AZ455

I was looking through the service manual and noticed the dipstick ID section shows a flat dipstick. The one in my 455 is a round rod looking one. Is this stock? Got to searching the internet some and most appear to be flat? Just curious..

MDchanic

Nope.

- Eric

dsolomon

Sounds like an aftermarket one. The stock tubes are a pain to install as the press about 4-1/2" into the block. The previous owner may have chosen an aftermarket one to save the headache.

AZ455

After posting I realized it is flat down where you take the reading, but very narrow, the rest is a rod up to handle.

Maybe I can snap a pic later. Anyway it seems accurate from what I can tell after filling up with fresh oil.

MDchanic

A factory one should be flat all the way up.

Shouldn't be hard to find an original one if you want one (not a high-wear or high-rust item ), but if yours is doing the job, there's no need to.

- Eric

AZ455

Thanks Eric. I may look for a factory one because the round one is sometimes hard to take an accurate reading from. Seems to only be accurate on the first pull. At least with the flat dipsticks you can tell easier what is smeared on from inside the tube and what the true oil level is.

The local salvage yards almost never have 455s but I will keep an eye out. Theirs just may be rusty, I've found carbs all full of rain water there before!

Rickman48

Next time you change the oil, make sure it's accurate - a quart high hit's the crank, and a quart low's not good on a Old's!

AZ455

Last time I changed the oil it did seem like it was right on. I will double check next time though.

I am now on the hunt for a stock one.