Forum Discussion

Dave_Spurgeon's avatar
May 15, 2014

Transmission dipstick

I have a 1998 Winnebago Brave with a 7.5L V-8 (Ford F-53). The transmission dipstick has come up missing. According to Ford, the part is obsolete and unavailable from them.
I am open to any tips or ideas as to how to find one, or make one, if I knew the exact length.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dave Spurgeon
  • Before looking for a new one make sure the old one is not stuck in the tube and the end has just come off. This happened to me a couple of years ago. Spartan sent me a new one when the old showed up missing. When I stuck the new one down the tube and pulled it out, the old one came with it. It's worth a try.
  • gbopp wrote:
    MountainAir05 wrote:
    Alone with what others stated a Transmission one with work also.
    :h :)


    Dont feel bad....I didnt undertsand it either..:?
  • Dave Spurgeon wrote:
    I have a 1998 Winnebago Brave with a 7.5L V-8 (Ford F-53). The transmission dipstick has come up missing. According to Ford, the part is obsolete and unavailable from them.
    I am open to any tips or ideas as to how to find one, or make one, if I knew the exact length.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Dave Spurgeon

    Once you find something to work at a salvage yard or other, change the oil, using the filter size and the amount of oil required. Start it up for circulation, let is set for a spell and then scribe this as the full mark. This should probably be done with any of them and not necessarily assuming that it's correct from the factory.
  • MountainAir05 wrote:
    Alone with what others stated a Transmission one with work also.
    :h :)
  • Alone with what others stated a Transmission one with work also. Also most auto parts can get you one and cut to fit.

    I sure did mis read this one. Sorry.

    Dave if you don't find one you can make one using a odometer cable, New ones are cheap. Someone should be have your model to measure it.
  • Try searching for rv salvage yards, I'm sure that you could locate one. Another suggestion would be a ride through the country side. There are many rvs sitting rotting away, or make one, go to the used rv dealer and look around their lot and find a F53, measure the dipstick, then by a universal replacement and cut it to length
  • Most salvage yards (read junk yards) have nationwide computer hookups to find hard to find parts. Check one out and they will probably be able to find you one if they don't have one themselves.
  • One of the places on this list may have a salvaged part to help you. RV salvage
    On my GM vehicle the dipstick is quite long. It is obvious that a standard dipstick was taken and an extension piece of steel was added to it at the factory to make it that long. If you cannot find a salvage replacement, you may be able to get a shop to fabricate one for you.