03 F250 5.4 165k
After finishing some work the yesterday I went to go check my oil & was a bit confused....I couldn't find the dipstick. Initially I just thought it was impatience due to feeling like a wet towel after working on the thing in the rain for over 12hrs but it's not like this is something hidden or hard to find.
This being a first I went looking for the tube, thinking maybe the stick flew out, etc. No such luck, not a tube to be found aside from the tranny one I just installed.
Is it possible that a 99 5.4 assembly would work or better off just getting one meant for an 03 specifically? Haven't checked if the part number is the same yet but figured I may as well pull what I can off of my old truck to save a few bucks.
Still wondering where it went, I could've sworn there was a bolt clamping the tube in place but who gnomes😄
You could try but I would go with going with what is recommended for your truck.
Looks like I'll be doing some alternate mounting, the bolt somehow snapped off pretty deep in the boss without being touched.
I'm contemplating a "fishing method" to pull the remains with how crunchy it is. Saw a guy run some thin gauge dog runner steel cable down the tube & out the oil drain then tie off a knot large enough to seat in the base of the tube, yanked it out.
My only worry with that method is snagging the pick-up or a baffle but I don't see any other way (especially if it breaks flush) without doing some damage.
There were a few videos with the manifold removed but I guarantee those bolts will snap as well creating a serious problem considering I don't have anything aside from a propane torch & a broken mig.
I'm really amazed at how quickly the tubes (just did the tranny tube, that bolt broke too) rot, never run into that issue before on 70s/80s cars even with headers glowing right next to them.
The carnage:
The gnomes also stole two lug nuts which were just torqued to 150 ft/lbs, becoming concerned.