How to replace Oil Diptstick Tube (Cracked, Broken, Rusted Stuck) | Ford Expedition EL 5.4L 3V

[@brianblithe2271]

Got to say, great video, the camera work is the best so far, really appreciate you doing this and prob. helped alot of patriots because real men drive trucks !!! cheers !!!

[@lmonteith]

This was very helpful, but mine needed more than this. It was broken off at the junction of the engine block. I used a several-tool and several-strategy approach. Ultimately, I was able to use a 3/8 thread tap to grab the inside of the tube that was stuck. A lot of patience, perseverance, PB Blaster, heat, a forked metal trim tool, and a hammer got it. Could I have bought the $80 tool that is made specifically for this purpose (allegedly by Ford because they know the tubes break off there)? Yes. Would it have been easier? Maybe. Whatever…it’s done now and your video was very helpful in tackling it!!

[@interstategar]

Never knew this part could be such a pain. Thanks for filming it.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Your welcome!

[@Akhazmat907]

It's actually super easy to do

[@dovemaarika1668]

@@Akhazmat907 mine is placed so as i have to remove the exhaust manifold

[@markduquette9335]

So here is what I did when it broke off at the block. I am a machinist by trade and mechanical engineer so I measured my new tube diameter and the the wall thickness at .035. I then subtracted twice the wall thickness from the tube diameter and determined that I could tap it 3/8-16. Before tapping it I stuffed the tube with a bit of paper towel to catch the chips generated by tapping the tube. I was able to get the tap about 3/4" deep. After removing the tap I applied a little heat for a minute or two and then threaded a 3/8-16 bolt into the hole. Then with a chisel under the head of the bolt and a ball peen hammer I was able to tap the remaining tube up out of the hole. Easy peasy.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Brilliant, that is a great method!

[@phylispetronino2068]

Thank you fingers crossed

[@dovemaarika1668]

you need to explain why you do things and not just list things to sound intelligent. that's the mark of someone who truly knows what they are talking about

[@MOG9850]

@@dovemaarika1668 Didn't he just explain in great detail what he did? He measured the thickness of the new tube because it's the same size as the old tube but much easier to measure. The entire point of measuring it was to find out what size tap to use. Come on now.

[@lmonteith]

Thank you! So very helpful. I was never able to actually get a bolt threaded, but I was able to get the tap in far enough to use a metal trim tool against the top of the taps threads and hammer it up and out. It took MANY rounds of PB Blaster, heat, and hammering…but I got there.

[@smf2072]

Wouldn't heating the tube expand the metal tube while still in the cool contracted metal of the engine block ?

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Yes, it's counter intuitive, but heating and cooling the tube causes it to expand and contract which breaks the rust that was locking it in there

[@thomasholloway6208]

Where you at and when can I bring mine and get repaired thank you that was a great job

[@HC-xs6ek]

Mine broke at block, now I'm trying to collapse it at the base

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Oh no, good luck with that+

[@freddyjg5520]

Great video.. I hope it help on my 2002 f350 super duty.. The oil tube dipstick should be Same location huh

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Not sure, but if it has the same engine it should!

[@freddyjg5520]

@@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid engine 5.4

[@nolanrice]

I'm replacing my engine mounts and the dipstick tube is in the way so I figured I'd just replace it. Well it broke right at the engine block. I ended up pushing it through and replacing my oil pan and gasket. Finally back to the oil tube and for the love of me the tube won't go in at all.

[@BuckJohnson-wv5hw]

Glad I found your video. Went to check my oil this morning and half the tube came up with it. Ordered a new tube and dipstick. Will be here in the morning. Thanks for the heads up on the rust and penetrating spray. Hoping it will not take me the day, but if it does it does I guess. How long did it take you to re and re??

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Oh no, that is the worst feeling haha good luck with the repair! I think it probably took around 4 hours start to finish, but mine was stuck in there good. The hardest part is getting the old one out! The install is pretty easy, only takes about 20-30 mins.

[@BuckJohnson-wv5hw]

@@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid update. Truck is in shop getting a new oil pan. So while they are at it I gave them the new tube to install. I’m too old and fat to keep trying to crawl under truck. It’s a 4x4 so I’m sure they won’t overcharge me too much. Lol.

[@AdamDeLayDIY]

Nice job. I'm sure you thought "oh, this is gonna be simple...lets film it!" Bad enough trying to get your fingers in some of those spots, let alone trying to get a camera there as well.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Haha, yeah in theory this job should be piece of cake, but these things can get rusted stuck to the engine block and can be a giant pain to remove, especially if you break it off flush with the engine block and can't get any leverage to pull it out!

[@cliftonbassett4215]

Where did you find the right dipstick tube

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

@@cliftonbassett4215 I found mine on Amazon using their garage car filter.

[@jasonbrewerrc1]

Did you remove the heat shield from the exhaust manifold?

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

I don't recall, but if you need to it should be easy to remove by taking off the two screw clamps.

[@klopfew]

I ended up dropping the oil pan to air chisel out yhe bottlm part. I had previously replaced the oil pan. Also previously i replaced the exhaust manifold (wish i did this then) with a dorman manifold. I cannot seem to get the new ford dipstick tube in. It gets closer with the heatshield moved back. Yours looks like the manifold is original?

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Yes, original manifold.

[@klopfew]

@DIY_or_DIE well fortunately I haven't gotten around to recycling the old manifold and now that I compared the two I can see the dorman casting has a larger web, so if you have the dorman exhaust manifold it looks like unbolting it is necessary to install the new dipstick tube.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Ahh, makes sense, glad you were able to figure it out!

[@byronzapata-c7h]

Great video thank for sharing

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

You're welcome 😊

[@emiliomedrano9564]

Awesome video!! Thank you….

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

You're welcome 😊

[@theinternets7516]

Mine broke at the same spot.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

I'd guess it is pretty common for these engines because of the design and location of that bracket.

[@rjpierce5456]

Did u take off the driver front wheel??

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

No, didn't need to

[@theinternets7516]

This is the worst designed dipstick. I have been searching for a replacement that is a cable and i can't find one.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Agreed...

[@JacobNegRay]

Thank you

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

You're welcome 😊

[@phylispetronino2068]

Tube broken right against block

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Ouch, good luck!

[@Akhazmat907]

Lucky. Mine broke at the engine block where the lip is.

[@Matthias53787]

My new dipstick tube won't go in all the way 😒 aftermarket dorman

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Did you double check that you have the correct part number?

[@bongopablo219]

Thank youuu

[@ironhorse6688]

I would have taken out the tube intake and jb weld the broken joint on the outside and reinstalled it

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

That works if you want to save a few bucks, but I prefer to replace with original parts whenever I can.

[@celestialdesign9611]

Why is everything on these truck such a pain, thought I could tackle it while waiting for a good time to put in new lifters and phazers oil pump etc but mine looks like it going to be troublesome! WHAT A POS! Terrible engineering all around, in this case the inner fenders, Im finding new rotted out parts (like the dipstick) everyday and its not that old or that many miles. Don't get me started chasing rusted electrical grounds, took several days to find AHHHHH!

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

I feel your pain! Good luck with your projects.

[@MOG9850]

I've owned a 2003 F250 for over 20 years now. These trucks are pretty easy to maintain if you take care of them.

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

That's the problem though, I bought mine used and the previous owner did not take care of it. Hence, everything is always breaking. I have a 2003 gmc yukon, been in the family for almost 20 years, runs great at 250k Miles and still going strong. Never been up north in the rust belt which helps.

[@loucinci3922]

Nice fix. Thanks for sharing

[@maravillassc]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@johncarpenter8691]

You didn't even show the part everyone needs to see

[@DIYorDIE_Off-Grid]

Which part?