*** 1968 l36 engine oil dipstick - your opinion needed ***

[David L.]

Re: *** 1968 l36 engine oil dipstick - your opinion needed ***

I'd be extremely interested if folks out there with big blocks with original dipsticks would measure the seat depth of their dipsticks in the tube. It's very easy to do and they could use the tape method you showed.

Joe,
I have the following dipsticks with the 9/16" long "cup" (or "bell" as you call it) and I have measured how far they go into the upper tube using the "tape method".

1969-1971 Camaro, etal....NOS 3951576 stamped "USE GM 6041-M-QUALITY MS OIL"and "E".......... 5/8"
1970 Chevelle (307) made June 1970 stamped "USE GM 6041-M-MS OIL" and "E".............................5/8"
1972-1973 ????? might be 3876786 or 3993351 stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL"and "W".....................5/8"
1966 Chevrolet (283)..............stamped "ENGINE OIL" AND "E"............................................... .........5/8"
1965 Chevrolet (283) ........either 3860099 or 3876786....stamped "ENGINE OIL" and "E"....................5/8"
1973 Camaro.......(GM # 3951576).....stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL" AND "E"...................................5/8"
1966 Chevrolet made Dec. 1965......stamped "ENGINE OIL" with "E" stamped inside a circle.................5/8"
1965 Chevrolet.............embossed "ENGNE OIL" and "M" .................................................. ..............7/16"
1967 Chevrolet 283 made May 1967.......stamped "ENGINE OIL".......missing 1/8" wide rubber seal.......1/2", (1/2" + 1/8" = 5/8")
1972 Chevrolet 283............stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL" and "M"............................................... ....5/8"
Over the counter for Corvette............stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL", "3862730" and "M".....................5/8"
Unknown at this time....stamped "USE SF ENGINE OIL", "14033079", and "M"......................................5/8"
1975 Vega, Monza....NOS....stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL", "F" (or maybe "E"), and "3865665..............5/8"

As you can see most all of my dipsticks go into the "cup" about 5/8". I really had to push hard on the NOS 3951576 dipstick to get the 5/8" reading because at first the measurement was only 1/8".

All of these dipsticks are the narrow type (0.19" or so) except for the 1965 Chevrolet embossed dipstick that is wide (0.25" or so).

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: *** 1968 l36 engine oil dipstick - your opinion needed ***

Joe,
I have the following dipsticks with the 9/16" long "cup" (or "bell" as you call it) and I have measured how far they go into the upper tube using the "tape method".

1969-1971 Camaro, etal....NOS 3951576 stamped "USE GM 6041-M-QUALITY MS OIL"and "E".......... 5/8"
1970 Chevelle (307) made June 1970 stamped "USE GM 6041-M-MS OIL" and "E".............................5/8"
1972-1973 ????? might be 3876786 or 3993351 stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL"and "W".....................5/8"
1966 Chevrolet (283)..............stamped "ENGINE OIL" AND "E"............................................... .........5/8"
1965 Chevrolet (283) ........either 3860099 or 3876786....stamped "ENGINE OIL" and "E"....................5/8"
1973 Camaro.......(GM # 3951576).....stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL" AND "E"...................................5/8"
1966 Chevrolet made Dec. 1965......stamped "ENGINE OIL" with "E" stamped inside a circle.................5/8"
1965 Chevrolet.............embossed "ENGNE OIL" and "M" .................................................. ..............7/16"
1967 Chevrolet 283 made May 1967.......stamped "ENGINE OIL".......missing 1/8" wide rubber seal.......1/2", (1/2" + 1/8" = 5/8")
1972 Chevrolet 283............stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL" and "M"............................................... ....5/8"
Over the counter for Corvette............stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL", "3862730" and "M".....................5/8"
Unknown at this time....stamped "USE SF ENGINE OIL", "14033079", and "M"......................................5/8"
1975 Vega, Monza....NOS....stamped "USE SE ENGINE OIL", "F" (or maybe "E"), and "3865665..............5/8"

As you can see most all of my dipsticks go into the "cup" about 5/8". I really had to push hard on the NOS 3951576 dipstick to get the 5/8" reading because at first the measurement was only 1/8".

Dave

Dave------


I pushed very hard on the 3981088 and it would go no further. It felt like it was bottoming on something rubbery and definitely not just the friction of the circumferential rubber seal.

I wish some others would check their big block dipsticks for this. It's quite simple to do.