Dipstick stuck!

[Hormoslyr]

Hi, first post on this great forum!

My oil dipstick is stuck in the dipstick tube.
I don´t have the guts to rip it out with force, afraid that the little red plastic tip will break off.

Has anybody had the same problem? Solutions? I don´t wanna open the oil pan..

My car is a base Boxster from -97.
I´m from Sweden so please forgive my swenglish :P

[Steve Tinker]

Can you twist the dipstick as you try to pull it out?
That might just stop the shoulder (edge) of the red tip catching.....
I'm from Australia so your Swenglish is better than my Engleswed.....

[Hormoslyr]

Tried that but no luck! Can´t understand how it is stuck?
The dipstick is all the way in the tube (as normal), i remember that it took some force to push in last time i had it out.
Is it possible that the stick has folded somehow?

[Steve Tinker]

The dipstick won't "fold" but the plastic tube it runs in is known to break between the boot and where the tube enters the engine.
You will have to put the top into the service position to check the integrity of the tube..

Check the search function "end of dipstick came off in tube" for a diagram.

[Hormoslyr]

I will check that, thanks!

[Hormoslyr]

The upper tube was cut clean just above the connector.
But now for the sad news, the dipstick broke and it broke in the lower tube. Tried to remove the lower metal tube but the intake manifold is in the way.

How long is a regular dipstick? My dipstick is 63 cm now.

Is the lower tube open at the end? Would be nice to know before i drop the oil pan.

[pjq]

2004 S




the black curved tube is your dip stick tube, it is flanged too the block with a single bolt. I can't recall how far into the block the penetration goes. The complete dipstick tube is two pieces, this pic is one piece and the 2nd piece starting in your trunk is the plastic piece.
The oil dipstick tube in your trunk , which is plastic, attaches to the end of this tube (in pic) over the collar by a pressure fit clamp, squeeze together between your fingers the 2 grey buttons of clamp.

[Hormoslyr]

It goes down deep 10-15 cm i think. Can´t remove it, the manifold is in the way.
My tube was secured by an ordinary 10 mm hex nut not external torx.

[pjq]

a different angle.

[Steve Tinker]

Originally Posted by Hormoslyr

The upper tube was cut clean just above the connector.
But now for the sad news, the dipstick broke and it broke in the lower tube. Tried to remove the lower metal tube but the intake manifold is in the way.

How long is a regular dipstick? My dipstick is 63 cm now.

Is the lower tube open at the end? Would be nice to know before i drop the oil pan.

The dipstick is 92cm long including the red plastic end.
If you remove the oil pan (which would be easier than removing the manifold), the remains of the dipstick should be visible and be easy to pull out.

[Hormoslyr]

Ok, thanks! Almost 30 cm left in the tube, it probably can´t go anywhere.

Oil pan is coming off!

But first i will search the engine bay for the dipstick remains, i have a theory: the tube broke first and the dipstick got tangled somewhere in the engine bay.

[Hormoslyr]

Theory proved to be true! The dipstick had escaped the broken tube and jammed itself under the generator.

Worst of all, the dipstick had contact to the starters positive lead and when i tried to pull it out it got shorted Disconnected the battery pronto!

I got it out after removing the throttle body and the plenum tube...

All good, now i need a new dipstick and a new upper dipstick tube