"Sn210" (sn210)
12/16/2014 at 09:21 • Filed to: None
1
35|
"Sn210" (sn210)
12/16/2014 at 09:21 • Filed to: None | 1
| 35 |
UPDATE: I stopped at the shop that replaced my oil pan in October and asked about my broken dipstick. Of course they denied breaking it, but I certainly didn't do it. They didn't seem to be too concerned about the whole thing. They said it would be too heavy to get picked up, if it were even in there. They also said the screen over the oil pick up would block it.
I suggested doing an oil change but they said not to worry about it, but they would check it out with a scope next time. The shop turned down an $80 oil change, so I guess my car isn't in too much danger.
This whole situation is just way too weird and I feel like I'm the 1 person it would happen to in a million. Ordered a new dipstick online, I should have it by the end of the week.
ORIGINAL STORY:
I went home on my lunch break today after going to the grocery store. The weather is kind of nice, so I figured I'd pop the hood and see what's going on.
That is not what my dipstick is supposed to look like. The metal tip was clearly broken off and there was grey goop that looks like the gasket goop from when I had my oil pan replaced.
I really hope the other half isnt in there somewhere...
Also, my dog got into the Christmas gifts under the tree and ruined a bracelet my wife got her mother, so thanks for that, dog. Then I got back to work and curbed my front wheel. Like hard. Like chunk of sidewalk missing hard. I might be changing a tire in the parking lot. Today sucks balls.
EL_ULY
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 12:54 |
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Fuck dude bad luck sauce :'( !!
For Sweden
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 12:56 |
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You know how people de-bone a fish? The opposite has happened to you.
macanamera
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 12:57 |
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Well, the bad news is, it's in there somewhere.
Rainbow
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 13:04 |
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That might be coolant, in which case you shouldn't drive the car at all until it's fixed.
desertdog5051
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 13:05 |
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Hopefully it is too heavy to get moved around just sit in one place in the pan.
T5Killer
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 13:06 |
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Put a magnetic drain plug and hope for the best?
105 HP of fury
> macanamera
12/15/2014 at 13:42 |
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Either that, or the oil pan is missing too.
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Sn210
> macanamera
12/15/2014 at 13:58 |
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I'm guessing the tip got stuck to the excess gasket goop and after the stuff set, they couldn't get the dipstick out. They must have forced it out and broke the end in the process. How else could it have broken?
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Sn210
> 105 HP of fury
12/15/2014 at 13:58 |
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Shit, I better go check
sketchcat
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 14:17 |
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yeah, that stick would keep me up at night. and i dont mean the good way.
jsemerica
> T5Killer
12/15/2014 at 15:44 |
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I second this
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Sn210
> T5Killer
12/15/2014 at 15:56 |
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I'm guessing it's stuck in the excess gasket goop somewhere...? Maybe it got stuck as they were installing it and then had to force the dip stick out, breaking it in the process
DocWalt
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 22:44 |
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On some cars installing the oil pan with the dipstick installed traps the dipstick... which leads to a broken dipstick. Hopefully that isn't the case, but it sure is broken...
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Sn210
> DocWalt
12/15/2014 at 22:48 |
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I'm pretty sure that's what happened. I'm not sure what to do next. Do I just change the oil and see what comes out? Do I take it back to the shop and pay for them to redo the oil pan?
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DocWalt
> Sn210
12/15/2014 at 22:56 |
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I'd personally take it back to the shop and have them fix it properly. What engine is it?
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Sn210
> DocWalt
12/15/2014 at 23:01 |
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It's a 3.5 V6 in an Acura TL.
I think I'm going to pay them a visit tomorrow
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DocWalt
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 09:20 |
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Ah, a good engine. I have no idea if it's of the design that requires the dipstick to be removed before pan replacement though, sorry. Hopefully all goes well!
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Sn210
> DocWalt
12/16/2014 at 09:25 |
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I just posted an update. The shop denied breaking it, but they said there wasn't any danger to it. They said they would have taken the dipstick out. Clearly something happened during the install, but they said if it was in there, it wouldn't get into the internals. I thought they were telling the truth when they turned down $80 to do a just-in-case oil change. They said they'd check it with a scope next time.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 09:26 |
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Why not just reseat the oil pan and take a look while it's off to see where the tip ended up going? It's not that big of a job.
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Sn210
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/16/2014 at 09:30 |
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It's more difficult that the average job because there isn't a gasket on the oil pan, it's sealed with goop. From what I've read, it's a bitch to get off. I don't have the skills to do it myself
Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 09:37 |
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will your dipstick still function as such with a chunk missing? If it doesn't then they should replace the pan and dipstick free of charge.
Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 09:38 |
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That looks to be aluminum so a magnet won't help.
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Sn210
> Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/16/2014 at 09:44 |
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Balls, you're probably right
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 09:45 |
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I don't think that I've ever owned a car with an actual gasket on the oil pan. The goop, while kind of gross to get off, isn't really that big of a deal. In fact, there's a good write-up on how to do it on an AW11, and it's going to be pretty much the same for any car apart from some specifics like torque settings.
http://www.padandwheels.com/mr2/oilpan/oil…
JGrabowMSt
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 09:57 |
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Time to break out the jack stands drain the oil and drop the pan.
I've heard of much larger things getting lost in the oil pan honestly, but fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter if the oil pickup filter blocks it or if it's "too heavy" to move around.
Ask the shop if they'll sign a waiver saying they'll cover 100% parts and labor in the event that it does get picked up, or if they'll drop the pan and either find it or make sure it isn't in there.
Better yet, have your lawyer call and ask them.
Manual Transition
> T5Killer
12/16/2014 at 09:59 |
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The broken tip appears to be made from cast aluminum. If that is the case, a magnet won't help.
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Manual Transition
> Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/16/2014 at 10:01 |
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Sorry, I did not notice that you had already mentioned it.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 10:27 |
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Mistakes happen, but the fact of the matter is that they broke it. I'm sure they knew they were supposed to remove the dipstick and even thought about it, but just forgot. Broke upon installation. Double check the pan isn't leaking because they could have trapped the dipstick between sealing surfaces. I wouldn't worry about a piece still being in the engine, but they need to buy your replacement dipstick and fix leaks on the oil pan if there are any.
I would be wary of going back to them if they don't take responsibility. Dipsticks don't just break and if you're sure it wasn't you or someone else, that only leaves them.
BorkBorkBjork
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 10:41 |
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My guess is that they didn't remove the dipstick while they were changing the oil pan and just knocked it off. I highly doubt RTV (or whatever gasket goop your car uses) is sticky or strong enough to adhere to a oily dipstick and break it. Basically you have a 50/50 chance of the dipstick being broken off when they removed the oil pan (in which case, the end is somewhere on their show floor or in you old oil pan) or when they installed the new one (in which case, it's in your current oil pan).
Either way, I would be inclined to agree with them, it's not going to get picked up. The oil pickup screen will certainly stop it from going anywhere. You might catch it during your next oil change if you're lucky.
On a side note, this shop seems awful shady. Either they noticed it and didn't do anything about it, or they never bothered to check your oil level after they filled the car up with however many quarts it requires. Kinda hard to verify your oil level with a dipstick like that.
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Sn210
> BorkBorkBjork
12/16/2014 at 11:04 |
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I'm thinking the same thing. Now the question is do I pay another shop to take the oil pan off and check it out or live with it. I won't be going back to this shop, it was the first time I used them too
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DocWalt
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 11:04 |
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I don't like the idea of crap bouncing around in my oil pan, but for a car that's only ever driven on the street it likely doesn't much matter.
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BorkBorkBjork
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 11:18 |
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Personally, I would just live with it. Buy a new dipstick and just make sure you tell anyone who changes your oil to be on the lookout for a rouge dipstick tip. I can't see this thing doing any harm.
wabbalosthiskey
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 11:23 |
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Like others have said, it doesn't matter and won't hurt anything being in there. I couldn't tell you how many dipsticks and oil pump driveshafts are found in the bottom of oil pans when motors come apart...
Meatcoma
> Sn210
12/16/2014 at 11:25 |
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My guess is they left the stick in when replacing the pan, possibly it was between the block and pan and when they tightened it up, it broke it. Could quite possibly be still smashed between the pan and block. I'd definitely get under it and look around for a bump that doesn't look right on the pan maybe.
Or http://magneticdrainplugs.co/
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Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
> Manual Transition
12/16/2014 at 11:41 |
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Wow. You came to apologize for repeating me? How am I supposed to get my First Baptist Church of Better Than You internet troll on now? Geeze, you're killin' my mojo here.