My dipstick is knackered...

[Craphouserat]

Not the actual metal dipstick itself, but I noticed this morning whilst checking my levels that there was some oil around the engine bay. Pulled out dipstick and the level was low, I then had trouble getting the stick back in. Checked the yellow plastic dipstick holder and its snapped. I presume as I'm driving the oil is coming up and out here getting chucked under the engine cover. Is this a sign of something more serious ? Topped up the oil and will be taking to dealership on Monday. If it helps its a Golf Gti 2.0 and my VW warranty runs out March 2011.

Thanks for any thoughts/advice on this - I'm off on a longish run visiting this afternoon - I've topped up so I presume I'm OK till I get back tomorrow - I will check levels before leaving tomorrow morning.

Cheers guys.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

There's an outside chance that you have a cracked piston ring or something else causing a lack of compression. This sometimes then creates a high crankcase pressure which could cause oil to be blown from the dipstick hole.

It's unlikely though, and let's hope it's just a broken stick.

[AndrewW-G]

Sounds like a simple case of brittle pastic dipstick falling apart . . . . . . . . . . . . have just replaced the oil cooler on a friends 2L Passat and that had the same thing!

[Jonty355]

I'd see a doctor about that!!!

[D900SP]

Possibly a ruptured diaphragm in the oil seperator, causes too much crankcase vacuum and draws the dipstick inwards, breaking the plastic tube. Usually causes other issue though.

Or it could be that the plastic tube just broke, which is really common.

[The Hitman]

Personally I think you tugged it too hard. To snap your dipstick you must have been frantically pulling it. And even worse you're spurting your oil all over the place. It looks like you have the right idea about seeing a specialist asap.

HTH

BTW do you happen to have hairy palms and are blind at all?

[jjones]

no the yellow VAG tubes are crap, they go brittle with age, costs about £7 from the dealer for a new one.

they are push on fit, just be careful when removing the old one not to drop bits down the hole.

[Colonial]

jjones said:

no the yellow VAG tubes are crap, they go brittle with age, costs about £7 from the dealer for a new one.

they are push on fit, just be careful when removing the old one not to drop bits down the hole.

This. Just had to replace mine. First the dipstick went then the tube.

No biggie. I dumped the oil just to make sure and no bits of plastic in it.

[Craphouserat]

Thanks guys - just back from a long drive, you can actually smell the oil now. Must be heating on the engine after being chucked out from dipstick. Going in tomorrow and I'll be asking for oil and filter change. I think I may have broken it a while back and now it's completley sheared in half. My garage is literally next to a field and around early April, when they were sowing it, high winds whipped up - covering the motor and the interior of some of my rooms in the house with crap from the field. When I next checked my level I remember the dipstick being pretty stiff to pull out. Probably damaged it here and over time it got worse to the point now it's pissing oil. There was some grit on the bottom of the dipstick too. I will ask for oil change and new filter when there - hope that's all it needs.
Thanks for the replies all.

Cheers.