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Ford Focus 1.5 TDCI dipstick popping out

  • 18-08-2024 7:30pm
    #1
    mp3ireland2
    Registered Users Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I have a 2014 focus 1.5tdci and the dipstick pops out sometimes. I definetly pushed it fully home on Saturday, it did a 40 min drive and was ok then did about a 2 hour drive incudling some motorway and was still in place earlier today. I got home after another 3 hours motorway driving and it was out again.

    Should I just book it in to get it looked at? The O-ring seems ok to me. The fact that it doesn't happen all the time means that even if i put in a new dipstick I won't know if it's worked. THe car doesn't get driven much as we have an EV for day to day stuff and the diesel only does about 5,000km a year. Next long drive could be Christmas! I won't know if what the garage does has fixed it either as it's not consistently popping up.

    I don't notice any other symptoms. From what I've ready it could be the PCV valve and this woudln't be an expensive thing to get a garage to replace. Would they have a way to diagnose what would be causing the pressure increase? Or would it be very difficult when it's not a consitent problem?

    Thanks in advance



Comments

  • #2
    greasepalm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,410 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    It sounds pressure related while engine is running try removing oil filler cap and watch out as if much pressure there can make it hop out due to pressure build up.



  • #3
    con747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,667 ✭✭✭con747


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122517304#Comment_122517304

    Maybe you could expand on that for the OP?

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.



  • #4
    colm reilly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37 ✭colm reilly


    replace dip stick with a new one



  • #5
    mp3ireland2
    Registered Users Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭mp3ireland2


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122517430#Comment_122517430

    yeah i was thinking that as a cheap and quick thing to try. only thing putting me off was when i put it in last time i was pulling on it with a little bit of force to try and see if the o-ring was seating correctly and it wasn't coming out. It is only about a tenner for one though so could be worth a shot!

    Although now I remember a drawback with this is that I won't know if it's worked or not as it seems to take a big drive to sort it. I might try a baloon over the dipstick hole to see if pressure building up at high revs perhaps.



  • #6
    Buffman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭Buffman


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122517456#Comment_122517456

    Is any oil getting out when the dipstick comes out? If you did have it on tight and it still popped then it can be an indication of excessive crankcase pressure, possibly caused by the PCV as you've mentioned.

    FYI, if you move to a 'smart' meter electricity plan, you CAN'T move back to a non-smart plan.

    You don't have to take a 'smart' meter if you don't want one, opt-out is available.

    Buy drinks in 3L or bigger plastic bottles or glass bottles to avoid the DRS fee.



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  • #7
    mp3ireland2
    Registered Users Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭mp3ireland2


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122519644#Comment_122519644

    Yeah a bit of oil comes out all right, which probably woudln't happen if it was just loose and coming out due to vibration. I think i'll book it into the garage and get them to replace the PCV and clean out any pipework in that system - assuming their analysis doens't show an alternative issue. I'll plug on the OBD dongle this evening and see if Forscan shows up anything, there's no engine light on.

    Perhaps the PCV is borderline and that's why I can drive for a couple of hours without the dipstick popping out, maybe as it becomes more blocked or stuck it would pop more frequently.



  • #8
    Buffman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭Buffman


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122520129#Comment_122520129

    Ye, if you weren't blowing oil you'd potentially live with it, but definitely get it looked at. There could be other potential causes, sometimes even only an engine flush can sort issues like that, just the PCV would be the main suspect.

    FYI, if you move to a 'smart' meter electricity plan, you CAN'T move back to a non-smart plan.

    You don't have to take a 'smart' meter if you don't want one, opt-out is available.

    Buy drinks in 3L or bigger plastic bottles or glass bottles to avoid the DRS fee.



  • #9
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,381 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    Are you sure that the oil level is not too high?

    Not your ornery onager



  • #10
    mp3ireland2
    Registered Users Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭mp3ireland2


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122522183#Comment_122522183

    Good point I'll double check that this evening.

    I used Forscan with the OBD dongle last night but nothing showed up.



  • #11
    mp3ireland2
    Registered Users Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭mp3ireland2


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122522183#Comment_122522183

    Definitely not the issue, it's very low now actually even after a top up the other day!

    This did prompt me to turn on the car with the dipstick out and I could see and hear oil spluttering. At least now I know thr mechanic will see symptoms of the problem so he'll know when he has fixed it.



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