In this video I show you the process I use to remove a broken oil dipstick that is stuck in the tube.
-Enjoy!
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
-Enjoy!
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: https://www.patreon.com/southmainauto
CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
https://teespring.com/stores/the-sma-store
If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: https://www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
The South Main Auto Amazon Store:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/southmainautorepairavoca
AES Wave Automotive Diagnostic Tools: https://www.aeswave.com/cart.php?m=affiliate_go&affiliateID=2525b91fc8e906e8215984074c9d9e8f&go=https://www.aeswave.com/Miscellaneous-p9347.html
Thank you for all the continuing support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
You got to be a real dipstick to break a dipstick 😂
Remember, if I can do it, you can do it. Thanks for watchin’. Someone had to say it for Eric.
Haha I only watched this video because of the shade you threw at this owner from the ford cv axle video. While talking to
Mrs O “is that the customer that owes us a bunch of money?”
I learned a similar technique for pulling out broken wheel speed sensors but without drilling. You heat up the screw and screw it in. It melts the plastic around the screw as you screw it in and then you let it cool around the screw. It pulls out fairly easily. That might work as good or better than drilling and screwing. I'm not sure.
three tries for a quarter, lol
on wife's 2.0 l Ford, the plastic is right above exhaust manifold. Stupid design, for sure. On our 3rd dripstick.
It pays to have the tool and how to do it right. Good to know, thank you Eric O.
Gee, all my cars have a METAL dipstick!
a fine thread drywall screw would be a great candidate for threading into the broken dip stick end. the diameter is pretty small and sharp pointed, still pre-drill of course.
they're actually made for fastening drywall to fabricated steel studs and strapping. the coarse thread type should work but total diameter is a bit larger.
Remember kids… If It Was Easy, EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT!!!
Another-> You don't pay me for what I do, you pay me for what I know!!!
😂😂😂 the name of the game
Drawing “Excalibur”!
It’s the thought that counts.
they do not make an oil level dipstick for my Ford Focus 2.3 any longer so I hope mine does not ever break I am super careful each time I remove it
At least it has a dip stick.
The dpu stucks are in Detroit. They are called automotive engineers.
Removing a broken dipstick?
Is it really that hard to get some drivers out of their vehicles??
Heat up a drywall screw run it in pull it out
Even the dip sticks get stuck in the PRNY
Dorman!
Hi Eric quick quistion the slide hammer you using what is the part number and brand ?
I have also reduced a vacume or wet dry cleaner with a rubber hose and pulled it right out
I love the when it don't work out videos, shows the real side of cars so customers can see it isn't all smooth sailing and most days it's like that.
Refreshing to know I'm not the only one, keep on keeping on!
A reverse twist drill bit could work. Took out a broken manifold bolt once.
remove nut holding dip stick tube. Remove tube, push dip stick out from bottom. Insert tube, put in new dipstick from junkyard.
I was shocked you can't buy a dipstick for a ford 350. I had to get it from junkyard. $10 cash no receipt, $20 with receipt. I miss that $10 bill……
Then obama shut down the company after you could read the oil level again.
I saw the title and knew it was a 3.8.
I just heat up a sheet metal screw and run it in. Then heat the dipstick tube a little and it comes right out
Hate when that happens
Hello Eric, I love all of your videos. I hope you look at your comments from your past comments, because I was unable to make a comment after this one about a Ford missing it’s Kam signal.
I figured that I would make the comment here. I have been involved with cars/trucks and the like for 51 years. Not to boast but at all of the shops/ dealerships I was the king of the roost. I am humbled by you. You are the best diagnostician I have ever seen. You should be so proud of yourself.
tip , put new hole in and heat the tube up a bit. Then pull. it will come out.
❤😊nice see you since 2015
I had the broken plastic dipstick tube once. yes real clever disigne of VW.
Algorithm booster
Dodge products are famous for the broken dipstick, use 4 hands at one time to pull on a vice grips that is holding the drywall screw screwed into the broken dipstick part . Have your friend put his two hands over top of your two hands that are holding on to the vice grips and pull up ,!voila the part will come out
I worked in an unnamed auto parts place and a furrener(it's ok, it's a simple fact) had the same problem. This chain of stores is notorious for volunteering the worker's labor without actually saying that. This guy had a broken dipstick and ordered a new one which came in and he got a call to come get it. I had him sign and receive and then he asks if I'm going to put it in for him. I said I'll go out and take a look and tell you what you need to do, pop the hood you commie. His stick actually had quite a bit of plastic protruding from the tube. I said just take some pliers grab it and pull it out and then insert the new one. He then asked if I would loan him the pliers. I said we dont loan tools we sell them and he looked at me like I had just ruined his day. This is why the furrener part is relevant. It's a cultural thing and many think come to America and everything is free, the TV told them so. I have no idea if he actually risked getting some dirt on his hands and replaced it himself because he drove off without buying the pliers he needed.
Quick and sweet.
Video is too short and not very interesting , sorry Eric but this is something you can teach Mcoy OFF camera and thats fine, but give us better content than this ! I can"t give this a thumbs up, but I won"t give you a thumbs down either . Please post new videos a little more often could you ?
Erick what do you think of haundai santa fe I just bought a 2014 and now in second thinking myself I paid 5 grand for it
Reality in the People's Republic of New York.
The mechanic fail in classic.
I think a trip to Wilbers is called for.😅
I remember having to do this once several years ago. I can't recall how I did it, but this will definitely be my go to if it happens again. Great video!!
And all the plastic and shavings ends up where?
Reality still bites in 2024.
That’s usually how my repairs go, sideways😮
Couldn't you just drop the oil pan?
When the dipstick is all metal, I would put a stick welding rod while the welder is off down the tube till the rod touched the dipstick, then turned on the welder for 1 second, the welding rod would attach, then pull out with broken dipstick.
What, no "if I can do it you can do it" this time? 😉
Thank you Eric most other YouTubers don’t show the failures and they edit videos after all the cussing and frustration and show the end product
how is the snow
Last week i had a broken dip stick tube. I just put a wood screw on the drill bit. It caught abit got some pliers n pulled the screw out
Use 5-minute epoxy on the end of your screwdriver
Good call on comparing the lengths. Would be easy to overlook that.
The dreaded 5 minute job that takes a whole lot longer. Good job.
we all go through that, Good job
Or if you own a VW, just replace the tube, it’s likely broken too!
That’s for tech tip
Great Video. Just so you know, Eric, remind people to re-subscribe or to check. For some reason, YouTube removed my subscription to your channel and stopped suggesting your content.
Actually that's the way most jobs I do go…mistake, after mistake, frustration, lots of swearing (inaudible)…then…finally…it works. This ain't instagram, this is reality!
A watched dipstick always foils. Plays hard to get.
I had to do this on my VW Touareg. The problem is the plastic end isn’t at the top… it’s at the bottom. Someone had replaced the dipstick with another, which got wedged against the original broken off tip, and so there were 2 dipstick ends wedged into the flange where the dipstick tube attached to the block. I was thankfully able to pop them out with a wire bent into a hook.
When you fail, keep trying, then you succeed. Cool tip!
Can you clip the end to make it shorter? Obviously the low and high marker lines would be off.
Same problem on my 06 Caravan. New dipstick too long. Drive the pin out of the new dipstick handle and put the old steel part in the new one. In am on the third dipstick for my 06 Caravan
Thanks, Eric — great video, as always! One thing I would suggest is to magnetize the drill bit to minimize the chance of dropping metal shavings through the dipstick tube and into the oil pan. But then again, that's a very small amount.
Stupid auto engineers – what was wrong with running the metal out the top into a loop for the handle? The handle gets hot, so sad. Let me count how many times it burned me…. ZERO.
Napa strikes again
At least you did not title the video "how to easily remove a broken dipstick tube". It's always an adventure in a repair shop. Great job Eric O
Every "easy fix" requires at least 1 return trip to the parts store!
Well i guess im done all ur content costs $$ get bent dude
ever had to replace one b/c the customer said it wasn't long enough to reach the oil? 🤦♂
Where I used to work we just took the keys and told the dipstick to come and pick it up when we were done…….😉
Eric: Let's make a quick video on how easy it is to remove a broken dip stick. Murphy's Law: Nope
Thanks for the video Eric.
I’ve seen this more on Chrysler/Dodge products (or whatever the corporation name is these days ) than any other make.
Friend with his Dodge journey ( 🤮) asked me to help him with this exact issue. Now I have a method to try – thank you Eric!
How convenient of someone to do a little slit n swap of the new one haha
heat the screw and melt it in works every time
A 3 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3 hour disaster
I always lube my dipstick o-ring every oil change (every 6k km).
might need a LONGER screw. I got that problem also
Aha Dr dipstick
Dorman or Napa screwed you again.
My car has a 250k mile oil change interval. No need for a dipstick. When it dies, it goes to junk yard to help save the planet.
When the dip stick don't reach the oil level, get a longer dip stick >> Bada Bing Bada Boom<<
Mrs O says that's your answer for everything… screw it!! : )
I think you would be better served using a 1/8" NC tap in a proper tap diameter hole, tap hole drilled deeper, and don't use a widely expanding drywall screw, which will just split the plastic stub.
You may use the tap as a pull toy, or run in an actual headed machine screw.
Missed opportunity for the "First time!" call once you got it out with the slide hammer 😛
Mr O if you used the longer dipstick you wouldn't need as much oil . . . bet you didn't think of that !
I only buy a new dipstick when I need a longer one. Cause the current one doesn't reach the oil anymore. 😁
Just remember… If he can do it – You can do it. And sometimes his efforts end up looking like mine always do. Thanks for sharing the whole story Eric 👌
Free tip Friday, on a Wednesday, but I watched this video on a Friday so it's ok. I won't tell Mrs. O. 😅
I mean, did we really expect Dorman to fight right the first try?? 😂😂 why won’t they just go away???
“And you got nothing, epic fail” 😂 only a guy with a lifetime experience and knows can say that! Brilliant!! Edit: then just fixes it of course.
Trim to fit dip stick?
🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍
Thanks Eric! Hope you and the family are well.
Doorman strikes again …………
I just got done doing this on my Chrysler 2006 Town and Country years ago I was shown a trick when you have a plastic dipstick break off like that you find yourself a large paper clip or a piece of baling wire and you heat it up red hot then you stick it down in that plastic and it will melt let it cool off for a few minutes come by with your side Cutters or Plies and pull it out just another way to do it also on those particular type of dipsticks there is a roll pin that holds that metal into the handle you can knock that roll pin out and change the sticks around put your old stick on the new handle then you don't have to go get one just some FYI tips
Cletus …. you Dipstick! Turns out the General Lee is a Mopar…..
Gravy!
I'm a simple man. Eric posts a video, i watch, like, and comment. The tips and advice are free. Thanks 👍
How do these get broken?
Perfect. Happened on my Dodge Grand Caravan … just like this car. Seems to be a Dodge Caravan affliction. Thanks for the epic tip.
I guess it works.