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The tip came off of my 2004 duramax oil dip stick while I was checking my oil. What should I do?
Hello and welcome to Just Answer. Is this a wire/cable type oil dipstick? Or is it the flat metal type? Did thehandle come off or did a piece go into the engine?
The dipstick is the cable type and it was the piece that went into the engine.
So the cast portion of the dipstick on the very bottom fell into the engine? Or did tit break further up the cable?
The tip piece that tells how much oil is in the engine. I assume that it is in the bottom of the oil pan. I am just wondering if it would be safe to start the engine?
Yes. If you have reason to believe that the tip is in one piece then I wouldn't worry too much about it. It will fall into the oil pan and reamin there. It's too big for the oil pump to suck up as the pick-up screen will keep it from getting into the rest of the engine. You may get lucky and actually have it come out at the next oil change. I would replace the dipstick and not worry too much about it myself. If it were groud up somehow then I would be alittle more concerned, but it doesn't sound like this is the case.
There is nothing around the crank that might catch the end piece and cause other damage?
No. The tip of the dipstick will drop staright off into the oil pan. The piece may bounce around a few times but it will likely find a home in the croner of the pan or baffle in time and not ever cause you a problem.
Experience: 15 Years Master ASE Certified, ASE Advanced Engine Performance, GM Platinum Pro Service Guild