Dipstick End Broken Off And Inside Engine.

[Dobs]

Went to check oil level. Pulled out dipstick and end peice of dipstick has broken off. Guess its now sitting in the sump. I haven't started the car since this has happened.
Any help would be much appreciated.

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[Stuart7111]

Probably in sump but don't think it will matter. Just likely to sit there until you open and get it out.

Photo here shows what it looks like from below in my 2004 Vectra ZC 3.2L. You can see the end of the stick toward bottom left corner.

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[Dobs]

Probably in sump but don't think it will matter. Just likely to sit there until you open and get it out.

Photo here shows what it looks like from below in my 2004 Vectra ZC 3.2L. You can see the end of the stick toward bottom left corner.

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Thanks for your reply. At the weekend i will drain the oil and see if it comes out. I may be lucky. If not, is is safe to drive. Could it be picked up and circulated around the engine ?

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[northpole]

no it won't be picked up by the oil pickup that is that snorkel looking thing in the picture... however, it could find it's way up that plate (hard cornering or braking hard in a corner)and cause damage to the crankshaft etc.. long story short: Do not drive it until you've removed it!!!

I don't even get that someone thought it would be fine to drive it it will find it's way into the engine and cause damage, so remove it.

[nikroc]

You could try removing it with an extendable magnet down the dipstick tube BUT I guess the reality is that you have no idea how long its been broken and how many miles etc its done since..
Probably for the best to drop the sump and hope its in the sump pan somewhere..

[Dobs]

You could try removing it with an extendable magnet down the dipstick tube BUT I guess the reality is that you have no idea how long its been broken and how many miles etc its done since..
Probably for the best to drop the sump and hope its in the sump pan somewhere..

The dipstick broke off this morning. Pulled it out to wipe clean and everything was fine. Pushed it back in to read correct oil level then pulled it out to read only to find it had then broken off. I will drain the oil at the weekend to see if it comes out but probably not, as i won't start the car to warm the oil so the oil will by cold and thick. If it doesn't come out, what sort of a job is it to remove the sump on the Vectra C Year 2004 Z22YH engine ?

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[nikroc]

I got no idea tbh..its a 'suck it and see' job.

[Stuart7111]

My sump was pretty easy to remove just a lot of bolts to unscrew and I had to pry it off a little carefully with a screwdriver as the sealant held it in place.

Your model is different but I expect a similar situation. I had to remove a wheel and cover for access on one side as well. Some bolts were a bit more difficult to get to.

Once I got it off I cleaned the surfaces well then used Form A Gasket Sealant to make the new seal. I had to remove my sump to replace the oil sensor O ring which had caused a leak.


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[Dobs]

My sump was pretty easy to remove just a lot of bolts to unscrew and I had to pry it off a little carefully with a screwdriver as the sealant held it in place.

Your model is different but I expect a similar situation. I had to remove a wheel and cover for access on one side as well. Some bolts were a bit more difficult to get to.

Once I got it off I cleaned the surfaces well then used Form A Gasket Sealant to make the new seal. I had to remove my sump to replace the oil sensor O ring which had caused a leak.


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Thank you for your replys. Can anyone tell me if the end of the dipstick which has broken off on my Vectra C is magnetic. Wondered if i could fish around with a flexable magnet through the sump plug port. Will let you know how i get on.

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[Daywalker]

You could try a flexible magnet or a flexible camera through the sump hole to see if you can see it if not then its a sump off job as the only way to be sure. HTH