THE INTERNATIONAL JAGUAR 'S'-TYPE REGISTER FORUM

Great info....I will take another look at mine while the engine is still out of the car.

Thanks Joe. Today amongst lots of little jobs I got the tube back in place. Left the tube overnight in the freezer and used the blow torch to heat up the block around the hole. Placed the tube against the hole and had to tap it down using a broken off broom handle as this had a nice round end that sat in the funnel end of the tube. Difficult to see if the tube was in the hole and all the way but by tapping it down with the broom handle you could hear the change in tone as the tube eventually sat against the block. Job down. I have contacted a mate of mine who breaks all sorts of Jaguars and he has a dipstick apparently for the S Type which he is going to post to me. No price yet.
Whilst researching my snapped dipstick there were several posts on other forums about the actual tube snapping off due to corrosion around the bottom where it goes in to the block. The tube has a slightly smaller diameter where it has been turned down to fit the hole and this is where they can snap off. Just a word of warning that if you are ever working down that side of the engine, possibly with the manifolds off, check your tube is not corroded.

Congrats.

Today I tackled my snapped off dipstick. There is not a lot of room down beside the exhaust manifolds so to start with I took the bonnet off and then moved the power steering reservoir. I cleaned up the side of the engine with some degreasing fluid and then got a blow torch on the area to heat up the block. I would have run the engine to do this but working in close proximity to the manifolds I thought it best not to. Once the area around the base of the tube was good and hot I attached a pair of Mole grips to the shaft and tried to turn it in the hole. There was not a lot of room to allow me to turn the tube but enough for me to get it to turn slightly in the hole. Slowly the tube turned more freely, a little more heat on the block and it began to allow me to turn and pull the tube out of the block. The broken section of the dipstick came out with the tube and I actually had to hit broken dipstick with a hammer gently to get it out of the tube. All around the spring section of the dipstick was a carbon deposit which was holding the dipstick in place. The tube has been cleaned and painted and placed in the freezer for the night. Tomorrow I will reheat the block with the blow torch and push the tube back in to its hole although a slight persuasion with a hammer might be required. Still need a replacement dipstick and might have to go to SNG as I will miss Beaulieu this year due to other commitments.
My dipstick is or was identical to the S Type one in Davids photo apart from the fact is also has 4.2 on the base as well as 3.8 and 3.4. Could be that as mine is a later car is is the same dipstick that was used in the 420.

While the 7B-version of the XK engine rarely has oil pressure problems, it needs to be kept at the correct oil level. What is important, is the distance from the 'hat' that sits on the top of the tube which should stand 6 ⅝ in. proud of the engine block and the controls the depth that the dipstick will enter the guide tube, and the ¾” crosshatched section indicating full or one quart down.
See Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 9.

Thanks David. I do not think mine was the original dipstick as it had readings on the bottom for 4.2 as well as 3.4 and 3.8. Probably a generic aftermarket Jaguar dipstick. I will hunt for the correct one at Beaulieu this year or check out SNG to see if they still do an original version. Still not got around to removing the tube yet as too busy but the dipstick is jammed in so not going anywhere.

Remember, there is a correct dipstick for the 'S'-type.
The ‘handle’ is stamped “3.4/3.8” with a ¾” crosshatched section indicating full or one quart down on one side and the instructions “STOP ENGINE WAIT 1 MIN” on the other.
See Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 9 in the Archives.
Cheers,
David

Mine got stuck in the tube. Finally got it out in pieces. Bought a used one but was higher than SNG. SNG could not get me one at the time. I would get SNG's. Good luck getting it out.

Not had a chance to have a go yet. Too busy with other things but will let you know once I have a tug on it.