duramax ouil dipstick issue

farmerjim · Oct 5, 2009

anyone have a duramax diesel and have had the little lead weight w/ the indicator marks on it fall off in the oil sump? i check my oil the other day like i do every week b4 i drive my truck and guess what that piece was missing. i'm guessing it got loose as its only soldered on to the cable dipstick, and fell off. i have driven the truck since i last checked the oil so i would assume that the piece is heavy enough to stay at the bottom of the pan ? i also believe that the screen at the oil pump would keep it from being picked up and doing any major damage? anyone have this issue and if so did you drop the pan to get it out? or just fish it out, or leave it in there?

nmu98 · Oct 5, 2009

That sucks.... As if the design was not poor enough!

That is the first one I have ever read about falling off.

You are out of warranty?

I would first try to fish it out, then I would drop the pan if its possible without pulling the motor. I don't think I would feel comfy with it in there.

Diamondpilot · Oct 5, 2009

That is the first I have heard of that one also. Many manufactures use this style now. Next time you change the oil try to use a magnet along the bottom of the pan to see if you can pull it to the drain. It may be steel. If not try a piece of piano wire. Of course if its under warranty make them fix it by dropping the pan and make sure they show you the piece so they do not BS you and just say "yea we got it out."

Chris

Cat_Driver · Oct 5, 2009

Time to drop the pan and put a new filter in the tranny and change out the fluid.

I changed my fluid out at 5K and used Stynfluid. I mean it never hurts to change the fluids this just gives you another reason to do so.

You don't want to mess around with the Allison.

I dropped the pan changed the filter and put in new fluid. You don't have to bother with the torque converter ( the Allison shop said it didn't matter when putting in Synfluid )

LBrown59 · Oct 5, 2009

nmu98 said:
That sucksI don't think I would feel comfy with it in there.

Sure does.
I know I wouldn't

Ryan03 · Oct 5, 2009

I have seen it happen once or twice in the past 10 years on various makes. You should have a small steel lower oil pan about 2/3's the size of a shoe box that bolts to the upper aluminum pan. It should be fairly easy and messy to unbolt the lower steel sump area once you drop the skid plate. then if the end of the dipstick is not in the sump you removed, get out your flex shaft magnet and go fishing.

As far as leaving it in there, If it were me I would not, but I am not very lucky. lots of bad stuff could happen if that peice gets in the wrong place at the wrong time $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

wushaw · Oct 5, 2009

Cat Driver; I do belive their talking about the engine not the tranny and that "filter" in the tranny is just a screen, the red external spin on filter is the one that gets changed on a scheduled basis.

Farmer jim; removing the small eng pan wouldn't take long if you decide to go that route at your next oil change.

farmerjim · Oct 5, 2009

i hate the feeling of it being in there, as my truck is out of warranty besides i really hate going to the dealer as they have tried to pull the wool over my eyes b4. i'll probably drop the pan and fish it out on the next oil change which is about due anyway.