Bostig - Dipstick tip broke off

[burningman]

Hi All,

I'm on a long trip from Seattle to LA currently in Vegas, the good news my Bostig performed flawslessly all the way up and out of death valley, not with out any white-knuckling it driving up and out, no overheating thankfully.

Bad news, as I'm checking the oil today heading to LA I realized the tip of the dipstick has broken off. Its probably an inch worth? The top full mark on the stick is still present.

It definitely was not that way when I left. I don't know if it just happened as I was pulling it out or somewhere along the road. What's the likelihood that piece gets picked up and damages the engine or do you think it'll just sit @ the bottom of the oil pan?

My first step is to get it to an oil change and hopefully it'll come out but hoping I could get some feedback on that. Obviously I'm nowhere in which I can pull the pan.

Thanks!
Chris

[vanagonjr]

[leecat]

Could you pick up a strong magnet and slide it along the pan to 'coax' the broken piece to the oil drain hole? That's what I would attempt.

[vanagon_dan]

This is a fairly well documented "issue" and the conclusion always point to it not being a big deal. It should sit at the bottom of the oil pan and the pickup screen should prevent it from being sucked up into the oil pump.

I have read a success story or two from users who used a magnet to retrieve the broken bit, so maybe give that a go. Removing the oil pan is certainly an option, and maybe a good one if you have the stock oil pan. If you have the Bostig HCOP, and it doesn't leak, I would just leave it.

Just my two cents. Good luck!

[JudoJeff]

Ignore it, pickup screen will prevent any damage.

Next oil change just remove the access panel, the broken off piece will be there.

If it really keeps you awake at night, buy some $1 magnets at Harbor Freight and stick them to the HCOP.
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1989 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Burned up on 7/31/16.
1987 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig & Rebuilt, sold
1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia Camper, Bostig Sold May 10, 2021
1999 Ford GTRV Westfalia camper (30% bigger Westy layout)

[TopBud]

I wouldn't worry to much about it, just like the others aid the screen will catch it. I would get a long magnet on a stick
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rl...p;oe=UTF-8
and stick it into the drain plug to try to get it.
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86 bostig SYNCRO
66 convertible Karmann Ghia

[kourt]

As others have said, don't worry about it.

Also, do not replace your dipstick with another one of the same length--just keep the shorty. Use a Dremel and grind off the rough ends to make a rounded tip. The crosshatching that remains on the dipstick is really all you need to check the oil level.

I opened my oil pan for the first time in four years this week and the old tip of the dipstick was still in there.

kourt

[BillM]

I have broken the tip off my dipstick twice. Both times the tip just stayed on the bottom till next time I changed oil. Once it came out the drain hole and the other I had to remove the access plate.
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Bill M
87 Westy

[jimf909]

Chalk me up as one more Bostig driver with part of a dipstick in my sump. This is probably the part with the highest failure rate on a zetec. It seems the dipstick should be a wire (instead of flat) to allow it to flex around the curves in the tube.
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- Jim