Does anyone have photos of a broken one? I'd be curious to see how it breaks.

 

If you have the car long enough you will get to see it.

 

Lovely. So, is the main shaft that goes down into the tube made of plastic? (Too lazy right now to go out and see.)

 

They break...or maybe I should say the bond in the plastic between the two types/colors fails...and it ge floppy where the yellow part is at the bottom.

 

^
Don't need to save it.
Make your own with stainless dip from junk yard.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-dipstick.html

 

^
Originally Posted by norm03s View Post
Save your OEM handles.

 

Did anyone get Outmotoring's replacement:

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop..._dipstick.html

I emailed them to find-out if it is metal, but have not heard back yet...

I just heard back from them, and this is an OEM replacement. Sort of looked like it, but I figured that it was aftermkt, given the many issues...

Norm, if you want a side biz, there seems to be a mkt for what you created...

 

^
oops
As said before. Make your own with stainless dip.
Plastic handles & shafts will break. Mine is temp until Craven or likeness makes more.

 

I just checked mine and it's cracked in numerous places. '05 with 62K on it. I ordered a new OEM one for now.

 

Mine broke a couple of months ago. I was able to pull it out without the end completly breaking off and falling into the oil pan. Ever since I've replaced mine, I'm extremely careful when checking my oil. I would also be interested in a stronger more reliable replacement. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before my new one breaks.

 

You are correct.
I thought if I babied my second one I would be fine. However, after about two years the second one cracked. I am on number three right now and planning to use the handle from two to make a metal version.

 

Pulled dip stick out a few minutes ago and noticed that it was almost broken in two about a third of the way down from the handle.

I'm thinking of snapping the bottom two thirds of the dipstrick off before putting it back in. I would hate for the bottom part to stay in there when I pull it out to replace it with a new dipstick

Do you guys think that would cause a problem?

Thanks

 

As long as you don't try to read the oil level off of it .......lol

 

That will be fine. Just make sure there isn't anything that could break loose and fall in to the oil pan. You will just be using it as a cap at that point.

I haven't had any problems with my new dipstick yet, fingers crossed. I'm extra careful while pushing it through the sticky point though.

 

 

If you plan on fabbing your own, heavier duty one, get some measurements off the old one before breaking it off. Otherwise, it sounds like a good idea.

I keep wondering when mine will break. Is there a good after market one available? I'm thinking I might make my own out of the handle and the yellow thingy at the bottom and use superelastic nitinol wire for the shaft. That way it could bend 'till the cows come home and never break in normal use. Or permanently bend, either.