How to put in trans dipstick and other simple questions

[jbach36]

1991 300d, 111k

1) Has anyone discovered the mystery of how to put the transmission dipstick in properly? Mine always goes down 1/2 way, then stops, and I have to take it out and play with it again and again until it goes in.

2) There's a short, hard rubber hose, maybe 1" in diameter, that goes from the air filter flex hose, to the top of the valve cover, near the oil fill cap. What is its function, and is that rubber supposed to be hard or pliable? I'm assuming hard. Mine isn't 100% tight on the valve cover. If I wiggle it, it will moves some, which is probably normal actually, but I don't know.

Thanks,

Jeff

[bustedbenz]

2. It is supposed to be hard plastic, brittle enough to break when you smack it with a wrench. - they were never flexible. Mine has gotten stiff with age but no, it's not supposed to be flexible. No problem there.

Its function is the same as a PCV valve on a gas burner. Lets oil vapor and such that may be blowing around to re-enter the air supply and burn again before it heads out the exhaust. Not a big deal that it's loose. You could change it if you wanted to but it's not going to hurt anything. Could run without it if you didn't mind the mess (and the oil loss)