Dipstick tube

[sonscar]

The dipstick tube fastened to the airfilter box is an unknown quantity.Dipping the oil before changing it showed it to be between min and max.Draining it out filled a container with about 2 litres.According to my manual with a new filter this should be 4.5 litres.No problem,thought I,fill it up run it to fill the filter put in the dipstick and adjust the height of the tube accordingly.Not so,the tube is not long enough!!!!.How long should the tube be and how much should stick above the filter case fixing?.Thanks in advance Steve.P.S sorry about all the questions.

[johnny5]

You should not apologise for asking questions, you'll never learn if you don't.

This was discussed here http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.a ... s=dipstick

When I removed the engine from my DHC I discovered the tube had a split at the bottom. I think that was the cause of me leaving a puddle of oil every where I parked.

John

80 DHC Green
77 FHC White

[sonscar]

So part of the question is answered,ie the tube is 16.5 inches.Does it mount flush with the bracket on the airbox?.Thanks for the reply Steve..

[Workshop Help]

My good friend, Steve, me thinks you're overworking the issue here. With your sump full of oil, fit a length of hose to the base spigot on the block, insert the dipstick, and read where the oil line is. Trim the upper end of the hose until the oil coincides with the full marker line. Insert the metal collar in the hose, then clamp it in place on the air box. We're talking a ten minute chore, including taking time to swat at the mosquitoes swarming your bare ankles.

Mildred Hargis

[sonscar]

You are absolutely right Mildred,sometimes I cannot see the woods for the trees.So I went and measured the existing tube and SHOCK HORROR it is only 15inches long,so for the past 3 years of daily driving my son has? dilligently? checked? the oil and maintained less than 3 litres in the sump.\the engine seems reasonably fit,does not smoke,and is fairly mechanically quiet,so suck it and see is the order of the day.Thanks all Steve..

[bmcecosse]

Just use a dipstick from the Dolomite engine. Much neater, perfectly accessible and accurate.

[Workshop Help]

Well, yes, and, not quite. Yes, I have done this to my engine, but, it took a bit of modifying to get it right. For the very early engines, the 'old' Dolomite dipstick AND the block spigot matched up. But the later TR7 engines used a longer block spigot. So, if one wishes to use the Dolomite solid dipstick, the spigot must be cut down to the correct level so the full sump reads at the correct line on the dipstick.

It is obvious the factory wanted the longer dipstick to promote easier access to the oil level. With the early dipstick being hidden under the air cleaner box, getting to it and then replacing it in the spigot was a shot-in-the-dark exercise. Without a flashlight, you could spend a good five minutes poking around down there. This is why painting the spigot white gives a target to aim at.

Mildred Hargis

[FI Spyder]

They got it right with the FI engine. Easiest thing to access on the engine. Top is fixed so no guessing as to tube length. Would be a good up grade to do something similar with Carb engine (if you have nothing
else to do).





- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[bmcecosse]

My Dolly stick reads spot-on, but I appreciate access is rather easier without a battery in the way!