Dipstick Height Update

[MickG]

Hi Guys, some of you may remember a previous post of mine regarding an oil change and the percieved lack of oil despite the correct level on the dip stick. Due to a severe juddering clutch I have had to remove the engine and gearbox. I drained the oil and found just under 3.5L in the sump.
I consulted the archives and found this post http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/elan-archive-f16/dipstick-tube-height-t8154.html that states

Lotus Workshop Manual states:

'If a new dipstick tube has been fitted, it is important that the vertical height, measured from the lower (to sump) mounting flange to the top centreof the tube equals 4.1" 105mm) on Mk.I engines up to engine number 7799 and 4.5" (115mm) on Mk II engines, from engine number 7800 onwards.'

Section E, page 26 in my manual.

although a bit old it could be quite pertinent to the problem.

I have a so called Mk2 701M engine No 24769 with a 105E6752B dipstick. I have two manuals, one for a Plus2 and one for an Elan both circa October 1972. On page 26 of section E they state that the height of the dip stick tube should be 4.1 inches.
Could anyone please confirm from a later manual that the dip stick height for a Mk2 engine should in fact be 4.5 inches?
This could be useful to others as Brian Bucklands book also states 4.1 inches as the installed height.

Thanks for your time and help

Regards MickG

[Lyn7]

Hi Mick, my Elan manual is dated October 1974 and only states the figure 4.1". It is still in section "E" page 26.
Cheers Lyn...

[MickG]

Thanks Lyn,
Still no nearer to an answer though Perhaps I should have said any Lotus workshop manual.

Regards MickG

[ricarbo]

Don't know if this helps, but my Elan 4 Sprint Owners Handbook, dated1972, but with a sticker in it referring to the 5 speed gearbox quotes 'engine (with filter) oil - 7 1/2 pints (9 US pts:4 litres). Presumably you could adjust the dip stick or tube for this with some fiddling. The handbook doesn't say if this capacity is a total capacity or a refill quantity. Any idea what the capacity of the filter is and how much oil stays in when you drain the engine?
regards
Richard

[oldchieft]

If there is a problem with the dipstick, when the oil is drained and then put in the correct amount and re-mark the dipstick.

If you don't want mark the dipstick, take a picture on your phone as a reference till you can drop the sump and adjust it properly.

Jon the Chief

[MickG]

Thanks guys but most of the work rounds have been previously suggested.
I am more concerned about the correct dipstick height measurement, is it 4.1 or 4.5 inches. Some one in the past has seen it written in a workshop manual as 4.5 inches for a Mk2 engine.
See my first post and the link to the archives.

Regards MickG

[rgh0]

My Feb1970 manual for my Elan refers to only the 4.1 inch height.

I can understand why it may have been changed at some point in time with the introduction of the Mk2 engine as the 6 bolt sump for the mk2 engine was a different shape and with the oil pick up moved to the RH side of the sump maybe Lotus wanted the oil level higher.to reduce the problem with oil starvation on RH corners.

However it appears that if the change existed at some point in time it was forgotten about or reversed by Lotus again for a reason that is not clear. There are a number of subtle differences in sump shapes over the years and maybe another change in the sump was made and they moved the dip stick tube back to its original location??

cheers
Rohan

[MickG]

Thanks Rohan,
Changing sump shape makes sense. As I have the sump off I will take a few measurements and install/adjust the tube accordingly.

Thanks to all those who have replied.

Mick G

[Galwaylotus]

I recently discovered that my engine doesn't seem to have a dipstick tube! No wonder a full sump in my engine shows a level on the dipstick way over the full mark. Needs to be above the "U" in Full.

[AHM]

No date on the page, but the newest date in the manual is 10/74

[AHM]

My guess (for what it is worth) is that the issue is one of clearance between the end of the dipstick and the longitudinal baffle in the Mk2 sump. Mine touches.

[MickG]

Hi Guys
Well I?ve carried out some measurements.
I filled the removed sump with 7 1/2 pints of water and measured down from the flange to the water level. I placed the dipstick in the tube and allowing 1/8 of a inch for the gasket measured to the full mark and found it to be about 1/4 inch below where I would have expected it to be. I renewed the tube to a height where the full mark aligned to my 7 1/2 pint plus gasket measurement, the correct amount of oil. I then measured from the engine flange to the top of the tube and it is 4 1/2 inches. So maybe there is some truth in the two different heights.
I must state that this is my engine, my sump and my dipstick so others may vary.
All I know that in my mind the world is now a better place

Thanks to all those who have replied and I hope the above explanation is not too confusing.

Regards MickG

[oldelanman]

Mick,
Did you take into account the angle of the engine when installed in the chassis.?

[MickG]

Yes of course I did.
From what I can remember the sump on my car sits pretty much parallel to the ground.
Mick G

[AHM]

Mick,
7 1/2 pints is including the oil filter.