Missing Dipstick tip - ticking timebomb?

[Ari]

An odd one, but the end of the dipstick has disappeared off a mate's car.

Presumably it is now in the sump. So is it going to lie in the bottom of the sump for ever more, or is there a risk it'll get sucked into the oil pump, jamming it and seizing the engine?

It's a turbo diesel, if that makes any difference.

[Momentofmadness]

Should be fine, the oil pick-up should have a simple gauze filter and the tip shouldn't be able to block it.

Note the words shouldn't and shouldn't

PS, it might not be a bad job to drop the sump depending on which car it is.

[TooMany2cvs]

The oil pickup will have a strainer on it, to remove the crunchiest chunkiest dead mice etc that might find their way into the sump. That should stop the dipstick tip. There's a risk that the tip would block the pickup - either completely or partially enough to affect flow, but a very very small one.

[johnnnnnnyy]

Phheww..I'm glad I misread the post title!

[C.A.R.]

Mine disintegrated earlier this year, fortunately I caught it as I was checking one day (tend not to bother due to the electronic gauge on the dash anyway) and noticed the tip just inside the dipstick tube after removing the dipstick itself! Luckily managed to get it out with a small screwdriver and a new dipstick was under a tenner from Peugeot.

[williamp]

Some sumps also have magnets which catch metal particles

[fangio]

My dipstick's plastic!