Hi,

I have tried searching for this, and found nothing.

The dipstick in my Octavia 3 has broken. It is broken about 2- 3  inches from the top of the tube. I can see the end of the stick, but cannot find a pair of long nose pliers with blades thin enough to be inserted and opened, to grab it.

 

has anyone else suffered this - and are there any easy solutions?. Is the dipstick tube detachable, and, presumably a full oil drain would be required?

 

Thanks

Tube will be detachable, yes; and I doubt you would need to drain any oil to do so.

A telescopic magnet might get it out.  I have one in a screwdriver.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-7026-Flexible-Magnetic-Assorted/dp/B07CT1FQCJ

I find mine quite tight, so think Wino has the answer. 🛠️

Find a piece of plastic tube that is a tight fit on the stub of the dipstick shaft remaining on the pull handle, then push this down the dipstick hole to grip the end of the remainder and hopefully extract it.

 

Otherwise remove the dipstick tube if its stuck tight.

On 25/09/2020 at 10:12, J.R. said:

Find a piece of plastic tube that is a tight fit on the stub of the dipstick shaft remaining on the pull handle, then push this down the dipstick hole to grip the end of the remainder and hopefully extract it.

 

Otherwise remove the dipstick tube if its stuck tight.

Unfortunately it is broken, so no stub to grip on. Also the stick seems to be plastic so not magnetic. 
Could anyone point to info on removing the tube?

 

thanks

Remove any/all screws securing it to any part of the engine and then pull, probably rather hard.

If you can tell me your engine code I may be able to find an image that'll help.

The remaining part of dipstick stuck further down the dipstic tube is approx 4mm round steel wire/rod, the end is flattened out to form the graduated part which measures the oil level.

 

The inside diameter of the dipstick tube is over 8mm because an 8mm oil suction tube will fit down there, although on mine it catches where it enters the engine block, an oil suction tube or one slightly smaller will probably push down tight over the broken dipstick and allow you to remove it, sorry if I cant explain it better, if you didn't understand before then you probably will be none the wiser now.

On 27/09/2020 at 18:41, Wino said:

Remove any/all screws securing it to any part of the engine and then pull, probably rather hard.

If you can tell me your engine code I may be able to find an image that'll help.

 

Thank you for the offer. 

 

I managed to extricate it!

 

I bought a pair of VERY long nosed plies for £8.95. I ground down the business end to form a VERY thin nose to a length of about 3". I heated the end and used my van tow ball as an anvil, and hammered the end   of the "nose" to create a sharp bend .

The dipstick had wedged under the dipstick oil seal, so had to use a kebab skewer to rise it from under the ridge.

I then inserted the pliers and, working "blind" but having observed the position of the stick opened them as wide as the tube would allow, and slid the bent nose over the stick. Closed the pliers to grab, and withdrew. A few attempts, and it was out.

 

Thanks for all the comments.

 

Are all new dipsticks pretty much the same, or should I  buy a "genuine" one?

 

Thanks again

 

 

Such a rare thing to need to replace that I'd be surprised if there were many alternatives to buying genuine?

Just make sure you get exactly the right one; probably a part number up at the top somewhere. (Assuming the broken off top bit wasn't lost?)

Edited 1 October, 20205 yr by Wino

1 hour ago, Wino said:

Such a rare thing to need to replace that I'd be surprised if there were many alternatives to buying genuine?

Just make sure you get exactly the right one; probably a part number up at the top somewhere. (Assuming the broken off top bit wasn't lost?)

 

There does seem to be a lot of them on sale, tbh. Good idea about the part number - I think I still have the top in the boot, shall have a look in the morning. 

 

Cheers