Hi Alistair,

        I have not looked again but, when I was with the local mechanic, I asked him the same question.  Is it a bad O ring?  He said the didn’t think it used a O Ring.  It felt to me sort of like a hard plastic plug at the end.  That is maybe wy making it a bit thicker with heat shrink might help. 

But, tomorrow I’ll compare the 85 dip stick with the 84 and see if they look different or if there is something missing. 

        I realize I could also switch dipsticks as they are both 2.3 GW engines and I could see if that solves the problem or creates a new one for the other van. 

Thanks for kick starting my brain.

Eric Caron 

> On Dec 22, 2023, at 10:19 PM, Alistair Bell <ragnarhairybreeks@icloud.com> wrote:
> 
> Eric,
> 
> I’m writing this quickly, forgive any misunderstanding 
> 
> Isn’t there an o ring in the dipstick to seal it to tube?
> 
> Alistair 
> 
>> On Dec 22, 2023, at 6:05 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Dennis,
>> 
>>       I’m surprised it is leaking from the end of the tube.  If this isn’t normal, what could cause it?
>> 
>> Oil pressure is high when starting over 60 PSI and about 40 when warm.
>> 
>> Dip stick seems to fit well
>> You have repaired some with heat shrink, was this due to a similar leaking from the top of the dip stick tube?
>> 
>> I’m wondering if others had this happen, and why, and how to fix.
>> 
>> Thanks for the tip on the heat shrink idea.
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 Auto
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Dec 22, 2023, at 2:15 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Van Café often has new dipsticks and tubes available. I have used thin wall shrink tube to tighten the seal on the stick.
>>> It is not normal for oil to actually be getting pushed that high.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric Caron
>>> Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 8:45 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Dip stick, no jokes from Alistair
>>> 
>>> Seriously,
>>> 
>>>     OK, as long as I solve the problem, go ahead with the dick stick jokes.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> So, After a long drive we were looking over my 85 with new GW motor and the mechanic noticed oil seeping out of the top of the dip stick.
>>> 
>>>     He asked me about my oil level.  
>>> 
>>> I had just check it and it was exactly between the lines.
>>> 
>>> So, he suspects a faulty dip stick seal.
>>> 
>>> So, anyone ever have this happen?
>>> 
>>> Anyone know of a source of a dip stick for my 2.3 so a 2.1 engine
>>> 
>>> Or, anyone know how to safely modify this dip stick to seal tighter.
>>> 
>>> It is adding up to a messy situation
>>> 
>>> It seems like an easy fix to my confusion about where the oil is coming from.
>>> 
>>> I think he only noticed it because engine was running and had ben driven about 50 miles so the oil seep was visible coming right out of the dip stick top.
>>> 
>>> Experiences, solutions, and suggestions wanted.
>>> 
>>> Eric Caron
>>> 85 2.3 GW auto