Review on Strictly Diesel Dipstick 1994 2003 Powerstroke by Tony Addis

I love this product for its easy installation and easy weekend savings. I'm not thrilled with the price, but without it I'm left with two painful options: fix (my unfortunate first choice) or remove the oil pan. Had I not initially tried the cheapest gasket replacement option without removing the sump oil (which requires pulling the engine out a few inches to remove it) I might not be such an enthusiastic supporter of this SD product. My review is more about describing my adventure with both products, first is the NOT SD adapter and what I call the "kit" and second is the lackluster installation of the SD adapter. I've included 3 pictures for your enjoyment (and hopefully I'll describe them in the order they appear in the review). 1) The product is only diesel engine (SD) installed. just a new o-ring and outer nut, aka a kit, and 3) alongside a badly stretched and worn original o-ring and old, greasy nut versus a new o-ring and nut (this is in the Reasons to get you to the root cause of the problem (a worn o-ring) as well as the preordained (alleged?) nature of the struggle that will cause me to fall (POS factory designed nut) and why a new nut is needed What's Included Before purchasing an SD adapter, I spent over $50 on the kit that allows one person to replace the old gasket and nut with new items. The kit includes a new o-ring, a new nut and used a wire bottle brush as a holder, and a new fiber disc. I may have forgotten a thing or two, but I've listed the major components. Before reviewing, I also purchased (which put the grand total closer to 90 $ after tax brings). etc.) a "file" to hold the threads and additional sealant to hold the threads/washers that were "recommended" for those purchasing the kit. I figured I wouldn't spend half a day under my truck only to find out I needed one or even both of these extra items to complete my project. Also, I figured why else would they create them and offer them as add-ons if they aren't needed at least occasionally throughout this adventure, er, project, right? has to be removed. These can be standalone projects depending on the condition of the bolts on the wire ends for the battery pack, as well as the choice of tools available and the dexterity (read bold) of the upper limbs to remove the starter motor. A few shop lights (clamp, magnet, etc.) and a slide help a lot with working under the car during this project. Dedicating an entire Saturday to what I figured would be my only necessary attempt to fix my leaking adapter with The. Keith, I was hoping I'd be lucky enough to get it right the first time. But just in case I reserved the whole Saturday because I know how it can be. Having watched several YouTube videos and read the instructions multiple times, I doubted with great confidence that any further links or clarification on any of the steps in this project are needed. Spring. Provided, not much work space. You spend the day lying on your back trying not to drop the OEM adapter in the oil pan, cleaning it and keeping it clean, making sure the new o-ring is a good fit, replacing the adapter into the correct (original) socket. Everything was disconcerting but doable, and I succeeded. I did homework. I've been working with motorcycles and cars since I was 12 (about 40+ years of basic experience as a backyard mechanic). Everything went well enough and I finished. I thought it would actually work, and maybe before sundown. no I spent most of my Saturday doing the obvious part. Then, unbeknownst to me, came the do-or-die part. It only took me 3 hours to lose my mind but I did it. It's gone. In those fading hours I invented new swear words, threw the tools beyond return, and several times went to the point of trading with myself that most closely resembles this example: thus achieving the optimal angle required while at the same time keeping enough torque in your hand to turn the nut just enough to engage the first part of the thread. Starch, oh I don't know, lip balm. then you can spend the whole sunday on the couch, drink beer, order pizza. and 100% guilt free." everything including the file tracking streams. Somehow those threads got tangled and there was no way I was going to screw that new nut onto that original adapter. So I threw in the towel (hard to do in a straight jacket) and thought, I would now try the SD adapter as a last resort for a DIY solution Not happy with the price Not thrilled with the idea of dropping the original metal adapter to the bottom of the oil pan so it's never needed, but hopefully never I heard back about it. But I bought it. The day I installed the SD adapter started with an early morning sip of coffee. Watching the sun rise over the Sierra. Then I pulled a fresh one ironed tuxedo and slipped a Rolex on my wrist As the band played on the grassy hill down the street, I took a sip of mimosa and effortlessly installed this Ada pter. With that the furry details of the install day are fiction, installing the SD adapter was really easy and painless. Aside from the shock of the sticker, it really isn't a problem. But when I think of an alternative to my lost Saturday and all that hassle, the SD adapter is good value. This is an impractical solution for me and my situation. Then, if I knew what I know now, I would have just sent the SD my money, installed the adapter and moved on. I wouldn't survive an evening of disappointment and in my case wasting money that could have been spent buying an SD adapter. In the future, or if a friend needs to fix it, I'll bypass all other options and start with a pure diesel adapter right away. I've had it for a few months and only about 400 miles but no drop outs, no hiccups and never worried that anything will happen in the future. Hell, I forgot that shiny piece of aluminum is even down there, and that's exactly what I wanted. 5 Stars.