If you’re a car owner, it’s important to be familiar with the engine oil dipstick and how to dislodge it when it gets stuck. Checking the engine oil levels and performing an oil change regularly ensures the health of your engine.
If, for whatever reason, the oil dipstick has stuck in the engine, you need to figure out the cause of the problems and fix it immediately.
Several reasons can cause your oil dipstick to get stuck. Thankfully with a few DIY skills and tools, you can remove a stuck dipstick from your engine using a telescoping magnet, a removal tool, or push the dipstick up by tapping the underside.
This article will teach you what a dipstick is, why it gets stuck, and steps to remove a broken or stuck oil dipstick.
What is an oil dipstick tube?
All internal combustion engines have an oil dipstick, including diesel engines. It is a device in the engine that mainly acts as a gauge to monitor the level of oil in the engine. The dipstick has a dipstick tube that keeps it in place. In most cars, the engine oil dipstick is a long and flat metal rod with an orange or yellow colored ring with the word ‘CHECK OIL’ printed.
The dipstick can also tell the condition of the oil, giving you an idea of the engine’s internal health. You need to push the dipstick firmly downwards to check the engine oil levels.
Your engine requires sufficient oil to ensure its longevity and performance. This is because engine oil lubricates all the moving parts inside the engine and prevents heat build-up due to friction.
However, modern cars do not have an oil dipstick; instead, they have digital oil monitoring systems that alert you when the engine oil runs low.
What causes a dipstick to get stuck?
To ensure your vehicle runs seamlessly, you need to check the engine oil levels and refill or replace the oil regularly.
However, sometimes, you may notice the oil dipstick is stuck when doing routine maintenance. Several reasons may cause your oil dipstick to get stuck in the tube:
Accumulation of sludge inside the tube
Without regular maintenance, the viscosity of the engine oil becomes thicker, forming a sludge-like consistency.
The sludge builds up inside the oil sump of the engine and clogs up the base of the dipstick tube, preventing its movement.
Poor quality material
The metal that makes the oil dipstick is strong and can withstand the heat and vibrations of the car engine. But if you replaced your dipstick with a low-quality brand, it’s likely not as sturdy as your car brand’s dipstick.
The engine vibrations and heat will cause the low-quality metal to break easily, causing it to get stuck inside the tube. Also, if the handle fastener uses flimsy bolts and screws, they can come off when you pull the dipstick out of the engine oil sump.
The engine is too hot.
When the engine oil drops too low, the engine will become hot and, in turn, cause your engine oil dipstick to get stuck in the tube.
In addition, since car makers weld the dipstick tube to the engine, the high temperatures can damage the tube’s internal parts, such as melting the O-rings inside the dipstick tube. When they melt, they may fuse to the side of the tube, making it difficult to move the dipstick out.
How to remove a broken off dipstick tip
The complexity of removing a stuck dipstick varies depending on your vehicle, and there are four factors you will have to consider for the best removal procedure:
- Location of the dipstick tube on the engine
- Dipstick tube design
- Fastening design of the dipstick handle
- Cause of the damage
We will explain four methods you can use to remove the stuck dipstick. The method you choose will depend on how the dipstick has broken off and the extent of the damage.
Things you’ll need
- Jack lift
- Drain bucket
- Pliers
- Rubber mallet
- Lubricating spray
- Telescoping magnet
- Oil dipstick removal tool
- High thread bolt
Directions
1. Push the dipstick from underneath
This method is best if the tip of the oil dipstick breaks off and the metal rod has dropped to the bottom of the tube.
- Raise your vehicle using a jack lift to access underneath the engine easily.
- Find the engine oil sump and place a bucket underneath the plug.
- Take out the oil plug and drain the oil and sludge into the bucket below.
- You should be able to see the tip of the dipstick stuck in the tube.
- Use a rubber mallet to tap the end of the exposed dipstick to move it back up the tube.
- Continue tapping the bottom of the dipstick until it moves further up into the dipstick tube.
- Come up from underneath the vehicle and open the hood of the car. Then locate the dipstick tube from above the engine.
- Take your pliers, pull the dipstick out of the tube, and replace it with a genuine brand.
2. Lubricate the tube
This method is most suitable for removing a dipstick if it hasn’t snapped, but it’s stuck due to dirt or debris.
- Hold the dipstick handle and gently wiggle it, moving it around to build up some heat inside the tube.
- Over time dipstick will dislodge itself from the sides of the tube.
- If the dipstick is not stuck on the sides of the tubes, but you can’t pull it out, spray the tube cavity with lubricating oil. Any melted O-rings, dirt, or sludge will start to flow down into the oil sump, and you should be able to pull out the dipstick completely.
- If there was any damaged O-ring, replace it with manufacturer-quality parts, drain the dirty oil and replace it with clean engine oil.
3. Use a magnet
This is the best approach if the handle has broken off the dipstick, but the metal rod is still exposed.
- Take out the broken handle and inspect the tube to locate the metal dipstick rod.
- If you cannot reach the dipstick or pull it out, insert a telescoping magnet into the dipstick tube.
- Move the magnet around the tube until you feel contact with the metal rod.
- Then slowly pull out the dipstick using the telescopic magnet.
- Finally, you will need to replace the dipstick with a high-quality one recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
4. Use a removal tool
This is a more drastic approach when too much grime and sludge accumulation causes the dipstick to get stuck inside the tube. You can remove the stuck dipstick rod using a removal tool.
- Get a bolt or screw with an aggressive tread pattern to screw into the dipstick tube. The bolt should also have the same diameter as the dipstick tube circumference.
- Alternatively, you can use a Dipstick Extractor to remove the stuck dipstick much easier.
- Measure the depth of the dipstick plastic handle.
- Insert the bolt or removal tool into your dipstick tube at the exact depth and then about a quarter more to give it the chance to grab onto the metal dipstick.
- The bolt or removal tool will grip the dipstick by creating tension and friction inside the tube, thus dislodging the stuck dipstick.
- Now you can use pliers or a telescoping magnet to put it out of the tube. Then replace it with a manufacturer-recommended dipstick.
Does a broken dipstick cause damage to an engine?
For the most part, a broken dipstick doesn’t affect your vehicle’s engine. However, it can affect the dipstick tube, leading to problems in the engine.
A broken dipstick can cause oil leakage or dirt and debris to enter the engine through the hollow dipstick tube. Experts do not recommend driving your car with a broken dipstick as it also increases the chances of going for long without changing the oil.
Therefore, you will not be able to get a proper reading of the oil levels if the dipstick has broken. Ultimately, the engine will become damaged due to working without sufficient engine oil such as seizing.
How to fix a broken dipstick handle
Fixing a broken dipstick handle is unnecessary if the metal rod is in good condition. But you may have to replace the entire dipstick if you want one with a proper handle to help you check engine oil levels.
The dipstick handle is a plastic part that allows you to pull up the dipstick rod or check the oil levels when replacing it. It also acts as an insulator to prevent you from burning your fingers if the metal rod is hot.
Conclusion
The dipstick is a vital component in your engine that measures the engine oil levels, allowing you to refill the oil when necessary. But the dipstick getting stuck can be quite a terrifying concern. The article above has provided all the best ways to remove your stuck dipstick yourself.
If the dipstick has broken, replace it with a manufacturer-quality one to ensure it works properly and for longer. You should also seek professional help at your mechanic’s if you can’t remove the oil dipstick.