Dipstick adapter leak repair method and kit

Abstract

A leaking oil dipstick adapter is repaired by removing a flanged nut from a threaded extension of the dipstick adapter. A gasket and preferably also gasket seal forming material are applied surrounding the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter and adjacent to an exterior side of the wall of the oil pan. A washer is applied adjacent to this gasket. A nut is threaded onto the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter and applies a compression force on the washer, compressing the gasket against the exterior surface of the wall of the oil pan. A tool is preferably used to retain the dipstick adapter and keep it from falling into an interior of the oil pan during the repair.

Claims

1. A method for repairing a leak around an oil dipstick adapter in a wall of an oil pan of an engine, including the steps of: using a tool passing through a hollow cylindrical dipstick tube holder of the oil dipstick adapter to hold the oil dipstick adapter to the tool; removing a flanged nut from a threaded extension of the oil dipstick adapter; placing a seal on an exterior of the oil pan wall surrounding a hole for the oil dipstick adapter; and placing and tightening a nut onto the threaded extension of the oil dipstick adapter and at least partially compressing the seal on the exterior of the oil pan of the engine; wherein the seal includes a flexible sealing ring having an annular form sized to fit around the extension of the oil dipstick adapter; wherein the sealing ring includes teeth extending inwardly which fit into gaps in a perimeter of the threaded extension of the oil dipstick adapter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the seal of said placing step includes a hardenable liquid gasket material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sealing ring is formed of an elastomeric material.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a washer is placed between the sealing ring and the nut.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said washer has teeth extending inwardly and sized to fit into the gaps in the extension of the oil dipstick adapter.

6. The method of claim 1 including the further step of removing an original O-ring between a flange of the oil dipstick adapter and an inner surface of the oil pan wall.

7. A method for repairing a leaking dipstick adapter passing through a wall of an internal combustion engine, the method including the steps of: removing a flanged nut from a threaded extension of the dipstick adapter, located on an exterior side of the wall; placing a gasket against the exterior side of the wall, the gasket surrounding the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter; and threading a nut onto the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter, until the gasket is compressed against the exterior side of the wall; wherein the gasket is a solid mass of compressible material sized to surround the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter, and wherein the gasket includes inwardly extending structures extending radially inwardly therefrom, the inwardly extending structures sized to fit within gaps extending radially into the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said gasket includes a hardenable liquid gasket material, the gasket material initially being in liquid form placed onto the exterior side of the wall surrounding the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter, and the gasket material hardening into a solid form after initial placement in said placing step.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said placing step includes the gasket being a solid thin annular mass of compressible material sized to surround the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter, said annular mass having substantially planar opposing surfaces.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said placing step further includes liquid gasket forming material placed onto the exterior side of the wall surrounding the dipstick adapter, and with the solid thin annular mass of compressible material on a side of the liquid gasket forming material opposite the exterior surface of the wall surrounding the dipstick adapter.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said threading step is preceded by locating a washer on a side of the gasket opposite the exterior surface of the wall, said washer having an annular form sized to surround the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the washer includes inwardly extending structures extending radially inwardly therefrom, the inwardly extending structures sized to fit within gaps extending radially into the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter.

13. The method of claim 7 including the further step of holding the dipstick adapter at least after said removing step with a tool located on the exterior side of the wall, the tool keeping the dipstick adapter from falling into an interior of the internal combustion engine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front elevation full sectional view of an internal combustion engine showing where a dipstick adapter is located and with a dipstick therein, the dipstick adapter, when leaking, having such leak repaired by the method and example apparatuses disclosed herein.

(2) FIG. 2 is a detail of a portion of that which is shown in FIG. 1, and further showing how prior art dipstick adapters interface with a wall of an oil pan of the internal combustion engine in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a detail similar to that which is shown in FIG. 2, but after repair of the leaking dipstick adapter, utilizing the method and apparatus of this invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an exterior plan view of a gasket, the gasket forming part of a kit for repairing a leaking dipstick adapter, according to one embodiment of this invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is an edge full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exterior plan view of a washer forming part of the kit for repairing a leaking dipstick adapter, according to one embodiment of this invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is an edge full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is an exterior plan view of a nut forming part of the kit for repairing a dipstick adapter, according to one embodiment of this invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is an edge full sectional view of that which is shown in FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an exterior of an oil pan and dipstick adapter illustrating how parts of the kit of FIGS. 4-9 can be used according to a method of this invention to repair the leaking dipstick adapter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(11) Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is directed to a repair kit assembly (FIGS. 3 and 10) for repairing a leaking dipstick adapter X passing through a wall W of an oil pan P of an engine E, such as an internal combustion engine E. The dipstick adapter X can be difficult to replace when it develops a leak between the dipstick adapter X and the wall W, with the kit 10 and associated method of this invention useful to repair this leaking condition in a simple and fast process.

(12) In essence, and with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 10, basic details of the kit assembly 10 of this invention are described, according to one embodiment. The separate elements of the kit 10 generally replace an O-ring O and a flanged nut N associated with the original dipstick adapter X. The O-ring O is removed and is not replaced with anything on the interior surface of the wall W. Instead, a gasket 20, and preferably also a hardenable liquid gasket maker 25 are located surrounding a threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X on an exterior side of the wall W. A washer 30 preferably is located surrounding the threaded extension T of the adapter X and pressing against the gasket 20. A nut 40 threads onto the threads of the threaded extension T to compress the washer 30 against the gasket 20 and form a tight seal against the exterior surface of the wall W. Preferably also a tube O-ring 50 is provided to replace a previous similar item located between a tube U of the dipstick adapter X and a tube receiver R of the dipstick adapter X. The method can be performed utilizing a retainer tool 60 (FIG. 3) or other retainer tool to keep the dipstick adapter X from falling into an interior of the oil pan P of the engine E, during the repair.

(13) More specifically, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, more extensive details are provided of the engine E and dipstick adapter X which is repaired by the repair kit assembly 10 and repair method according to one embodiment of this invention. The engine E being repaired by the method and assembly 10 of this invention could be any engine which has a dipstick adapter X which facilitates passage of a dipstick D through a wall W of an oil pan P or similar portion of an engine E, such as to measure an amount and other characteristics of oil (or other liquids) within the engine E or subassemblies there of (e.g. brake fluids, power steering fluids, radiator fluids, air-conditioning fluids, etc.).

(14) The original dipstick adapter includes a threaded extension T passing through a hole in a wall W of the oil pan P of the engine E. A tube receiver R extends from an exterior portion of the dipstick adapter X and holds a dipstick tube U extending away from the tube receiver R. A dipstick D can pass through this tube U and then through the dipstick adapter X to access an interior of the oil pan P. The prior art dipstick adapter X prevents leakage through this hole in the wall W by placing an O-ring O surrounding the dipstick adapter X against an interior side of the wall W. This O-ring O is compressed by a flange F of the dipstick adapter X to form a tight seal against the interior surface of the wall W. When this O-ring O fails, oil can readily leak around the flange F and the flanged nut N through the hole in the wall W. Tightening of the flange nut N does not remedy this problem. Replacing the O-ring O requires access to an interior of the oil pan P, which generally involves major disassembly of the engine E, such procedure being complex, time-consuming and expensive.

(15) To repair this leaking dipstick adapter X, the flange nut N is removed and replaced with the repair kit assembly 10 of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 3-10. The repair kit assembly 10 includes a gasket 20 surrounding the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X on an exterior side of the wall W. This gasket 20 can include both a solid structure and a hardenable liquid portion 25, or could be merely the hardenable liquid portion 25 or merely the solid gasket 20. In the embodiment disclosed, both a hardenable liquid gasket portion 25 is provided as well as a solid gasket 20, as two parts of a new seal for the adapter X. This seal could be provided by just the hardenable liquid portion 25 or just the solid structure of the gasket 20 in other embodiments. The solid structure of the gasket 20 is an annular mass of compressible material which is sufficiently flexible and elastic to avoid cracking or other breakage when compressed, and to tightly seal against adjacent surfaces when compressed. A neoprene rubber material provides one satisfactory material for this solid structure of the gasket 20.

(16) The solid structure of the gasket 20 includes an outer edge 22 opposite an inner edge 24, which are preferably both substantially circular in form. The inner edge 24 has this circular form interrupted by a pair of teeth 26 which extend radially inwardly from the inner edge 24. The gasket 20 includes an exterior surface 28 opposite an interior surface 29 which are preferably planar and parallel to each other, defining a thickness of the gasket 20. This gasket 20 is typically relatively thin, such as being approximately 1/16 inch in thickness before compression. Preferably, the inner edge 24 of the gasket 20 is sized to just barely fit over the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. In one embodiment, this inner edge 24 is sized so that it has a slight friction fit against the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, so that the gasket 20 not only seals against the exterior surface of the wall W, but also can compress and seal somewhat against the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, especially when the gasket 20 is compressed.

(17) The hardenable liquid gasket maker material 25 is initially provided in a container 27 (FIG. 10) which stores the gasket forming material 25 in a liquid form. After it is exposed to air, this gasket maker material 25 undergoes a slow hardening process where it hardens into a gasket material which still has resilient flexible characteristics but transitions from being liquid to being solid. Even in liquid form, it is typically a sticky paste in form. The gasket forming material 25 is provided by squeezing the container 27 and causing a trail of gasket forming material 25 to be placed in an annular ring against the exterior surface of the wall W surrounding the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. The solid structure of the gasket 20 is then placed over the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X and pressed against this liquid gasket maker material 25. As an alternative, the liquid gasket maker material 25 could be placed upon the interior surface 29 of the solid structure of the gasket 20 and then the solid structure of the gasket 20 could be placed over the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, for simultaneous placement of both the solid structure of the gasket 20 and the hardenable liquid gasket maker material 25.

(18) Preferably liquid gasket maker material 25 is included directly adjacent to the inner edge 24 of the gasket 20 and upon the teeth 26 which extend radially inwardly away from the inner edge 24. When the solid structure of the gasket 20 is compressed, the hardenable liquid gasket maker material 25 and the solid structure of the gasket 20 can expand radially inwardly somewhat from the inner edge 24 to seal against portions of the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, for sealing of the hole in the wall W surrounding the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, to prevent leakage therethrough.

(19) While the nut 40 could compress the gasket 20 directly, most preferably a washer 30 is interposed between the nut 40 and the gasket 20. The washer 30 preferably has a form similar to that of the gasket 20, but is formed of a rigid material, such as steel (e.g. stainless steel), rather than being formed of a resilient rubber material. Thus, in one form the washer 30 includes an outside edge 32 opposite an inside edge 34 and with fingers 36 similar in shape to the teeth 26 of the gasket 20 extending radially inwardly from the inside edge 34 of the washer 30. The washer 30 has a thickness defined by a distance between an exterior side 38 and an interior side 36 which are preferably planar and parallel to each other. A thickness of the washer 30 is typically somewhat less than a thickness of the gasket 20, but can have a similar thickness after compression of the gasket 20. In one embodiment, a thickness of the washer 30 is approximately 3/16 of an inch (0.0375 inch).

(20) The nut 40 includes facets 42 on an outermost portion thereof and threads 49 on a cylindrical surface 48 extending inwardly therefrom. The nut 40 also includes a top surface 44 opposite a bottom surface 46. The threads 49 of the nut 40 are sized to interface with the threads of the threaded extension T of the adapter X. The nut 40 can be threaded onto the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X until it compresses the washer 30 against to the gasket 20. In one embodiment, the nut 40 could merely be the flanged nut N originally provided with the dipstick adapter. However, with the inclusion of the gasket 20 against the exterior surface of the wall W, the flanged nut N typically does not have sufficient amounts of threads thereof engaged with the threads on the threaded extension T to securely hold to the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. The nut 40 is relatively thin between the top surface 44 and bottom surface 46, and thinner than the flanged nut N.

(21) The threads of the nut 40 can be formed so that a very beginning of the threads 49 of the nut 40 (at either end of the threads 49 as the nut 40 is reversible in a typical embodiment) is free of damage, formed of a sufficiently hard material, and optionally to have tighter tolerance relative to the threads of the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. In this way, the nut 40 can engage the threads of the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, even with just a small amount of initial engagement therebetween, and the nut 40 can then be tightened effectively, compressing against the washer 30 and compressing the gasket 20 against the extra surface of the wall W to provide a tight seal around the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X and against the extra surface of the wall W surrounding the dipstick adapter X.

(22) With tight tolerance precisely maintained on the threads 49 of the nut 40, any propensity of oil to migrate through the hole in the wall W around the dipstick adapter X, and along the threads of the threaded extension T, can be restrained by such tight tolerances. In one embodiment, the washer 30 and nut 40 are provided together as a single structure, rather than as two separate structures. In such an embodiment, the threads 49 can extend down onto the inside edge 34 of the washer 30, and such a washer 30 would not include the fingers 36.

(23) In use an operation, and with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 10, details of the method of use of the repair kit assembly 10 of this invention are described, according to one embodiment. Initially, the flanged nut N is removed from the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. This step is preceded by removal of the dipstick tube U from the tube receiver R. The tube O-ring 50 typically surrounds this tube U, and is often in poor condition, and so is preferably replaced in one embodiment of the repair method of this invention. In one embodiment, the tube U could remain attached to the tube receiver R so that the dipstick tube U acts as a retainer to keep the dipstick adapter X from falling into an interior of the oil pan P during the repair of this invention. However, most preferably the tube U is first removed (along arrow A of FIG. 10) and then a retainer tool 60 (FIG. 3) is utilized to securely hold the dipstick adapter X and keep it from falling into the oil pan P.

(24) One form of retainer tool 60 (FIG. 3) is elongate in form with an outer sheath 62. An inner semi-flexible shaft 64 is located within the other sheath 62 and extends from a tip 66 to a handle 68. The tool 60 can be placed through the tube receiver R (along arrow B of FIG. 3) and then the inner semi-flexible shaft 64 can be advanced (along arrow C of FIG. 3) within the outer sheath 62 to cause the tip 66 of the flexible shaft 64 to extend out of a hole, preferably on a lateral side of an inner end of the outer sheath 62. The tip 66 thus extends at least somewhat laterally from this interior end of the outer sheath 62, and sufficient, being only semi-flexible, to keep the interior end of the retainer tool 60 from being able to come out of the tube receiver R (until the tip 66 is retracted into the sheath 62 for removal). The dipstick adapter X is thus securely held by the tool 60 so that it does not fall into the interior of the oil pan P in a manner which will be difficult to retrieve. Other forms of tools could be utilized similar to the retainer tool 60, such as vice grips which could grab the tube receiver R.

(25) Once the flanged nut N has been removed, the dipstick adapter X is free to move some relative to the wall W. With the dipstick adapter X held firmly by the retainer tool 60 or some other form of retainer, it can be loosened from the wall W and the old failed O-ring O (FIG. 2) can typically be reached, such as with a finger of a mechanic, or with an appropriate grabbing tool, and extracted through the hole in the wall W around the threaded extension T, for removal of this O-ring O. The O-ring O is often deteriorated into multiple parts, and these parts are preferably removed, but could at least partially fall down into the oil pan P, and would typically be captured by the oil filter, although less than optimal.

(26) The exterior surface of the wall W of the oil pan P is then preferably cleaned and moved if necessary. The gasket 20, including both the hardenable liquid gasket maker 25 and solid gasket 20 portion are placed upon the exterior surface of the wall W surrounding the hole and surrounding the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. The teeth 26 on the gasket 20 fit within the gaps G in the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X. The washer 30 is then placed over the gasket 20 with the fingers 36 also fitting within the gaps G in the threaded extension of the dipstick adapter X. Finally, the nut 40 is threaded onto the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, and tightened until the washer 30 compresses the gasket 20 against the exterior surface of the wall W. The liquid gasket maker 25 hardens, and along with portions of the inner edge 24 of the gasket 20 extends radially inwardly slightly against the threads of the threaded extension T of the dipstick adapter X, to provide a tight seal and prevent leakage.

(27) Retainer tool 60 can then be disengaged and the dipstick tube U can be replaced within the tube receiver R. A new tube O-ring 50 can be placed against a seat S within the tube receiver R of the dipstick adapter X to seal the dipstick tube U. The dipstick D can then be replaced back into the dipstick tube U.

(28) This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When embodiments are referred to as “exemplary” or “preferred” this term is meant to indicate one example of the invention, and does not exclude other possible embodiments. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.