinto so why not do the job right ?

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i would, just, drain the oil, hope it comes out, if i can not see it, take the sump off, and clean it out and re fit with a new gasket.

see i know last time i used a cheap gasket brand new, i lost all off my oil, when i was 30 miles away from home.

stuart

On a lot of engines I would'nt worry but on something that gets driven with enthusiasm, mabye hit a bump at speed etc I'd be always a bit worried too. I dont know that it'd manage to do much harm but it's bug me!

I once dropped the sump off a 6cyl tractor & found 3 small padlocks & a key that did'nt fit them, all small enough to fit down down the 30mm wide dipstick/filler pipe!
The owner had no explanation & he'd owned it from new, the rough cast finish of the sump was worn into the brass locks so they'd been there a while.

er... what's a dipstick?

A dipstick? Just look at the current incumbent of Number 10.

quote:

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Originally posted by myke pocock
A dipstick? Just look at the current incumbent of Number 10.

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drained the sump, no joy, awaiting delivery to ford of a sump gasket, all 37p of it.

If this helps you i clean the sump / engine block with degreaser then i stick the gasket on the block with evo-stic, then i put gasket paste on the sump
I also cut the head off 4 long bolts, screw them in the block to help you line every thing up
Jacko

nice one thanks