Dip Stick 'reviews'?

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Dip Stick 'reviews'?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 09:08 am:

I've been driving the T a lot lately, (24 Roadster-converted-to-pickup) and would like to try one of the dip stick options. The sight glasses would probably be OK, but I see fewer potential problems with an actual dipstick. Period correct would be preferred , like the Akuret one ..

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/581
(The T-30699-AKE

or, this seemingly generic one:
http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/581

It's not that I'm 'that' lazy, as I turn the fuel petcock off at the sediment bulb (as well as the carb inlet one) every time I park it in the garage.... but I'd like to know a little more accurately than 'between here and there'. I know I have a lot of leaks ... THIS vehicle will never rust from the bottom up, that's for sure!

My main question is ... I would rather have the stick in the engine compartment, rather than through the side splash skirt. Is the Akuret tube soft enough to bend and mount there, or best just to leave it as designed? (dumb question, I know). Looks like the generic one is designed to go there.

Thanks in advance ...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 10:04 am:

The problem I have with the one that goes under the hood is that it looks like one from a modern car with a oil can symbol on it, plastic handle. If I were going that route I would make my own. MHO, KB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 10:52 am:

Here's an alternative that makes reading the oil level easy while avoiding the danger of a broken or leaking sight gauge.


Note that both petcocks are closed, so if the tube gets knocked loose or off no oil is lost from the pan. To read the level, just open both petcocks.


I made this tool to open and close the petcocks without crawling under the car. The parts dealers sell one for under $7.

This isn't what you asked about, but it works and has the advantage of being cheap.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 11:59 am:

I use the new dipsticks and like them. They aren't "period correct" as indicated above but I check my oil frequently and like the convenience.

The price of the "period correct" ones ran me away. I figure if I am going to deviate from the petcocks I might as well get what I want for my own convenience. I don't do car shows so it makes little difference to me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 01:37 pm:

The Akuret one is made by Texas T Parts and sold by them, as well as by other vendors. It's not too obvious, since its upper end is under the overhang of the body when installed. It's a nice unit, works well, and I like it. I wouldn't recommend trying to bend one, however.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 01:41 pm:

Steve - Seems like there would be more risk involved in the plastic tube coming loose than the chance of a broken "sight glass". Hot oil,......hot soft plastic,......hmmmm.......???


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 01:47 pm:

Remember, Steve said he leaves the petcocks closed except when he wants to check the oil level, so if the tubing pops off or gets damaged only the oil already in the tube is lost.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 04:53 pm:

Ahhh,........that makes sense Mark,.....thanks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Manuel, Lafayette, La. on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 04:59 pm:

The Akuret Mike mentioned is great. It requires a hole in the splash apron but looks period correct when installed and works great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 08:26 pm:

Steve ... so, if you open both petcocks, then the tube is 'vented' though the upper, so it will show the proper level? I certainly seems more foolproof than the glass/plastic/brass sight gauges. I thought about using a long socket 'brace' my dad had, and seeing if a socket would fit over the petcocks, as well.... along the lines of your tool.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Pawelek Brookshire, Texas on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 09:32 pm:

I saw the title of this thread and thought it was about politicians! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 09:43 pm:

Here's an original gauge I posted under Accessory Of The Day back in March 2010.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/132948.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 09:52 pm:

Thanks for the close-ups, Jay .... Wow .. it certainly looks heafty-duty!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 10:20 pm:

I'm sick of standing on my head to see what's what with the oil......I see a pair of the Akuret gauges in the near future.

http://www.texastparts.com/mm5/manuals/T3069-Ak.pdf


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Friday, August 23, 2013 - 10:37 pm:

Yes ... every time I stand on my head to do so .. I can't tell if it's 1/2 full .. or half empty.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Alexander in Albion, Maine on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 07:29 am:

I made my own " Akuret. " Simple to do and a fun project. Got the correct brass elbow at a plumbing supply store along with some copper pipe. Tapped the pipe on both ends and fitted a bronze bolt as the dip-stick end. Drilled and threaded the bolt to accept a length of ss rod.
The assembly comes thru a hole in the splash shield on the passenger side protected by a rubber grommet. Everything is painted black.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 02:36 pm:

When you ask about "Dip Stick Reviews" I thought you wanted to hear about my Brother-in-Law!

There is one of the newer under the hood type dip sticks in my '27 Touring that was in it when I bought the car. I'm not crazy about how it looks and I am thinking about at least painting the yellow handle black so it doesn't stand out so much. I still climb under the car once in a while because I don't trust the dip stick. It is much easier to use the dip stick and I do check the oil with it every time before taking the car on a run but like I said I still check it with the petcock every once in a while.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 03:55 pm:

Here's something to think about... When do you check the oil?

It takes quite awhile for the oil in my '12 to get down to the sump and register in my sight glass gauge.
A long time ago Terry Horlick posted his mountain oiling system where he added some dams to retain oil for going up long hills. I did the same and also put one in for the fourth rod dipper on my three dip pan. I did add some oil return holes but I believe that's why it takes a little longer than normal for the oil to finally get into the sump.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 04:11 pm:

Dennis, Sounds just like something this guy would say.

When you ask about "Dip Stick Reviews" I thought you wanted to hear about my Brother-in-Law!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 04:44 pm:

Whoa, that is a wild picture, a montage of Jay Leno and Rodney Dangerfield! Amazing what picture software can do these days.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed in California on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 04:46 pm:

That picture is 1/2 Jay Leno and 1/2 Rodney Dangerfield if you hold your hand over 1/2 the face.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 10:38 pm:

Steve Jeff:

One of the drivers on the Montana 500 made an oil checker just like yours. The first lap of the race the plastic melted and he threw a rod out the side of his block. I did not see the damage but they said the rod came to rest sticking out the side of the block.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Saturday, August 24, 2013 - 11:37 pm:

Yes .... a wild picture it is!
Gene .... I check the oil almost every time I drive. Certainly the first time I pull it out of the garage for the day, as I shut the gas off at the sediment valve, and am down there anyway. The thing blows/drips/sprays oil all over the place, so I need to check it often until I get at least the big drips gone! (Hmm .. that sounds like another queue for some folks.... lol ...)

Today, just before going over to meet a pile of T's on the Michigan Jamboree run, I decided t adjust the bands, and check the ol' girl out again. I started it up without putting the floorboards in, and was checking for the car creeping forward when I start it. I noticed lots of oil spitting out of the bendix cover. That was one of the big spewers, right there! I found no gasket. I pulled the cover, cleaned things up and put some Permatex gasket goop on it before I put it together until I ca get a proper gasket. So far, it's holding!

So, yes ... get under your car, often! The think I don't like about the petcock chcking method, is I have to pour oil IN, in order to see if it's up to the top petcock or not.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chester Leighton on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 03:36 pm:

Would someone post a picture of the Texas T "AKURET" oil dip stick installed on their 26-27 T? I looked at the installation instructions on the Texas T web site and I'm not sure I'm ready to put a hole in my splash apron. I am tired of crawling under the car to see the sight gage. I made a tool to open the petcock to the sight glass but unless I use a flashlight, I can't see the actual level on the gage. If the level is lower than the last time I looked, the residue in the glass as the level drops, will throw me off with out a light to see it. The whole business is a pain and should be more convenient and accurate. If the Texas T solution sin't too unsightly, I think I would get one.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 04:23 pm:

To each his own and I understand the "can never be too careful" mentality....BUT, I think some are just anal about oil level. If it comes out the lower pet cock, I have enough oil. I see no reason to keep it right at the lower edge of the upper pet cock. Someone on here once said they fill it and leave the upper pet cock open until it quits dripping, then close the pet cock. Come on. Was that next-to-the-last drop gonna leave you overfilled? I have a tool to open the pet cock with. I put my left knee on the running board, lean under the front fender, and use the tool to open the lower pet cock. If the oil comes out, I'm good to go. No laying on the floor. No crawling underneath. Takes me longer to get the tool and put it away than it does to check it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 05:44 pm:

If you have a solid setup with no leaks, and not puffing smoke out the tail end, then yeah ... it might almost make sense to wait until you don't have oil dribbling out the bottom petcock, but IMHO, that's a bit late. OK, now it's not coming out the bottom petcock, and you need to start adding oil to see how low you really are.

My ol' buggy leaks like a sieve. I have an engine I haven't taken apart or know what's really go'n on in there. I've stopped a few leaks here and there, but until I bite the bullet and tear the thing apart, and put it all back together again with good seals, gaskets, etc ... I'll settle for knowing I 'should' have enough oil for a given run, then find out 'oh, crap ... I'm too low!'.

At my 'drip' rate, (up until I got the bendix cover spewage fixed ...) was probably about 2 quarts / 100 miles. On the good side .. I effectively change my oil every 150 miles or so!

I got a chunk of clear hose today at the hardware store. I'll be happy to have piece of mind that I know a bit more precisely where my oil level is. I think I have an early Akuret unit on it's way.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 05:54 pm:

Chester

Scroll down about 8 posts you will see a photo of the AKURAT dip stick installed

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/316289.html?1349963310


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 07:42 pm:

Dennis,

In your case, I would open my upper pet cock and fill 'till it came out then shut the pet cock. What little it was over full wouldn't concern me a bit, especially as bad as it uses oil.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 07:57 pm:

Hal ...

Yep .... that's what I have been doing. I just put the clear plastic hose on ... and to be overly safe, I put on 2 small hose clamps. and opened both petcocks .... the oil creeped up to just below the top petcock and stopped. No oil needs to be added.. yeah!

Then I shut both petcocks, so the OOPS-I-Lost-the hose syndrome doesn't strike..

I think the bendix cover gasket (umm .. lack of )... was the biggest culprit. I'm surprised how dirty the oil is, after so much that has been added.


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration