Is a tight dipstick that important?

[TomoHawk]

I noticed my dipstick isn't really all that tight when you push it all the way down. I've read that pressure leaks through the dipstick tube seem to be important, but I'd like to know if you should really see any difference if the dipstick is sealing or not. Like when you take the oil filler cap off...

I'll try an experiment tomorrow by running the engine with the dipstick out, and a cork in the dipstick tube compared to an open tube. Can you tighten the diptick seal by wrapping some electrical tape around it? Maybe all I need is a heat-shrink tubing shim.

thx

[sblake01]

I put an o ring on mine. I don't know the size but it came out of a o ring set my wife bought for me and it's just thick enough to seal the dipstick to the tube and tight enough so that it doesn't come off when you remove the dipstick.

[zbane]

The matter of differences in pressure w/wo dipstick would be the last of my worries with a loose fitting. I would be much more concerned about outside material (dirt/dust/road stuff & water) getting in. If that puppy isn't sealed, anything could get in there. Maybe not a lot, but over time...

just a thought.

[Gav240z]

My Z has a spring to hold the dipstick down tight. Basically the spring is secured under one of the screws which is in the block. I can hook and unhook the spring from the dipstick lever relatively easily. I don't know if it helps with pressure or anything like that, I would say yes, but I think the PO put it there just to keep it from moving around or coming loose and I see no good reason to remove it.