Brain picking time again! would anyone know if there are different types of dipsticks seals? I have a 126 engine with an Abarth 4 litre sump , a few weeks ago I bought a new dipstick as the old one was leaking round the rubber bung it looked perished , I assume the bung stays in the engine orifice, then the idea is you just withdraw the dipstick and when replacing it the pressure around the bung should seal it!
However i noticed a small amount of oil dripping onto the manifold from around the seal.
Also I couldn't use the new dipstick as it was too short ( my fault didn't tell supplier 4 ltr sump) so I have just used the bung. To make sure it's the correct length i have used some self amalgamating tape wrapped around the correct position on the stick, so it won't go in further than it should.
Or should the bung be fixed to the actual dipstick? But by doing that, it seems very loose ( no one wants a floppy dipstick) and tends to drip.
All comments welcome.

ClassicFiat500 said:

by doing that, it seems very loose ( no one wants a floppy dipstick) and tends to drip.
All comments welcome.

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The rubber should be pulled up the dipstick and manipulated over the disc at the top in order to secure it.....much like this solution for a leaking dipstick I guess.

https://www.boots.com/boots-staydry...e8uI2k6RcwXo9y0eL9UaArwNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

To the best of my knowledge, there is only one length of dip-stick. Although this won't give any indication of the gross amountin the sump, it still gives you an indication as to when to top up the sump. As Peter has mentioned, the long rubber bung (plug?) on the dipstick should be located over the locating/securing disc. The plug DOES come out with the dip-stick.

According to what you're saying the bung should be fixed to the dipstick permanently. I tried that but the oil seems to leak through slightly
I even thought of making a sealed bung with a 6" type of handle that just seals the hole, then when I want to check the oil levels i just remove it and pop in the normal dipstick. I know its not the correct way but at least it would stop the drip.
Unless there are different types of bungs available & I happen to have one that's too small & not tight enough . If anyone knows of different makes i would like to know.

Sorry should have clicked liked . My finger caught wrong one!

Patinated Peter so sorry How can I remove dislike & change for liked?

Not meant as a silly comment, but being that there is a difference between the 500 and the 126 dipsticks, it is a 126 dipstick that you are trying to stop leaking?

ClassicFiat500 said:

Patinated Peter so sorry How can I remove dislike & change for liked?

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I like a "dislike" every so often.....variety is the spice etc. No stress. Usually if you click "like" again reasonable soon after doing the wrong one it can be undone.

New dipstick less than £10. Engines run hot invest in a new one!

Yes it's a 126 engine in a 500 L 1972 with a 4 litre sump the dipstick in the car when I bought it is about 2" longer than the new one I bought on eBay from Toto for £6.95, as I said it didn't bother me as I just wanted the rubber bung.I
I just thought mine was longer to reach the depth of my sump.

lazylobster said:

New dipstick less than £10. Engines run hot �� invest in a new one!

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Hi i am perfectly happy ☺ to buy a new one in fact that's what I am hoping to do, but I just want to know if there is a difference in the 126 & 500 dipstick also to the rubber grommet are tighter on one or the other. There is also a question why one is shorter than the other & does the capacity of the sump have any relevance, I assume the oil level sits in the sump just below the main bearings, so the length of the dipstick would be irrelevant.
Really do appreciate your interest & help in this.
Barry

I was wrong---there are 2 lengths of dipstick---the 126 BIS dipstick is shorter than the 'air-cooled' 126 dip-stick, but has the same seal/bung/plug on it. The Axel Gerstl site is selling both types of dipstick (3euro) or just the seal at 1 euro. If you do buy one from them, make sure that it is the 500R/126 version. The dipsticks are in the 'oil-supply' section of 'engine parts'.

If you have a 126 (594cc / 650cc) engine, then buy the 126 dipstick.


example, no affilation, other vendors are available and probably cheaper:


https://www.ricambio.co.uk/dipstick-classic-fiat-500-126

The dipstick reading will still be correct as in min /max. Your new sump have a greater capacity but the length of the oil intake pipe inside the sump does not change.so the dipstick is still correct in it's measurements. Just that you have more oil, which is always a good thing ;-)


cheers
Rob

ClassicFiat500 said:

Hi i am perfectly happy [emoji5] to buy a new one in fact that's what I am hoping to do, but I just want to know if there is a difference in the 126 & 500 dipstick also to the rubber grommet are tighter on one or the other. There is also a question why one is shorter than the other & does the capacity of the sump have any relevance, I assume the oil level sits in the sump just below the main bearings, so the length of the dipstick would be irrelevant.
Really do appreciate your interest & help in this.
Barry

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Barry. 126 v 500 dipsticks. not interchangeable. The 500 relies on snug, slight taper and "O" ring I think...amazing they stay in at all.

fiat500 said:

Barry. 126 v 500 dipsticks. not interchangeable. The 500 relies on snug, slight taper and "O" ring I think...amazing they stay in at all.

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Thanks again Peter, just ordered new grommet on its own for a 126 from Ricambio hopefully it will be a tighter fit than the one I have.

Some measurements and/or pictures would be most useful. The o-ring on the 500 dipsticks do tend to wear loose but with the 126 ones the seals wear and also the rubber petrifies leaving the dipstick loose. As a stopgap with the latter I have slipped a small o-ring onto the seal to bulk it up a little. Sometimes where an engine has been run for some time with a loose dipstick at some stage the aluminium crankcase hole can wear making sealing difficult.