azpackrat

My new-to-me '94 Jeep Laredo ZJ 5.2L is missing the lower part of it's oil dip stick. Previous owner claimed to have cut it off because he couldn't fit it all the way into the tube (appears to be true). Pulled tube and assured no blockage. Dropped oil pan to verify no blockage (or broken dip sticks!). Ordered new dipstick and tube online that claimed it was for the engine. Did not come close to fitting - mine is very curved and replacement was very straight. I also could not get this dip stick in all the way - missed by 1/4 inch. When checked with the new dip stick, it didn't read any oil (but recent oil change says there's plenty of oil.) Ordered second from different manufacturer but hasn't arrived yet. Beginning to suspect someone has swapped the engine out. I found 2 stamped numbers: 610S022 on steel valve cover (magnet sticks to valve cover) and 68010248 on intake manifold just above the firing order stamp. Searches of both numbers leads me to pages and pages of remanufactured engines for sale. Can anyone help ID the engine or at least tell me where I can find the engine ID number? I know it's part of the VIN. but if someone swapped it, the VIN info is worthless. He has claimed it was rebuilt but doesn't know anything about being swapped. Also, can someone tell me what else to look for that might be causing the dip stick not to fit into oil pan? TIA

wingless

Welcome to the forum.

The OEM dipstick tube is discontinued.

When mine broke, it was repaired by welding a short 3/8" OD steel tube onto the end.

Try tweaking the twist at the end of the dipstick, more or less twist, to help it enter the oil pan guide.

The block casting number is under the driver's side exhaust manifold. There may also be a S/N decal near the intake manifold at the distributor, mine was 100% deteriorated.

The block casting date code is under the passenger's side exhaust manifold.

The block serial number is on the driver's side, adjacent to the cylinder head, on the forward-facing surface, hidden under lots of stuff bolted onto the engine.





Repaired Dipstick Tube on Bottom

94zj318

There are some numbers embossed into either the left or right-hand side of engine bay. I'm unfortunately not sure what any of those numbers mean, but they may be helpful... on the newer Jeeps they put the info on a sticker.

wingless

My engine serial number and my VIN have zero correlation.

The engine is original to the vehicle. I am the original owner, having special-ordered this vehicle back in'94, so I am 100% certain the engine is original to the vehicle.

wingless

On my engine, there was also a matching 100% deteriorated label on the driver's side of the oil pan, near the engine block.