Well I finally found myself a nice Ram. An '04 with 72K and the 5.7 Hemi. I was checking the oil today and noticed that the dipstick is hard to pull out and very hard to put back in. I actually bent the dam thing the first time just below the rivets (rivets? that's BS). I had to use both hands to guide it back in an inch at a time.

Is this normal for the 5.7? I hope so, but at the same time if it is normal, the engineer needs to be castrated.

 

My 4.7 is the same way. Pulling out is easy but putting in I have to guide it with both hands...that's what she said.

 

Dont worry about it man, its a long dipstick and theres lots of drag when ya put it back in...

 

It also helps if it is turned the right way so that as it is going in it can flex and bend to the tube.

 

Thanks for the replies.

N B T - (as I was typing the post last night, I knew someone here would relate )

How exactly do you turn it the right way? I turned it in a couple different ways to start it back in. None worked well. It worked best with the tips of the handle pointing towards the firewall and grille, but it's still a 2-hander all the way in. I wanted to ask everyone here to help prevent me from bending it again and risk it breaking off inside the tube.

 

I know its not for 3rd gens but my 2nd gens dipstick is the same way... super difficult to put back!

 

Mine slides right in no problem. Maybe, next oil change toss 1/4 a quart down the tube to lubricate it.

 

No issues here, either (just checked the oil two days ago, too).