This is a very common problem with many vehicles. Might want to apply some oil just above where the O ring is on the dipstick from time to time to prevent the dipstick from getting stuck in the tube. This soft plastic heats up and cools down weakening its strength so over time they will indeed break off. Great video thanks for sharing.
@@soup-middleson1254 I HAVE A S60 VOLVO AND THE DIPSTICK BROKE OFF AND I TRIED THE WAY YOU SAID HOW TO DO IT AND IT WORKED VERY GOOD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT VERY GOOD INFORMATION
A thousand thanks, Mark! Head broke off my oil dip stick and I proceeded exactly like you - only the pliers made it drop a half-inch - uh-oh! It felt secure, though, so put a new 1/8" bit on trusty drill and went for it. Drill bit plowed through carefully & pulled stick out almost by itself. Whew!!! I leapt for joy! Had it only made a small depression, I would have heated the tip of a drywall screw with my lighter (having watched another fix using propane torch, which I don't like or have) and eased it into the hole. Hot screw-tip hopefully melting plastic enough to sink in enough to then carefully pull out. Turned out not to be necessary but mentioning it in case it's helpful to someone else. I'm a female elder who rejoices every time a car- fix is made by me with common tools. But not without help from a wonderful man like you. Your wife must have been happy you fixed her car! Thanks again.
Super common problems on Mopar stuff. Reason for it is the metal "tang" of the dipstick doesn't go all the way up and the plastic of the handle gets weak with heat. A trick to help prevent this is anytime you go to pull one and you get resistance, twist it to break the o-ring loose without snapping the plastic. Also, use some oil from the end of the dipstick to lube the o-ring once you pull it out. Worked for years in a quick lube and you would not believe the number of these we had to replace because of this exact problem. Also, sometimes those get stuck in there so bad even the screw trick described here won't work. In those cases, do the same thing but apply some heat to the tube where the actual o-ring is stuck. A small butane torch works well, or you can even use your wife's blow dryer though it can take longer.
Glad to help. I recommend rubbing a fingertip of oil on the plastic part of the dipstick and always twist is a little before pulling on it. I haven't broken a dipstick since.
This happened to me on my 96 Jeep. The plastic handle seems to get brittle over time. I took a wood barbecue stick, put epoxy glue on the end and dropped it in the tube. As I was waiting for it to dry, I found your video in case it didn't work. Glad to say that when the epoxy dried I was able to shimmy the dip stick out. The cool thing is that I found a bunch of your other cool videos. Thanks.
I had a similar idea. I like this because I don't have to worry as much about the particles going into the engine. I'm going to have to try this tomorrow. I'm going to use a dowel rod as close to the dipstick plastic as I can get. I also plan to cut some plastic off the broken dipstick and super glue that between the dowel rod and the stuck oil dipstick. I figure the plastic will stick to other plastic better than wood.
Same, thing . The plastic was broken off really deep below the rubber o-ring. I had to put a screw into a metal washer where the dipstick ends and the plastic begins. Heat it up . Put a small amount of WD-40 . And starting carefully pulling with a smaller needle nose. So i could get both hands on either side , began to rock it back and forth and twist at the same time. After a few pulls and some knuckle skin, it relented finally. Good luck. And thanks for the video.
I actually had the same van and same problem and I thought of your idea before watching your video... but I had a problem drilling a hole and getting the screw in. I was about to dislodge the tube from the engine... but then, I watched your video and thought - what the hell, I'll try it again. finally found the perfect screw - thinner than what you used. Got the screw in good and tight but could not pull it out! So I put a vice grip on head of screw so vice grip was standing straight up. Found a very heavy duty pry bar, used my angle grinder to cut a notch in the middle of the flat end of pry bar. Rested pry bar on metal above radiator - put notched end around the screw and pushed up... still would not budge. sprayed WD40 in tube , heated up tube with torch (flames...) had to blow out flames... just enough heat and pry bar action and the damn thing came out! Those Chrysler / Dodge dipsticks are complete shit junk! Bought a new one at Advance Auto Parts - told the guy there what a hassle and junk these are... "At least you have a lifetime warranty with this new one!" But I do like your video
Wow, you definitely get an A for effort! Mine wasn't lodged in there that bad. If they offer an all metal dipstick, I'd spend the money for the better one. I always give the dipstick a slight twist back and forth, before removing it.
nissan sentra....happened twice so far after having oil changed...first time the mechanic started with needle nose pliers...no go...then i suggested he take disconnect the breather tube at the valve cover and blow in some compressed air---dipstick popped up like a periscope...
WOOOOW! My daughter's 2007 Sebring has the exact same stick, and the dealer wanted 50 beans for the replacement and 180 beans to pull the old one out -UGH! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I used your method, and it worked like a charm; got the stick for 20 dollars at the parts store... Take care!
Oh wow! I'm so glad to hear this. I almost decided not to make this video, thinking it wouldn't be useful to anyone else. Little did I know this problem is widespread. Thanks for sharing.
This happened on my Nissan Sentra, however, if I put any pressure on it whatsoever, it would press further down the dipstick tube. I ended up buying some plastic weld epoxy from autozone, applying it to a zip tie end, and carefully stuck it down the dipstick tube until it was on top of the broken dipstick. I let it cure for an hour and I was able to pull it out with the zip tie.
I was able to use the same screw you suggested, but I heated it up with a torch. That melted the plastic a bit as I hand screwed it in. THe plastic cooled around the screw and I was able to pull it out. Thank you for your suggestion.
@@MarkThomasBuilder I didn't have access to the drill, and this method didn't leave debris to be vacuumed up. Again, thank you, your video brought the screw into my thinking process. :)
Thank you so muchhh! My dad has had the dipstick stuck for years and he finally told me. I found you video and it came out within 3 minutes! He was surprised and he said it wouldn’t work but it did! Thank you!
I’m not try to outshine your achievement but I had a similar situation with my wife’s town and country. I went to check the oil and although I didn’t encounter extreme difficulties pulling on the dipstick, the dumb thing just snapped!!! I wish that I could have saved the look on my face at the very moment that happened! So, i let her run around for a few months while I thought about what to do, which was very irresponsible of me because the car does use oil. Anyway, fast forward a couple months and my son was going to the salvage yard so I asked him to get me a used one for same engine. He came home with a dipstick that looked identical, they didn’t even charge him anything for it. Well, a week went by before I tried exchanging the new(used) dipstick for the one that broke(which was still where it belongs) and I had no trouble pulling the old one out but when w tried putting the new one in, it was about 3/4” too long!!! I thought about this a little while and upon examination, I could see the yellow ring was affixed to the metal dipstick with a very small roll pin. So I just tapped the roll pins out and swapped metal dipsticks. I did learn something else in the process. The roll pin would only go in if the metal dipstick was inserted one way and not the other. There’s a small tab at the top of the dipstick that must fit in a small pocket up inside the plastic ring. Well, the other problem I encountered was the stem of the plastic part was just a liiiiiiittle to big around so I filed some material off until it fit snuggly. On to the next world problem! I love that you and other people make videos about everyday problems like this and although I didn’t turn to UA-cam for this problem, I have used UA-cam MANY times and I would have to say, UA-cam is the best thing going on the internet by a long shot!!!
I have spent the last three weeks banging my head on my hood trying to figure out how to get this freaking broken off dipstick out of the tube. (and trying to figure out what Valoline employee broke it off and closed the hood without telling me...). Not sure I would've had the guts to try the "drill and screw" method on my own but it WORKED LIKE A CHARM. 5 minutes later it was OUT! $12 for a new dip stick and I am HAPPY. Dude, I owe you one... (Jim)
Mark Thomas builders, thank you so much for sharing the video about the oil dipstick broken. It just happened to me was calling car shop after car shop and they said they did have the right tools to fix and this was when I went on youtube and found you talking about what you did to fix a broken dipstick. Thank you for sharing your videos. You just save me a lot of money. You are a blessing. 👍😊🙏
Never seen that happen before just picked up a 2005 Ram pickup truck got it home and went to check the oils and yes it was broken off. If you have plastic left, drill a pilot hole and use a drywall screw and a pair of pliers
I had the exact same problem on my Chrysler 300... 1/8 drill was perfect with the drywall nail. Worked perfectly for me even after i accidentally shoved the dip stick further down the tube trying a different method before trying this one. But it works !!!
Had the same thing happen on my 2007 Chrysler with the 3.8L engine. I put a very tiny drop of Gorilla Glue the "Super Glue" variety not the Gel. The Super Glue variety does not require a clamp as the gel does and dries in 15 - 45 seconds. Cures in 24 hrs. So I applied and 24 hrs later pulled out the dipstick. #Easypeasy!
I'm glad you found a solution. I think the stick has slid further down and I learned online that it can cause damage, potentially very expensive. I need dto look closer with a flashlight, but I'm very worried with little money and the replacement cost me $41 at the NIssan dealership! Welcome to the San Francisco bary area and I had to drive 20 miles to the dealership since it's too expensive for those businesses in general be in San Francisco.
Hello Mark, Today is April 13, 2021. A few days ago my dipstick broke off, and I panic, cause in my 40 years of driving, this has NEVER happened to me. A couple days went by then I remembered I had UA-cam, and you were the first video I watched on how to fix this issue, which was a great relief, cause I was going to take the car to my mechanic. Long story short, today it didn't rain, and i did as you said in your video, and it worked. I have the Chyrsler 300, 3.5liter, rear wheel, so you have to remove the cover from the fuse box, to get a good angle to drill in straight.. I also learned from reading all your comments that this is common on most Dodge, and Chyrslers, once again Mark, many thanks, and God bless you!
Perfect solution, worked like a charm. Only problem I had was the -20 weather we have here in Fargo ND. Brrrrrrrrr. Be aware that the plastic from the broken spot is only abpout an inch or less long, you may go through the plastic all the way when drilling, I did but no big deal.
I removed the broken dipstick from my Dodge Grand Caravan's 4.0L engine today using the recommended method. This was the second time the plastic handle broke in 176,000 miles, with the first breakage at 81,000. I used the drill / screw /pull approach the first time also (before this video existed). This time was trickier, as the dipstick moved deeper into the tube when I attempted to use a 1/8" drill bit. I tried applying vacuum (25" Hg), but it wouldn't budge. So, I used a new 1/16" bit at high speed and very gentle pressure. After drilling in about 3/16" - 1/4", I cleaned out the debris with a Q-tip. Next, I used a 1/8" bit, which readily followed the 1/16" hole and didn't push the dipstick deeper into the tube. I cleaned the debris again, then gently started a #6 fine thread drywall screw (about 2"" long) into the drilled hole with my fingers. When I couldn't turn further with fingers, I used a screwdriver until the screw was engaged snugly, but not so tight as to expand the plastic. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, I grasped the screw's threads. Using the end of the tube as a fulcrum, I slowly and gently pried the screw upward, getting a new grip on the threads as the dipstick started to move. When the dipstick started to move freely, I grasped the screw with my fingers and pulled the dipstick out. The entire process took about 10 - 15 minutes, including gathering the needed tools. The reason broken handles are a problem is that the handle "grows" with age and oil exposure. When I replaced the factory dipstick at 81,000 miles, I measured the new one's diameter: 0.360". When I removed that dipstick today, it's diameter was 0.369". I always kept the dipstick lubed with engine oil, which I think affects the plastic and causes growth. When I installed the new dipstick today (the engine's third one), I lubed it with silicone spray rather than engine oil. The new one's diameter is 0.355". Since it's starting with a slightly smaller diameter, maybe it will hold up a little longer before it starts causing removal problems. I've learned the time to replace the dipstick is when it first starts resisting your effort to pull it out. Twisting it will work a few times, but it accelerates the failure. Plastic, like most materials, is weaker in torsion than tension. If it has to be twisted to remove it, replace it soon! BTW, both replacement dipsticks were MOPAR parts.
An addendum to my previous comment: I still have the factory dipstick, which failed at 81,000 miles in 2015. Today I measured the diameter of the plastic just below the point at which it broke: 0.371" (vs. 0.369" for the second failed dipstick). Since it was a little larger than the second dipstick when it failed, it was lodged in the dipstick tube somewhat tighter. This likely explains why it didn't move when I drilled it with a 1/8" drill bit (rather than starting with a 1/16" bit). I think it's worth mentioning the drill bit needs to be sharp so it digs into the plastic with very little force applied. A dull bit won't cut as well and requires more force. The extra force increases the chances of pushing the broken dipstick deeper into the tube.
It work for me also. with the exception that I used a #6X2.5 Trim Head Screw. Applying minimum pressure I gently drilled the pilot hole with a 3/32 drill and then screwed the trim head screw in just enough so as to not expand the plastic against the tube. The stick still provided some resistance to being extracted so I used the side cutters on a pair of pliers to incrementally leveraged the pliers against the top of the tube. Grabbing a thread with the side cutter and leveraging against the top of the tube, and then grabbing the next thread and doing the same as I gently pried it out. The key is patience. If that does not work you could probably remove the tube from the block and get it out that way. (there is I think one bolt holding the tube in place) CA glue and a dowel does not work BTW.
Thank you I have a Dodge Challenger and it just happened to me on 1/13/22, went to check my oil and tried to pull the dip stick out only for it to break off and I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get it out until I saw this video. Thank God it worked exactly the way he said it would, I’m grateful for this video!!!!!
I"m in the same boat with a Hyundai VeraCruz. Decided to check here before I go fishing around in there and make things worse. Thanks a ton for the video, hopefully it'll work for me too.
**easier possible solution** I have a 2006 Chrysler 300c with the 5.7 hemi. I'm In no way a mechanic, but drilling the hole and all that seemed overkill to me. This solution depends entirely on how clean and flat the surface. All I did was take a cotton swab and clean the top of the dipstick of dust an oil. After that I found a screw that was long enough to stick out of the tube while resting on top of dipstick. Next I used some Krazy glue with the brush and brushed a fair amount on to the head of a flathead screw. I carefully placed the head of the screw on top of dipstick and set it so it connects to as much surface area as possible. Let it set for an hour. Grabbed the screw with pliers and making sure to pull out inline with tube. Came right out. Best thing about this solution was no cleanup and no worries about getting plastic shavings in the engine. Dealership wanted to charge me $113.00 in labor. The dipstick cost me $22 at autozone.
I had the exact same thing happen. That's exactly how I fixed it. Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks like this. I also asked the guy who changes my oils when I don't have time and he said that's exactly how he would have done it. By the way...my vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Chrysler.
Thank you !! It worked!!! Drill and a pointy drywall screw. New dipstick fits with less excess friction and it’s oiled. So I think it won’t break. ❤😂 Also, I heard you can remove the oil pan and push the dipstick up that way, but it could take you a while because you need to drain the oil, remove a brace, and the starter!
Thanks buddy my chrysler 300 did this twice. I bought it broken and dude had duct tape on it. Then I got a new one and it snapped again! I kept pushing it down til I found your video. I drilled it down with a 1/8 like you said and screwed the drywall screw in it and needed pliers to get it out and with some force it pulled right out!! Took the "W" today cause of you!!! :)
Oh wow, that's awesome! I started dabbing some oil on the plastic end every time I check my oil. I also slowly twist the dipstick before pulling it out. It hasn't broken since doing that.
man thank you so much for this. dipstick ring snapped off and I managed to somehow push it further down into the tube trying pliers. I thought of doing this and glad you had a video for it. the 1/8 bit and the drywall screw is the secret I think. it would not come out no matter how hard i pulled for like 20 minutes. let the engine run to heat up the tube and used the tire jack key nub to lift the beneath the screw and get torque by pressing it against part of the engine and it finally gave way. thanks again!!
Thanks...just now happened to me. I was about to do what u described but thought I better check UA-cam for any Info first. I hope it comes out as easy as yours did....we shall see!
Thank you! Just had the same problem and tried both your initial methods with no success. The dry wall screw worked perfectly. Your video saved the day!
@@kathleenoverton3263 Great question, the gold color drywall screw seems to work best for me as I've done home improvement projects. You may have luck with other screws, but that's what I used as my first choice.... and it worked out! Let me know how it goes, I hope you get it out.
@@MarkThomasBuilder - Hey! My son came over today to get that broken oil dipstick out after I explained to him your tutorial. He started off with his teeniest drill and consecutively used the next size up enlarging the hole til he used one that was the right size for the screw he brought over. He was afraid of cracking it with a too large drill bit. He got it out no problem!!!!!! Just want to say thanks for your information!!!
Amazed to see the amount of people here that commented with this problem happening on Mopar products, more specifically the 300s. That's the exact car I had this problem with. Thank you!
Apply a little wd40 also if you can't pull it out with just plier grip screw with pliers and hit up with hammer. No need for shop vac if you pull on tube slightly and release mulitple times debris will bounce out
Thank you for sharing, mine was stuck deep because I was messing with it too much, so i had to poor some oil on top to help a little, also initially I might have tightened the screw too much so it was pushing against the edges and making it hard to pull. After I loosened the screw a little the dipstick came out. Txs again for sharing.
try a vaccum (old kenmore vaccum worked for me). believe it or not, I was able to vaccum mine out. but, I did need to wrap my hand around the oil tube and the vaccum hose as best I could to get good suction. my dipstick was only down about 1/2 inch. if it is down there 2 or 3 inches, I am not sure if it will work.
Im glad you showed your trick!! I thought of it myself, and i didnt apply it to the car yet...made me feel good seeing it work....i like your idea of drill the hole then put the screw....just put the screw may crack the stick
I was thinking the exact same thing. The whole time he's telling me about the pliers, I'm saying out loud to him "Don't tell me what doesn't work. Tell me what does work!"
This video really helped. In addition to what he showed, I also had to heat the dip stick tube to start to melt the plastic before I could pull out the broken dip stick.
Just worked for me. Although the angle was tough as it was under a cowel so I had to use a hammer to pry it out. Thank god the screw didn’t break off. Thanks again!!
Perfect - the guys at Autozone busted ours off and was not all that receptive to fix - so I found your video and it worked 100%. BE SURE TO USE A VAC to pick up small shavings!!
This literally just happened to me exactly how you told the beginning of the story... I am going to try your way and I'll let you know if it worked thank you for sharing your testimony!
Thank you, my own journey with this sudden unexpected problem started with pliers, then metal pick, after that I tried a corkscrew...unsuccessfully... then youtube. Glad I have the tools to do this right, thank you for posting.
Good job. You ran the whole gamut of emotion. Lol it must have sucked to pull the knob off. Then the triumph of sliding that stick out with the screw. Though technically I don't it was a drywall screw. They are not zinc coated. Good video. Congrats
Thanks, the broken dipstick was very frustrating, until I solved the problem. The box says yellow zinc plated. They're just like drywall screws though.
Alternative definanlty isnt to pull the pan lol just undo the 14 or 15 mm bolt on to the side of the block and pull the tube and dipstick same time out of the block
The other day I was changing the oil in my wife’s car and tried to take engine cover off before removing the dipstick because the hole is big enough but I snapped the ring off and couldn’t get the dipstick out. I watched a couple videos about it but nothing worked. I put just a dab of gorilla glue and the brake end and let it dry. Today it came right out so I was able to put a new one in.
HA! Good job MacGuyver! I envisioned this working too. Will try it now! Happened on my 02 Nissan. I tried Gorilla glue on a chopstick. It came most way to top, but always broke off when I came near the top
@@MarkThomasBuilder Dayum!...nope it did not. We tried to drill a hole in the plastic and it crumbled. So then he heated a metal rod and stuck it down to melt into it. Then let it cool to let plastic harden. That worked well and he almost had out out and near the top when it shattered and all the plastic debris went down the tube. He hooked thru the now-exposed holes in dipstick with a hooked end of some thin wire. Metal dipstick came out, but the plastic debris fell down the tube. Nothing an oil change could not get. Thanks!
Looks like we have a very similar vehicle since I have the same engine as you...mine is in a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan and my dipstick broke the same exact way a few days ago. I was thinking about how to try and get it out and i was thinking of trying the exact same thing i just watched you do...glad it worked for you...gives me confidence for when I go to fix mine. Thanks for this video!
I did it with an extension for my ratchet. Put some super glue on the tip, slowly let it touch the broken surface of the dipstick, wait an hour, and SLOWLY pull it out.
Thank you for the video! Hopefully this will work on my car! mine has been stuck for about a week now and my oil light is coming on, I did just have the oil pan completely replaced so it's making me a little nervous with it being stuck and me not being able to check. I can't afford to go back to the mechanic and I was ready to go underneath the vehicle and take it out... Again, thank you for the idea and I will get my old man on it asap! 🤞🙏
Thank you so much. Mine was a lot of trouble to get out but slow and steady finally worked. It was really stuck. But success! Chrysler Town and Country van (2006).
Nice done!!! Congratulations!!! My own dipstick has brake (it's all plastic) the "tape" and has stay inside .... Any good idea to fix it???? Best regards from Hellas (Greece)
Hi Thiodor, hopefully my video helps you out, otherwise read the comments from others. There's some other useful suggestions to consider. Good luck with it!
This, I did today! I did the exact thing, I drilled about an 1/8 hole into the center of the yellow part of the dip stick then screwed a screw into it, carefully, then grabbed the screw with pliers and pulled it right out!
Mine was 3 inches down and what I did was I took a round file tool (about the thickness of a big screwdriver) and managed to squeeze it up along the pipe wall till I could grab it. It took 2 minutes of work...
Did you try and remove the dipstick tube? Most are just pressed into the block and easy to remove and re-install. All all means, you are not the ONLY person to have a plastic top of a dipstick tube break off.
Looks legit, gonna try it on mine today, same happened top broke off, did try a little with narrow beak plier didnt help, surely gonna try with a screw now
Sometimes you drill in put the drywall screw in and you cannot budge it , well get your torch and heat the area while pulling up and it will slide rite out for yah, if you suspect it is stuck and could break just try heating it with a torch and save the cost of a new dipstick or the root canal
Thats pretty smart! I was thinking of drilling it too but I was going to use an angeled pick to pull it out but using the screw seems to be a sure bet! Thanks!
Lol must be a common Chrysler problem, imagine that, mine broke yesterday
Yes, it's a frustrating problem.
Mine broke this week lmao, what trash. And it keeps breaking off every time i screw in anyway
Just happened to my Chrysler too
Mine today
Just happened to my Chrysler too
Going to do this tomorrow. I took my Mazda to Walmart for an oil change and the same thing happened. Wish me luck
Good luck with it, hope it works!
This is a very common problem with many vehicles. Might want to apply some oil just above where the O ring is on the dipstick from time to time to prevent the dipstick from getting stuck in the tube. This soft plastic heats up and cools down weakening its strength so over time they will indeed break off. Great video thanks for sharing.
You bet, thanks for the tip. I started adding a fingertip of oil like you mentioned to the dipstick. So far, it's prevented it from breaking again.
I ffttt s
@@soup-middleson1254 I HAVE A S60 VOLVO AND THE DIPSTICK BROKE OFF AND I TRIED THE WAY YOU SAID HOW TO DO IT AND IT WORKED VERY GOOD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT VERY GOOD INFORMATION
A thousand thanks, Mark! Head broke off my oil dip stick and I proceeded exactly like you - only the pliers made it drop a half-inch - uh-oh! It felt secure, though, so put a new 1/8" bit on trusty drill and went for it. Drill bit plowed through carefully & pulled stick out almost by itself. Whew!!! I leapt for joy! Had it only made a small depression, I would have heated the tip of a drywall screw with my lighter (having watched another fix using propane torch, which I don't like or have) and eased it into the hole. Hot screw-tip hopefully melting plastic enough to sink in enough to then carefully pull out. Turned out not to be necessary but mentioning it in case it's helpful to someone else. I'm a female elder who rejoices every time a car- fix is made by me with common tools. But not without help from a wonderful man like you. Your wife must have been happy you fixed her car! Thanks again.
That makes me happy to hear that! The advice of a drywall screw in plastic sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Super common problems on Mopar stuff. Reason for it is the metal "tang" of the dipstick doesn't go all the way up and the plastic of the handle gets weak with heat. A trick to help prevent this is anytime you go to pull one and you get resistance, twist it to break the o-ring loose without snapping the plastic. Also, use some oil from the end of the dipstick to lube the o-ring once you pull it out. Worked for years in a quick lube and you would not believe the number of these we had to replace because of this exact problem.
Also, sometimes those get stuck in there so bad even the screw trick described here won't work. In those cases, do the same thing but apply some heat to the tube where the actual o-ring is stuck. A small butane torch works well, or you can even use your wife's blow dryer though it can take longer.
Thanks for sharing the extra tips for getting it unstuck. It would be nice if they made them full tang metal.
Wow. This comment right here really saved my ass. Used a butane torch lighter and it popped right out.
Thank you! Two years later and still serving its purpose. Great info!
Glad to help. I recommend rubbing a fingertip of oil on the plastic part of the dipstick and always twist is a little before pulling on it. I haven't broken a dipstick since.
This happened to me on my 96 Jeep. The plastic handle seems to get brittle over time. I took a wood barbecue stick, put epoxy glue on the end and dropped it in the tube. As I was waiting for it to dry, I found your video in case it didn't work. Glad to say that when the epoxy dried I was able to shimmy the dip stick out.
The cool thing is that I found a bunch of your other cool videos. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your method too. I'll pass it along in case the screw doesn't work.
I had a similar idea. I like this because I don't have to worry as much about the particles going into the engine. I'm going to have to try this tomorrow. I'm going to use a dowel rod as close to the dipstick plastic as I can get. I also plan to cut some plastic off the broken dipstick and super glue that between the dowel rod and the stuck oil dipstick. I figure the plastic will stick to other plastic better than wood.
Same, thing . The plastic was broken off really deep below the rubber o-ring. I had to put a screw into a metal washer where the dipstick ends and the plastic begins. Heat it up . Put a small amount of WD-40 . And starting carefully pulling with a smaller needle nose. So i could get both hands on either side , began to rock it back and forth and twist at the same time. After a few pulls and some knuckle skin, it relented finally. Good luck. And thanks for the video.
I actually had the same van and same problem and I thought of your idea before watching your video... but I had a problem drilling a hole and getting the screw in. I was about to dislodge the tube from the engine... but then, I watched your video and thought - what the hell, I'll try it again. finally found the perfect screw - thinner than what you used. Got the screw in good and tight but could not pull it out! So I put a vice grip on head of screw so vice grip was standing straight up. Found a very heavy duty pry bar, used my angle grinder to cut a notch in the middle of the flat end of pry bar. Rested pry bar on metal above radiator - put notched end around the screw and pushed up... still would not budge. sprayed WD40 in tube , heated up tube with torch (flames...) had to blow out flames... just enough heat and pry bar action and the damn thing came out! Those Chrysler / Dodge dipsticks are complete shit junk! Bought a new one at Advance Auto Parts - told the guy there what a hassle and junk these are... "At least you have a lifetime warranty with this new one!" But I do like your video
Wow, you definitely get an A for effort! Mine wasn't lodged in there that bad. If they offer an all metal dipstick, I'd spend the money for the better one. I always give the dipstick a slight twist back and forth, before removing it.
@@MarkThomasBuilder if this happens again, I'll just drive the van through the windows of Advance Auto Parts!
@@earthstewardudeDo it! But make sure you get video! 😜
nissan sentra....happened twice so far after having oil changed...first time the mechanic started with needle nose pliers...no go...then i suggested he take disconnect the breather tube at the valve cover and blow in some compressed air---dipstick popped up like a periscope...
Interesting, thanks for sharing!
same... 02 Sentra, here. My mechanic suggested this blowing air thru also. Going to give this a drill thing a go, then go his route
WOOOOW! My daughter's 2007 Sebring has the exact same stick, and the dealer wanted 50 beans for the replacement and 180 beans to pull the old one out -UGH! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I used your method, and it worked like a charm; got the stick for 20 dollars at the parts store... Take care!
Oh wow! I'm so glad to hear this. I almost decided not to make this video, thinking it wouldn't be useful to anyone else. Little did I know this problem is widespread. Thanks for sharing.
I wish I could find a mechanic who accepts beans as payment :(
This happened on my Nissan Sentra, however, if I put any pressure on it whatsoever, it would press further down the dipstick tube. I ended up buying some plastic weld epoxy from autozone, applying it to a zip tie end, and carefully stuck it down the dipstick tube until it was on top of the broken dipstick. I let it cure for an hour and I was able to pull it out with the zip tie.
Cool! I'm glad to know that works too.
My nissan's dippstick is so freaking deep. I might have to give this a try.
*THANKS!* BEFORE PULLING IT OUT,, ADD A LITTLE OIL FIRST, LET IT SIT FOR
2 MINUTES!
I also twist the dipstick slightly back and forth before pulling it out, so it helps it from breaking again.
I was able to use the same screw you suggested, but I heated it up with a torch. That melted the plastic a bit as I hand screwed it in. THe plastic cooled around the screw and I was able to pull it out.
Thank you for your suggestion.
Interesting idea and thanks for sharing. That might be the extra edge someone needs if it doesn't work the first time.
@@MarkThomasBuilder I didn't have access to the drill, and this method didn't leave debris to be vacuumed up. Again, thank you, your video brought the screw into my thinking process. :)
@@marlopainter8246 Oh, gotcha. I'm glad to help spark your successful method, lol! 🙌
I have the same issue with a E350 mercedes. Thank you for confirming the thought of drilling and screwing the broken piece.
Good luck with it, hope it works!
Thank you so muchhh! My dad has had the dipstick stuck for years and he finally told me. I found you video and it came out within 3 minutes! He was surprised and he said it wouldn’t work but it did! Thank you!
Oh wow, I'm happy to hear that! I like your go-getter disposition! 🙌
A tip is to twist the dipstick before pulling out, this breaks the 'bond' that sometimes forms between the O ring and the inside of the dipstick tube.
+Ivan G Great advice, thanks!
I actually did the twist and then it broke
Yup That is when mine broke....twisted it.
@@Kaw1thou I changed it already though. Got a small drill bit and a wooden screw, and bamm got err done
I’m not try to outshine your achievement but I had a
similar situation with my wife’s town and country. I went to check the oil and although I didn’t encounter extreme difficulties pulling on the dipstick, the dumb thing just snapped!!! I wish that I could have saved the look on my face at the very moment that happened! So, i let her run around for a few months while I thought about what to do, which was very irresponsible of me because the car does use oil. Anyway, fast forward a couple months and my son was going to the salvage yard so I asked him to get me a used one for same engine. He came home with a dipstick that looked identical, they didn’t even charge him anything for it. Well, a week went by before I tried exchanging the new(used) dipstick for the one that broke(which was still where it belongs) and I had no trouble pulling the old one out but when w tried putting the new one in, it was about 3/4” too long!!! I thought about this a little while and upon examination, I could see the yellow ring was affixed to the metal dipstick with a very small roll pin. So I just tapped the roll pins out and swapped metal dipsticks. I did learn something else in the process. The roll pin would only go in if the metal dipstick was inserted one way and not the other. There’s a small tab at the top of the dipstick that must fit in a small pocket up inside the plastic ring. Well, the other problem I encountered was the stem of the plastic part was just a liiiiiiittle to big around so I filed some material off until it fit snuggly. On to the next world problem! I love that you and other people make videos about everyday problems like this and although I didn’t turn to UA-cam for this problem, I have used UA-cam MANY times and I would have to say, UA-cam is the best thing going on the internet by a long shot!!!
Wow, interesting. Thanks for sharing and appreciating the how to videos. I fixed my car the last few times by watching UA-cam videos.
I have spent the last three weeks banging my head on my hood trying to figure out how to get this freaking broken off dipstick out of the tube. (and trying to figure out what Valoline employee broke it off and closed the hood without telling me...). Not sure I would've had the guts to try the "drill and screw" method on my own but it WORKED LIKE A CHARM. 5 minutes later it was OUT! $12 for a new dip stick and I am HAPPY. Dude, I owe you one... (Jim)
I'm so glad to hear this helped. Thanks for sharing!🙌
Mark Thomas builders, thank you so much for sharing the video about the oil dipstick broken. It just happened to me was calling car shop after car shop and they said they did have the right tools to fix and this was when I went on youtube and found you talking about what you did to fix a broken dipstick. Thank you for sharing your videos. You just save me a lot of money. You are a blessing. 👍😊🙏
That's awesome, I'm happy to hear that.
Mine just broke 10 minutes ago. You are amazing for sharing. I'm about to try it now
Good luck Walter, let me know if it works.
Never seen that happen before just picked up a 2005 Ram pickup truck got it home and went to check the oils and yes it was broken off. If you have plastic left, drill a pilot hole and use a drywall screw and a pair of pliers
I had the exact same problem on my Chrysler 300... 1/8 drill was perfect with the drywall nail. Worked perfectly for me even after i accidentally shoved the dip stick further down the tube trying a different method before trying this one. But it works !!!
Glad to hear it!
Had the same thing happen on my 2007 Chrysler with the 3.8L engine. I put a very tiny drop of Gorilla Glue the "Super Glue" variety not the Gel. The Super Glue variety does not require a clamp as the gel does and dries in 15 - 45 seconds. Cures in 24 hrs. So I applied and 24 hrs later pulled out the dipstick. #Easypeasy!
That's awesome to hear! I was hoping other methods work for that. Thanks for sharing!
I'm glad you found a solution. I think the stick has slid further down and I learned online that it can cause damage, potentially very expensive. I need dto look closer with a flashlight, but I'm very worried with little money and the replacement cost me $41 at the NIssan dealership! Welcome to the San Francisco bary area and I had to drive 20 miles to the dealership since it's too expensive for those businesses in general be in San Francisco.
Hello Mark,
Today is April 13, 2021.
A few days ago my dipstick broke off, and I panic, cause in my 40 years of driving, this has NEVER happened to me. A couple days
went by then I remembered I had UA-cam, and you were the first video I watched on how to fix this issue, which was a great relief, cause I was going to take the car to my mechanic. Long story short, today it didn't rain, and i did as you said in your video, and it worked. I have the Chyrsler 300, 3.5liter, rear wheel, so you have to remove the cover from the fuse box, to get a good angle to drill in straight..
I also learned from reading all your comments that this is common on most Dodge, and Chyrslers, once again Mark, many thanks, and God bless you!
Thanks for sharing, It's great to hear how helpful this is.
Perfect solution, worked like a charm. Only problem I had was the -20 weather we have here in Fargo ND. Brrrrrrrrr. Be aware that the plastic from the broken spot is only abpout an inch or less long, you may go through the plastic all the way when drilling, I did but no big deal.
Glad to hear it worked out for you. Wow, you have some cold weather there.
I removed the broken dipstick from my Dodge Grand Caravan's 4.0L engine today using the recommended method. This was the second time the plastic handle broke in 176,000 miles, with the first breakage at 81,000. I used the drill / screw /pull approach the first time also (before this video existed).
This time was trickier, as the dipstick moved deeper into the tube when I attempted to use a 1/8" drill bit. I tried applying vacuum (25" Hg), but it wouldn't budge. So, I used a new 1/16" bit at high speed and very gentle pressure. After drilling in about 3/16" - 1/4", I cleaned out the debris with a Q-tip. Next, I used a 1/8" bit, which readily followed the 1/16" hole and didn't push the dipstick deeper into the tube. I cleaned the debris again, then gently started a #6 fine thread drywall screw (about 2"" long) into the drilled hole with my fingers. When I couldn't turn further with fingers, I used a screwdriver until the screw was engaged snugly, but not so tight as to expand the plastic. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, I grasped the screw's threads. Using the end of the tube as a fulcrum, I slowly and gently pried the screw upward, getting a new grip on the threads as the dipstick started to move. When the dipstick started to move freely, I grasped the screw with my fingers and pulled the dipstick out. The entire process took about 10 - 15 minutes, including gathering the needed tools.
The reason broken handles are a problem is that the handle "grows" with age and oil exposure. When I replaced the factory dipstick at 81,000 miles, I measured the new one's diameter: 0.360". When I removed that dipstick today, it's diameter was 0.369". I always kept the dipstick lubed with engine oil, which I think affects the plastic and causes growth. When I installed the new dipstick today (the engine's third one), I lubed it with silicone spray rather than engine oil. The new one's diameter is 0.355". Since it's starting with a slightly smaller diameter, maybe it will hold up a little longer before it starts causing removal problems.
I've learned the time to replace the dipstick is when it first starts resisting your effort to pull it out. Twisting it will work a few times, but it accelerates the failure. Plastic, like most materials, is weaker in torsion than tension. If it has to be twisted to remove it, replace it soon!
BTW, both replacement dipsticks were MOPAR parts.
Thanks for the detailed information. My Buick Enclave is probably on the verge of breaking. I think I better replace it soon.
An addendum to my previous comment: I still have the factory dipstick, which failed at 81,000 miles in 2015. Today I measured the diameter of the plastic just below the point at which it broke: 0.371" (vs. 0.369" for the second failed dipstick). Since it was a little larger than the second dipstick when it failed, it was lodged in the dipstick tube somewhat tighter. This likely explains why it didn't move when I drilled it with a 1/8" drill bit (rather than starting with a 1/16" bit).
I think it's worth mentioning the drill bit needs to be sharp so it digs into the plastic with very little force applied. A dull bit won't cut as well and requires more force. The extra force increases the chances of pushing the broken dipstick deeper into the tube.
It work for me also. with the exception that I used a #6X2.5 Trim Head Screw. Applying minimum pressure I gently drilled the pilot hole with a 3/32 drill and then screwed the trim head screw in just enough so as to not expand the plastic against the tube. The stick still provided some resistance to being extracted so I used the side cutters on a pair of pliers to incrementally leveraged the pliers against the top of the tube. Grabbing a thread with the side cutter and leveraging against the top of the tube, and then grabbing the next thread and doing the same as I gently pried it out. The key is patience. If that does not work you could probably remove the tube from the block and get it out that way. (there is I think one bolt holding the tube in place) CA glue and a dowel does not work BTW.
I can't believe all the work it takes. Thanks for mentioning your experience!
Thank you I have a Dodge Challenger and it just happened to me on 1/13/22, went to check my oil and tried to pull the dip stick out only for it to break off and I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get it out until I saw this video. Thank God it worked exactly the way he said it would, I’m grateful for this video!!!!!
I'm so glad to hear this! 🙌
I'm having the same problem with my Chrysler.. This was very informative, thank you for uploading and helping us out. You're awesome!!
Very cool! I'm happy to hear that!
Same issue Chrysler 300, unfortunately this method never worked, it was so tight the screw head broke
@@chilllikeflint4239 this just happened, same car :/ and can't get it out lol
Yes, it's a ridiculous designed stick. Happened to my wife's Grand Caravan and I'm still working on it. I am no fan of Dodge/Chrysler products.
I"m in the same boat with a Hyundai VeraCruz. Decided to check here before I go fishing around in there and make things worse. Thanks a ton for the video, hopefully it'll work for me too.
**easier possible solution**
I have a 2006 Chrysler 300c with the 5.7 hemi. I'm In no way a mechanic, but drilling the hole and all that seemed overkill to me. This solution depends entirely on how clean and flat the surface. All I did was take a cotton swab and clean the top of the dipstick of dust an oil. After that I found a screw that was long enough to stick out of the tube while resting on top of dipstick. Next I used some Krazy glue with the brush and brushed a fair amount on to the head of a flathead screw. I carefully placed the head of the screw on top of dipstick and set it so it connects to as much surface area as possible. Let it set for an hour. Grabbed the screw with pliers and making sure to pull out inline with tube. Came right out. Best thing about this solution was no cleanup and no worries about getting plastic shavings in the engine. Dealership wanted to charge me $113.00 in labor. The dipstick cost me $22 at autozone.
I'm glad to know that works too. I thought about it, but was concerned of glue seeping into the dipstick tube. Thanks for sharing!
@@MarkThomasBuilder I used a real small amount. I thought about that and potentially gluing the dipstick to the tube. Some finesse required
I had the exact same thing happen. That's exactly how I fixed it. Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks like this. I also asked the guy who changes my oils when I don't have time and he said that's exactly how he would have done it. By the way...my vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Chrysler.
Interesting, thanks for sharing! I like to hear everyone's experience of what works for their vehicle.
Thank you !! It worked!!! Drill and a pointy drywall screw. New dipstick fits with less excess friction and it’s oiled. So I think it won’t break. ❤😂
Also, I heard you can remove the oil pan and push the dipstick up that way, but it could take you a while because you need to drain the oil, remove a brace, and the starter!
Good think it worked, it would've been a real headache to go the other route.
Thanks buddy my chrysler 300 did this twice. I bought it broken and dude had duct tape on it. Then I got a new one and it snapped again! I kept pushing it down til I found your video. I drilled it down with a 1/8 like you said and screwed the drywall screw in it and needed pliers to get it out and with some force it pulled right out!! Took the "W" today cause of you!!! :)
Oh wow, that's awesome! I started dabbing some oil on the plastic end every time I check my oil. I also slowly twist the dipstick before pulling it out. It hasn't broken since doing that.
man thank you so much for this. dipstick ring snapped off and I managed to somehow push it further down into the tube trying pliers. I thought of doing this and glad you had a video for it. the 1/8 bit and the drywall screw is the secret I think. it would not come out no matter how hard i pulled for like 20 minutes. let the engine run to heat up the tube and used the tire jack key nub to lift the beneath the screw and get torque by pressing it against part of the engine and it finally gave way. thanks again!!
Wow, glad I could help! I'll have to remember that idea to run the engine for awhile. Thanks for sharing!
I think the screw expanded the plastic can't seem to get it out either can't let it warm up in my garage and it's minus 25 Celsius outside
Thanks...just now happened to me. I was about to do what u described but thought I better check UA-cam for any Info first. I hope it comes out as easy as yours did....we shall see!
Good luck, brother! Hope it goes well for you. 🙌
Thank you! Just had the same problem and tried both your initial methods with no success. The dry wall screw worked perfectly. Your video saved the day!
Wow, that's great to hear!
Why a drywall screw? Can it be any kind of screw. This just happened to me tonight.
@@kathleenoverton3263 Great question, the gold color drywall screw seems to work best for me as I've done home improvement projects. You may have luck with other screws, but that's what I used as my first choice.... and it worked out! Let me know how it goes, I hope you get it out.
@@MarkThomasBuilder - Hey! My son came over today to get that broken oil dipstick out after I explained to him your tutorial. He started off with his teeniest drill and consecutively used the next size up enlarging the hole til he used one that was the right size for the screw he brought over. He was afraid of cracking it with a too large drill bit. He got it out no problem!!!!!! Just want to say thanks for your information!!!
@@kathleenoverton3263 That’s awesome, so glad to hear it!🙌🙌
Amazed to see the amount of people here that commented with this problem happening on Mopar products, more specifically the 300s. That's the exact car I had this problem with. Thank you!
Apply a little wd40 also if you can't pull it out with just plier grip screw with pliers and hit up with hammer. No need for shop vac if you pull on tube slightly and release mulitple times debris will bounce out
Thank you for sharing, mine was stuck deep because I was messing with it too much, so i had to poor some oil on top to help a little, also initially I might have tightened the screw too much so it was pushing against the edges and making it hard to pull. After I loosened the screw a little the dipstick came out. Txs again for sharing.
Phew! Glad to hear it!
Another damn problem in my chrysler 300. Will try this later, thank you!
Good luck with it, let me know how it goes.
Did it work? I got the screw in there but I can't pull it out. I pulled hard on that screw until it almost broke.
Damn chryslers lol happened to my magnum I just came upon this video to figure taking it out lol
Good post - I had the same problem and came up with the same solution - then saw your video. thanks for posting
Worked a charm on my 2012 Mazda 3. Thanks man.
Awesome, thanks for the update!
try a vaccum (old kenmore vaccum worked for me). believe it or not, I was able to vaccum mine out. but, I did need to wrap my hand around the oil tube and the vaccum hose as best I could to get good suction. my dipstick was only down about 1/2 inch. if it is down there 2 or 3 inches, I am not sure if it will work.
Great idea!
Same problem with my 2005 Town & Country. I was thinking this idea would work and your video just confirmed it will. Thanks!
When you get a new dipstick, I recommend twisting it before removing it. That may help it from breaking next time.
@@MarkThomasBuilder thanks for the tip!
Im glad you showed your trick!!
I thought of it myself, and i didnt apply it to the car yet...made me feel good seeing it work....i like your idea of drill the hole then put the screw....just put the screw may crack the stick
Yes, that's what I'm concerned with. There's some comments on here with a few alternate ideas, but my way seems to have a good success rate.
@2:22 finally gets around to the idea - thanks for the idea
I was thinking the exact same thing. The whole time he's telling me about the pliers, I'm saying out loud to him "Don't tell me what doesn't work. Tell me what does work!"
I turned the volume down while getting a hot flash
I was thinking the same thing. I was in a super hurry trying to get someone else's car running
🤣
This video really helped. In addition to what he showed, I also had to heat the dip stick tube to start to melt the plastic before I could pull out the broken dip stick.
Wow, I'm glad you got it out. I twist the dipstick now to loosen it before pulling.
Just worked for me. Although the angle was tough as it was under a cowel so I had to use a hammer to pry it out. Thank god the screw didn’t break off. Thanks again!!
That's great it worked!🙌
Perfect - the guys at Autozone busted ours off and was not all that receptive to fix - so I found your video and it worked 100%. BE SURE TO USE A VAC to pick up small shavings!!
Glad it worked! Thanks for the advice to vacuum out the shavings!
Same thing happened to me on my 08 300. Had the screw idea and was looking to see if anyone else had tried it. Worked like a charm. Thank You!
Great to hear it! I always twist my replacement dipstick now before unscrewing.
This happened to my Dodge caravan. I will try this. It's basically what I had planned to do anyway so I'm glad it worked for others.
Good luck with it!
This literally just happened to me exactly how you told the beginning of the story... I am going to try your way and I'll let you know if it worked thank you for sharing your testimony!
Sorry it happened to you. I hope it works and please let me know. If not, a lot of people commented some alternatives to this.
Thank you, my own journey with this sudden unexpected problem started with pliers, then metal pick, after that I tried a corkscrew...unsuccessfully... then youtube. Glad I have the tools to do this right, thank you for posting.
It's great to hear that!
Thanks gonna try this out. My 2011 Jeep GC broke the other day while I was trying to check the oil.
Hope it works! It seems to have a positive success rate.
Good job. You ran the whole gamut of emotion. Lol it must have sucked to pull the knob off. Then the triumph of sliding that stick out with the screw. Though technically I don't it was a drywall screw. They are not zinc coated. Good video. Congrats
Thanks, the broken dipstick was very frustrating, until I solved the problem. The box says yellow zinc plated. They're just like drywall screws though.
Thanks. I was going to drop the oil pan and push the end up. Saved me the hassle.
I was wondering what the alternative is. That sounds like a lot of work. Thanks!
Alternative definanlty isnt to pull the pan lol just undo the 14 or 15 mm bolt on to the side of the block and pull the tube and dipstick same time out of the block
Your video was on the money about drill and drywall screw- It was really stuck but it came out finally! Thanks for the video!!!
That's awesome, thanks for sharing!
Brilliantly explained ....now I can go out and fix mine ....exactly the same problem ....thanks very very much
Thanks, hope it's successful.
Thank you for this video! Our dipstick broke and we got it out by screwing a drywall screw into the tip!Kudos!
Glad to hear it. Thanks for sharing.
I followed this on my 3.8 L 2008 Grand Caravan, using a 1/8th drill and it worked! 5 minute fix.
Awesome, glad to hear it!
Thank you. you saved me a trip to the mechanic.
Glad I could help🙌
Thank you my friend. Just what i needed. Keep teaching. Really changes the world.
You're very welcome! Thanks for sharing, it made my day!😁
Just happened to me on my Dodge. Seems to be common on Chrysler products garbage. At any rate I took your advise and it worked out great. Thanks
Oh nice! I'm glad to hear of another successful story.
OMG! Same thing for my wife’s 2013 Ford Escape. I tried compressed air and a screw but the screw came out without the dipstick
Interesting...I never thought of trying compressed air.
The other day I was changing the oil in my wife’s car and tried to take engine cover off before removing the dipstick because the hole is big enough but I snapped the ring off and couldn’t get the dipstick out.
I watched a couple videos about it but nothing worked.
I put just a dab of gorilla glue and the brake end and let it dry.
Today it came right out so I was able to put a new one in.
Same vehicle n unsure how to get it out 4:47 4:47
@@sandyjackson9567I put just a dab of gorilla glue on it and set the knob. Let it sit for a day, pulled it right out. Put a new one in
HA! Good job MacGuyver! I envisioned this working too. Will try it now! Happened on my 02 Nissan. I tried Gorilla glue on a chopstick. It came most way to top, but always broke off when I came near the top
Thanks, hope this method works for you. Let me know, I'm curious now. lol.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Dayum!...nope it did not. We tried to drill a hole in the plastic and it crumbled. So then he heated a metal rod and stuck it down to melt into it. Then let it cool to let plastic harden. That worked well and he almost had out out and near the top when it shattered and all the plastic debris went down the tube. He hooked thru the now-exposed holes in dipstick with a hooked end of some thin wire. Metal dipstick came out, but the plastic debris fell down the tube. Nothing an oil change could not get. Thanks!
@@Gord.Stewart Wow, what a project. The heated metal rod was clever too.
Looks like we have a very similar vehicle since I have the same engine as you...mine is in a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan and my dipstick broke the same exact way a few days ago. I was thinking about how to try and get it out and i was thinking of trying the exact same thing i just watched you do...glad it worked for you...gives me confidence for when I go to fix mine. Thanks for this video!
Good luck with it! If it doesn't work, there's several comments to look through of alternate methods.
I did it with an extension for my ratchet. Put some super glue on the tip, slowly let it touch the broken surface of the dipstick, wait an hour, and SLOWLY pull it out.
That was my next option. Glad to know that works too!
I'm a people it just happened to I lost my dip to my stick. So glad to find this.thank you very much
You're welcome, hope it helps!
Thank you very much....it worked in my 2008 Chrysler town and country 4.0...I appreciate it the video
Glad to hear it! My replacement dipstick broke a year later. Time to upgrade to metal.
Thanks! Just had this happen on our 08 town and country while on a road trip.
Hope the fix goes as easy as it did for me.
Thank you for the video! Hopefully this will work on my car! mine has been stuck for about a week now and my oil light is coming on, I did just have the oil pan completely replaced so it's making me a little nervous with it being stuck and me not being able to check. I can't afford to go back to the mechanic and I was ready to go underneath the vehicle and take it out... Again, thank you for the idea and I will get my old man on it asap! 🤞🙏
Good luck! Hope it helps and please keep me posted.
Omg it worked! Thought I was gonna have to use an air hose through the engine to pop it out! Thanks!!
Glad I could help
Thanks Bro! Mine just broke on my 2010 Sebring 🤦🏼
Good luck with it!
Mine just broke off yesterday. 😢 looks identical to yours. Thanks for the video
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully this helps.🤞🤞
Let me know, thanks.
Thank you so much. Mine was a lot of trouble to get out but slow and steady finally worked. It was really stuck. But success! Chrysler Town and Country van (2006).
Awesome, glad to hear it!
Same problem. I'll give a try. Thanks for sharing!
Hope it goes well!🤞🤞
Nice done!!! Congratulations!!! My own dipstick has brake (it's all plastic) the "tape" and has stay inside .... Any good idea to fix it????
Best regards from Hellas (Greece)
Hi Thiodor, hopefully my video helps you out, otherwise read the comments from others. There's some other useful suggestions to consider. Good luck with it!
This, I did today! I did the exact thing, I drilled about an 1/8 hole into the center of the yellow part of the dip stick then screwed a screw into it, carefully, then grabbed the screw with pliers and pulled it right out!
So awesome, glad it worked!
Success! Your method worked. Thanks a bunch!
Glad to help! I can't believe how many comments I'm getting of these breaking!
Mine was 3 inches down and what I did was I took a round file tool (about the thickness of a big screwdriver) and managed to squeeze it up along the pipe wall till I could grab it. It took 2 minutes of work...
Good idea, thanks for sharing!
Did you try and remove the dipstick tube? Most are just pressed into the block and easy to remove and re-install. All all means, you are not the ONLY person to have a plastic top of a dipstick tube break off.
Looks legit, gonna try it on mine today, same happened top broke off, did try a little with narrow beak plier didnt help, surely gonna try with a screw now
Best of luck on getting it out! If that doesn't work, check the comments below to see what else others have tried.
@@MarkThomasBuilder Thanks mate will do! Cheers
I hate when ppl talk for a million yrs
Thank you so much for making this video. I have the same problem and had bo idea how to fix it.
You're welcome! Hope it helps!
Sometimes you drill in put the drywall screw in and you cannot budge it , well get your torch and heat the area while pulling up and it will slide rite out for yah, if you suspect it is stuck and could break just try heating it with a torch and save the cost of a new dipstick or the root canal
Great advice, I will pass that information on.
Thanks! This tip helped me to get mine out and saved me money.
That's good, I'm happy it helped.
Exactly what happened to me! Had the exact same dipstick. Thanks for sharing.
2020 and your solution still works
Awesome, glad to help!
Oh yeah..that is why I am here watching your video. I will do just that. I will come back and let you know how it turns out..
Cool, good luck with it!
Just wanted to say thank you so much for making this video, it worked for me!
Awesome, great to hear!
Thanks for the tip, same issue myself, will give it a shot n let Ya know
Sounds good, thanks and good luck!
Thank you!! you're a genius. Worked perfectly
Glad to hear it!
I have the same problem I did the same thing I used a Chanel lock pliers I pulled up with every thing I had and no success thank you for your help.
You bet! So you were able to get it out then?
@@MarkThomasBuilder yes I did I didn't have to melt the plastic just heat it up and then I saw it twitch and I pulled it out.
Will not drilling into the broken-off dipstick push it down even further and perhaps it will reach a point you will not be able to drill into it?
That was my concern, so I just pushed down a little bit while drilling and it worked out okay.
Life saver,thanks you so much , i was trying to hot glue it but that didn't work screwing worked
Ahh, glad to hear it.
Thats pretty smart! I was thinking of drilling it too but I was going to use an angeled pick to pull it out but using the screw seems to be a sure bet! Thanks!
It's worked for me on 2 occasions so far. Good luck with the removal!
Thank You Mark! Get idea- It worked perfectly
Excellent!
Just had to deal with this issue today, the drill and drywall screw worked like a charm
Awesome, glad to hear it!