Broken Dipstick

[Adrenaline]

my oil warning light came on lastnight so i tried to check the oil level but some how i managed to break the dipstick the small plastic peice at the end.
the orange part

now i know its a dealer part...but what about the broken part that has been left in? how do i get that taken out...can that cause damage?

[Skipton01]

Already PM'd you about this, but you should suffer no problems as there is a coarse strainer which removes stuff such as this, to prevent it getting into the engine proper.

I'd mention it to the dealer when you get the new dipstick, but they'll probably just tell you to not worry and it'll be resolved at the next oil and filter change.

Cheers,

Mike

[Adrenaline]

yea aslong as it doesnt cause any damage...the actual dipstick should be pretty cheap

[Skipton01]

Hmmm, I wouldn't bank on it being that cheap - you are dealing with Audi after all!!

Cheers,

Mike

[hollyrescue]

The very small O ring attached to the dipstick at the top is £1+VAT, so that makes the dip stick arms and legs.

[doctor]

Very spooky my oil light came on last night:eek:
I gave the engine a feed but tried to figure it out, up until the first service the oil levels were ok, one month after the first service the oil plays up:confused:

Regarding the dip stick, i did email Audi gmbh to suggest a white section at the end of the stick so reading could be made easier, but no response:( how anyone can check oil levels black against black is beyond me:confused:

Doctor

[monkeyfinger]

End of my dipstick broke off also (or at least I pulled it out one time and the end was already gone) - obviously another little design fault. This was around a year ago, and I've a feeling that it was around £15 or so to replace.

Never suffered any ill effects from the broken section left in the sump.

[whuy]

Well I managed to break off the end of my dipstick a second time.. thanks to the forum, I'll happily leave it as it is till the next VSI, then just ask for a replacement. Silly plastic.. my wife's A4 has a metal dipstick, never any trouble.

[pc759]

wakefield audi quoted me £37 for a replacement dipstick in May, i declined their offer.
Paul

[tdiman]

Very spooky my oil light came on last night:eek:
I gave the engine a feed but tried to figure it out, up until the first service the oil levels were ok, one month after the first service the oil plays up:confused:

Regarding the dip stick, i did email Audi gmbh to suggest a white section at the end of the stick so reading could be made easier, but no response:( how anyone can check oil levels black against black is beyond me:confused:

Doctor

You should be ashamed waiting for your oil warning to come on, why do you think audi put the service flap there? you should be checking at least once a month!
And I don't know where you get the 'black' dipstick from, mine is all orange / yellow, all the Audi's Ive been looking at have the same colour as well!!

[hollyrescue]

Tdiman, you were a bit hard on Doctor, there are many posts on our forum saying (in effect) "don't rely on the dipstick, wait for the oil warning light". This advice has been given to me by 2 Audi stealers as well. I wouldn't like to think of him crying in the corner after his telling off. All in fun of course.

[tdiman]

Well if anybody who has taken a driving test recently will testify the test includes such things as under bonnet checks! so even DVLA consider it important enough to ensure people at least know about these things, having said that they are also the people who consider the stopping distance of a ford anglia as being typical!!!!!

[crb1011]

well my polo has a black dip stick (metal) and I can read it no problem infact its a pleasure to be able to read the oil level after not being able to on the A2 for over two years of owning one. I think the main problem with the A2 dip stick is thats its far too long and by the time its fully retracted all the oil has been rubbed off and also its not a straight down into the engine has to go round a few bends first

[lyndonbuck]

Dead right - don't trust the dipstick - wait for the light - thats what its for, it won't do the engine any harm to run it with the minimum level of oil in, there are plenty of engines that get damaged when you put too much oil in. Wait for the light and don't worry about it.

[doctor]

You should be ashamed waiting for your oil warning to come on, why do you think audi put the service flap there? you should be checking at least once a month!
And I don't know where you get the 'black' dipstick from, mine is all orange / yellow, all the Audi's Ive been looking at have the same colour as well!!

Thankyou tdiman for your valued reply.

I can tell you that I do check the oil levels regularly and that the dipstick is black! Perhaps you may not be aware of all of this components changing specification. My vehicle is 2yrs young and I am afraid I am not the type to change the specification of my dipstick for pleasure.

Doctor

nb: my thanks to those polite posters on this site:)

[whuy]

doctor, is it in one piece? or is the end you're supposed to read made of (cheap and apparently brittle) plastic?

[Skipton01]

It does seem then that the dipstick design was an ad hoc affair and which you have fitted is a complete lottery.

Tank is just over 2 years old, and he has an orange plastic dipstick, which is very easy to read.

Cheers,

Mike

[Aikon]

I too have a wire dipstick with an orange end, the reading is inconsistent to say the least, I check my car once a month (3-4000 miles) when I do tyre pressures and all the fluids, my wifes car I check every fillup, about every 6 weeks

[doctor]

doctor, is it in one piece? or is the end you're supposed to read made of (cheap and apparently brittle) plastic?

Its a black wire with what seems a black moulded end to display the min max markings. Its not broken (Yet!)

Placing my designers hat on I just couldn't see why they didn't have a lighter coloured moulding at the end (although, as Skipton mentioned, it sounds as if they have on some models).

Might be cheeky enough to ask for one next time I'm in my stealers.

doctor

[Mr K]

I managed to break my dipstick today. I think I can shed some light on how it happens. This forum and a Google search shows it to be a common problem. I also happened to look at an A2 which had a broken dipstick before I bought mine.

I changed the oil yesterday and went to check the level with a view to topping up to the max at lunchtime today. The engine had cooled down after my morning commute, and the air temp was about 10C, which may be relevant.

After wiping the dipstick I re-inserted it. As the plastic end bit negotiated a bend in its guide I heard a click & immediately realised it had probably broken; withdrawing it confirmed it.

Having previously read here that having the plastic end in the sump is nothing to worry about (thanks Mike) I felt I had no option but to push the dipstick back in to push the broken bit down into the sump. Later on I thought it would have been worth starting the engine to see if it would get blown out. Too late though :(

Obviously there's a design flaw, but a couple of thoughts may help others avoid the problem. I think it's caused by a weakness in the plastic end bit, which can get over-stressed and cause it to break off as it's pushed around the curve of its guide.

A contributory factor could be low temperatures, causing the plastic to become more brittle. Another could be that the flexible dipstick sets in a curve, to some extent, over time. I find it's easier to insert in one orientation than another because of this. In fact when I broke mine I felt I'd started to insert it "against the curve" and had just decided to pull it out a bit and turn it when it broke.

People can do 2 things to help prevent theirs from breaking:
1) Check levels when warm, as the manual states, a few minutes after the engine has stopped. The plastic will be less brittle.
2) Check the set/curve of the dipstick and insert with the curve rather than against it.

Mark

[Mr K]

Just to follow up - I got my replacement dipstick today - £5.64. I had expected to see an improved part, but it appears identical. Hopefully the plastic is less brittle.

The parts guy I spoke to claimed not to know it was a common issue...

Mark

[ULP]

After wiping the dipstick I re-inserted it. As the plastic end bit negotiated a bend in its guide I heard a click & immediately realised it had probably broken; withdrawing it confirmed it.

...

A contributory factor could be low temperatures, causing the plastic to become more brittle. Another could be that the flexible dipstick sets in a curve, to some extent, over time. I find it's easier to insert in one orientation than another because of this. In fact when I broke mine I felt I'd started to insert it "against the curve" and had just decided to pull it out a bit and turn it when it broke.

People can do 2 things to help prevent theirs from breaking:
1) Check levels when warm, as the manual states, a few minutes after the engine has stopped. The plastic will be less brittle.
2) Check the set/curve of the dipstick and insert with the curve rather than against it.

Mark

I wish I'd read this before Friday.

Checking the oil after work (engine last used 9 hour previous), I put the dip-stick back in to hear that fateful 'crack' as it hit the first bend, just thinking it was the noise of it knocking the guide tube, but didn't realise until it was too late that I'd snapped the end off. A nervous journey home and I'm glad to read that it's not a problem to have a broken bit of plastic in there.

Does anybody know how to get it out or is this best done when serviced? Mine has about 3500 miles to go so I'm planning to do it early September but will bring it forward if necessary...

Also, looking at the dip stick closely I'd like to meet the inventor in a dark alley and give him the benefit of my opinion...

[bluepassion]

Ive just had the same problem just before going to skegness on holiday thought I'd check the oil well you know the rest of the story just need to call Audi at Nottingham tomorrow to see if they have got one in:rolleyes:

[robin]

I wish I'd read this before Friday.

Checking the oil after work (engine last used 9 hour previous), I put the dip-stick back in to hear that fateful 'crack' as it hit the first bend, just thinking it was the noise of it knocking the guide tube, but didn't realise until it was too late that I'd snapped the end off. A nervous journey home and I'm glad to read that it's not a problem to have a broken bit of plastic in there.

Does anybody know how to get it out or is this best done when serviced? Mine has about 3500 miles to go so I'm planning to do it early September but will bring it forward if necessary...

Also, looking at the dip stick closely I'd like to meet the inventor in a dark alley and give him the benefit of my opinion...

Taking off the sump is the best way to get the bit out.
Or if it comes out when you change the oil if you are luck holds out ha ha!!
if its any help mine broke as well but it can stay their it wont get past the strainer on the oil pump?!!!
It will just get chewed up in to little bits as it goes round.

cheers

Robin

[chubbybrown]

mine broke as well and its a very common problem!

was told its no bother sitting in the sump and that is where it will stay:D

[d4v1d sm4rt]

but seeing everone else had the same problem made me feel better .

[bluepassion]

just to let you know it was £5.95 from Nottingham Audi and they dropped it of at my work place because i work nights

[d4v1d sm4rt]

have it on order now, dont know where the other poster got £34 quid from?
still a bit paranoid about that bit floating around...

[John H]

Just went to check the oil (the first time since it was serviced) and guess what ... the plastic tip of the dip stick is missing. As I heard no crack pulling it out, I am tempted to think the garage might have broken it while it was being serviced and just kept quiet about it.

As the car is under warranty, I am going to ask for a replacement, and also ask then to drain the oil (if neccessary removing the sump) to get the bit out. I'm not happy at the thought of a bit of plastic wizzing round the engine.

I'll let you know the response.

[Poor_John]

Just went to check the oil (the first time since it was serviced) and guess what ... the plastic tip of the dip stick is missing. As I heard no crack pulling it out, I am tempted to think the garage might have broken it while it was being serviced and just kept quiet about it.

As the car is under warranty, I am going to ask for a replacement, and also ask then to drain the oil (if neccessary removing the sump) to get the bit out. I'm not happy at the thought of a bit of plastic wizzing round the engine.

I'll let you know the response.

Hi John H,

For a bit of reassurance about the broken off bit in your engine, read message #2 of this posting.

John.

[John H]

Hi John H,

For a bit of reassurance about the broken off bit in your engine, read message #2 of this posting.

John.

Indeed I did read and absorb that, bit I'd still like it removed none the less.

I phoned my Audi service centre (actually a Seat dealer) and they agreed immediately to drain the oil, find the bit and get me a new dipstick under warranty ... and they are doing it at 10:00am tomorrow! How about that for service!

:D

[John H]

Update as promised ...

Took car in this morning, they drained oil, no sign of bit of plastic, so ...

They removed the sump, retrieved little bit of orange plastic from where it was lodged in the oil strainer, and re-asembled the whole lot with fresh oil. A new dipstick is on order for me, no charge, all courtesy of the Audi warranty.

Excellent service, just as it should be!

:D

[Destinystar123]

hello, funnily enough I did exactly the same thing. Dealer said it would be no problem left in there, apparently it happens a lot and the dipstick was only about £3-£4 for a new one.

[Poor_John]

and the dipstick was only about £3-£4 for a new one.

Hi Destinystar123

That's a bargain! I was charged £5.66.

John

[birdsd01]

Do you guys think they break because they are old (i.e. perished plastic)? Or cold, or both? If so, for £5 is it worth changing it before it breaks and saving a bit of hassle? Or is it OK to leave the plastic bit in the sump for ever!

Just a thought!

David

[FourtyRoy]

Where do these £5 Dipsticks appear from! Mine has decided to break and using Skipton's knowledge it will probably swim in the sump until the next oil change! But my local Audi dealer is charging me £20!! I also looked at salvage sites and they want £20.

Regards

Roy

[Skipton01]

Roy,

The mythical dipstick for a fiver is available from your local Audi dealer:

Simply walk into the parts department and quote one of the following part numbers:

Petrol models - 8Z0 115 611 P
Diesel models - 8Z0 115 611 E
1.2 TDi model - 8Z0 115 611 J

All of them are currently less than £6 each.

Cheers,

Mike

[John H]

... or free if you have a warranty, as my local dealer has just supplied a replecement one as they promised, free gratis!

[pgodoe]

Mine is broken as well. Payed 9 £ for a new one here in Norway.

-P-

[d4v1d sm4rt]

Birds
just change it now its a no brainer
the sleepless nights caused by wondering where that bloody bit of plastic is is just not worth it, if someone had told me this i would have done.

[FourtyRoy]

Mike

Thanks for your info - My dealer had ordered the wrong part!! Used your info and on order and just under the £6.
Many Thanks

Roy