Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Can anybody help me with figuring out which oil dipstick is correct for my car?
I have two flat yellow tip dipsticks that look exactly the same, except one has different wording.
I also have the one that you can get from GM still which has the round tube handle!
Is one of them factory installed or from the parts department?
1) USE SE ENGINE OIL with E side ways.
2) USE GM6041-M-QUALITY MS with E sideways.

I also have a flat blue tip dipstick that has #1's wording, what application does this fit?
Thanks! John

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Boy am I ever glad you asked this question. I have been debating this with guys for a week now since I listed one of those yellow sticks on e-bay. Some are telling me the 6041 is the factory install and the SE Engine oil came later.
I say BS. I have three original 1970 LS-5 engines one pulled and stored since 1976 and two of the three never apart. All three have a yellow flat end stick with SE engine oil on it and they have never been changed. Then I have a NOS #5599 stick and it is the twin of these other three.Also have two 69 396 both of which once again never apart and bought from original owners, once again Use Se oil yellow sticks.The first 6041 stick I could find was in a 71 402.
I know the yellow round handle is not correct they came out probally in late 71/72 and could be bought over the counter.
The odds are in my favor with 4 untouched engines unless I am into one of those GM Canada things again and the US used the other stick.
Lets see what the guys have to say. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif OK, I guess I'll have to check again tonite! Geez, you guys are forcing me to get intimate with the Black Mistress again. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Kinda funny actually. I've owned the car since 1970 and, thanks to this site, I'm still learning new things about it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

I'll file my report later. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

It will be very interesting Dennis. I owned mine since 76. One thing that I should mention is the fact all 5 of the engines I checked were cast in 69. The earliest 454 was August 13th. None of them were 70 castings except the 71 402 which was real late 70.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

I have a 71 402 engine that I bought 16 years ago and put in my 68 Camaro. It was never apart and I have the original dipstick. At the tip it has ADD 8, then two small circles on top of each other followed by FULL. Then USE GM 6041-M QUALITY MS OIL and a 1 inch gap followed by an M. The handle has what looks like a light green plastic tip.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Mine is like John described his #2 piece, "USE GM6041-M-QUALITY MS with E sideways." It has the flattened round handle with the Yellow plug.

This is from an 05D Arlington car. The stamp pad reads "TO403CRR" with a block casting date of "B 27 70".

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Interesting. Mine are all canadian engines Oshawa built cars and no 70 castings. I have a january 70 cast 402 at my brothers sitting a CTX I think out of a 70 Chevelle 4spd.I will have to check that one.
The sticks I have are are identical to Johns same length, location of fill marks etc.Nice to have someone check a original 69 casting to see what they have.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

I think both of those designs can be considered correct for the 1970 LS-6,L-78,LS-5,L-34 LS-4 & LS-3,as long as it has a flat handle & margarine tip.
There are too many examples of both previously mentioned designs in many undisturbed vehicles.There was not one definitve dipstick.
There was also a third factory released design with just ENGINE OIL followed by a sideways E on it used on the line.
All three dipsticks were possible under part #5599 w/flat handle & margarine tip,as I would imagine they were made at regional Arvin plants/intervals.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Thanks Rick for the clarification. It makes perfect sense what you are saying. Do you remember approx when the round handle yellow end stick came out???

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

My 12k org mile 69 L78 with build date Dec 68 just has Engine Oil with sideways E.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Chevrolet reproduces the round handle design today because it was the latest design released.They unfortunately usually do that over the initial design in many circumstances.
I've personally seen the round handle on vehicles as early as 1975,but it could've been effective as early as 1972-3.

An interesting side note to this topic,is that the early produced 1970 LS-6 & LS-5 Chevelle & Elcamino mistakenly received the wrong dipsticks on the assembly line at some of the plants.
Units built before January 10,1970 received dipstick #3981019 with a green tip.
This incorrect dipstick while reading "FULL",actually was 6/10ths of a quart to low.And would also actually be 1-1/2 quarts to low when at the "ADD" mark.
The plants corrected this error by removing it on most,and reinstalling it with the correct #3925599 dipstick,but some completed vehicles were released for public consumption with this error.A TSB went out to alert dealers & customers,but some unmolested units have been found still holding this incorrect dipstick today.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

Thanks Rick for the info. I have or had at least one of the green tipped flat end sticks and some gray ones. I thought they were both small block. I hope I didnot toss the green one.Hummm sometimes it is best just to leave stuff hanging on the nail.

Re: Correct Oil Dipstick for 1970 LS-6 Chevelle
 

That green tip was for a 1970 small block,but I don't think there is much value in it then that,being it was a factory error in someplaces on a few 454's.
It would give an inaccurate level reading,so I sure wouldn't want it on mine if I had a 454 built before 1/10/70.

Looking at my notes,I want to add that the round tip handle can be found on vehicles as early as 1971.