Oil dipstick end broke off - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jeff r · 12-27-2018, 10:43 PM

I have a 1972 GMC Jimmy with a 5.7L. I went to check the oil and found that part of the dipstick has broken off. I was trying to find a dipstick? What is the length of the original dipstick?

thanks
Jeff

**HO455** · 12-28-2018, 01:54 PM

There are a numerous different length/styles of dipsticks that could be in your motor. How long is the tube from the block or pan. Knowing that length someone could give you a length that would be appropriate. You can verify it by draining the oil and refilling it one quart low to check the add mark. Then add the last quart to check the full line.

Ummmm... What about the missing piece? Is it still in the pan???

**jocko** · 12-28-2018, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

What about the missing piece? Is it still in the pan???

Agree, that would be the first concern. Jeff, the big question is whether you've previously seen this very dipstick before and it was not broken? (i.e. is the the first time you're checking it, maybe you just bought it I mean). If you know it's being broken is a "new" thing - I'd definitely drain the oil and look for it. If I couldn't find it, I'd consider dropping the pan. If it's big enough that it can't fit thru the pump screen, then it will likely lodge there or float around the pan - but it would drive me nuts personally and it does pose at least some risk to the engine.

jeff r · 12-28-2018, 06:48 PM

The missing part is still in the pan. It must have broke off last month when I checked the oil. I checked the oil last week and the oil didn't touch the dipstick and looked a little closer and saw I lost several inches off the dipstick. I haven't drove my Jimmy since October.

jeff r · 12-28-2018, 07:51 PM

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jeff r · 12-28-2018, 07:52 PM

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**jocko** · 12-28-2018, 09:17 PM

Wow. Glad to hear you haven't driven it. What a pain... I'd bet you can get a stock dipstick off of someone parting a truck on the parts board pretty quickly.

**HO455** · 12-29-2018, 02:22 PM

I wouldn't be able to go further without dropping the pan and retrieving the missing piece. The paranoia of it getting ground into small slivers by the crank and rods and going through the oil pump would be too much.
I would make a trip to the wrecking yard with the old one and see if I if I could locate a match to start. But I do like strolling around wrecking yards.

toolboxchev · 12-29-2018, 02:48 PM

Most would be surprised to see all the junk in the bottom of their oil pan on an original motor.

I would stick a large speaker magnet on the pan in case I had to drive it. Agree that the pan definitely needs to be pulled.

jeff r · 12-29-2018, 03:10 PM

I spent a couple of hours fishing with a magnet this morning and was able to find and get out the broken piece. Now I have to find a new dipstick.

*randy500* · 12-29-2018, 04:26 PM

You know it probably broke off because the lower dipstick tube is missing from the block.

12-27-2018, 10:43 PM	#1
jeff r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: kill devil hills, NC Posts: 27	Oil dipstick end broke off I have a 1972 GMC Jimmy with a 5.7L. I went to check the oil and found that part of the dipstick has broken off. I was trying to find a dipstick? What is the length of the original dipstick? thanks Jeff

12-28-2018, 01:54 PM	#2
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,883	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off There are a numerous different length/styles of dipsticks that could be in your motor. How long is the tube from the block or pan. Knowing that length someone could give you a length that would be appropriate. You can verify it by draining the oil and refilling it one quart low to check the add mark. Then add the last quart to check the full line. Ummmm... What about the missing piece? Is it still in the pan??? __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

12-28-2018, 06:48 PM	#4
jeff r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: kill devil hills, NC Posts: 27	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off The missing part is still in the pan. It must have broke off last month when I checked the oil. I checked the oil last week and the oil didn't touch the dipstick and looked a little closer and saw I lost several inches off the dipstick. I haven't drove my Jimmy since October.

12-28-2018, 07:51 PM	#5
jeff r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: kill devil hills, NC Posts: 27	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off [/URL][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

12-28-2018, 07:52 PM	#6
jeff r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: kill devil hills, NC Posts: 27	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off [IMG][/IMG]

12-28-2018, 09:17 PM	#7
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,937	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off Wow. Glad to hear you haven't driven it. What a pain... I'd bet you can get a stock dipstick off of someone parting a truck on the parts board pretty quickly.

12-29-2018, 02:22 PM	#8
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,883	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off I wouldn't be able to go further without dropping the pan and retrieving the missing piece. The paranoia of it getting ground into small slivers by the crank and rods and going through the oil pump would be too much. I would make a trip to the wrecking yard with the old one and see if I if I could locate a match to start. But I do like strolling around wrecking yards. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

12-29-2018, 02:48 PM	#9
toolboxchev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road. Posts: 2,629	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off Most would be surprised to see all the junk in the bottom of their oil pan on an original motor. I would stick a large speaker magnet on the pan in case I had to drive it. Agree that the pan definitely needs to be pulled.

12-29-2018, 03:10 PM	#10
jeff r Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: kill devil hills, NC Posts: 27	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off I spent a couple of hours fishing with a magnet this morning and was able to find and get out the broken piece. Now I have to find a new dipstick.

12-29-2018, 04:26 PM	#11
randy500 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 6,873	Re: Oil dipstick end broke off You know it probably broke off because the lower dipstick tube is missing from the block.



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