Dipstick Tip Broken off

[honcchan]

Why it has a plastic tip that could break!

 

[Ragnar]

Yeh never understood the idea of a plastic tip,what’ they afraid it’s gonna scratch something! lol

 

[HC65]

Had a flat on an interstate in Connecticut two nights ago and couldn't change because there was no wheel lock key. All I could figure was the last time my tires were rotated about 3,000 miles ago, it wasn't returned to the car. As a result, I had to get the car towed to the local area Genesis dealer. Had to wait a day and half for them to get a matching tire for 2015 3.8. Then the service advisor calls me to tell me that the dipstick has broken off. What in heaven's name does the dipstick have to do with a flat tire? The car was purchased and serviced in Florida but I use this dealer when we are up north. I had the oil changed there a few weeks ago and I figure the technician who changed the tire must have remembered breaking the dipstick. The Twilight Zone lives.

 

[kocyk123]

If your Genny is CPO, have them remove the oli pan and remove the broken piece, get an invoice and open up a claim through Hyundai Customer Care. They will send you a check back. That's what happened with me and I got my money back.

 

[RyanB]

Went to check my oil last night and the tip of my stick is gone. My problem is that when I try to put the broken stick back in it wont go all the way down. I don't know if it's the broken tip stuck in there or if it's due to the remaining tip on the stick just not sliding down smoothly and getting hung up. Ordering a replacement stick but if that wont go all the way down any ideas on how to get the broken tip out? Can the metal dipstick tube itself be easily removed or would I need to drop the pan?

 

[cougarxr_1967]

I recently experienced the broken dipstick problem but I am sorry to report that I have experienced an oil light issue since. I say oil light rather than oil pressure because of the VERY intermittent nature of the idiot light.
The issue started about a week after the oil change in early January. Oil light would come on at idle after engine warmed and even a slight amount of throttle would stop it. 600 rpm = no light. Then for a week or two straight nothing. Then mysteriously it would return. One time as I was exiting a highway at cruise around 1400 rpm the light came on. I thought all this was due to the leaking sending unit issue but it is just so random it didn't make sense. Often it might occur at every stop light on my way to work but not at all on the way home. No reason to believe bearings bad or excessive engine wear and I knew oil level was ok. Yesterday I discovered the tip missing on the dipstick. OH JOY! Now those bizarre on again/ off again symptoms make sense. Probably not the sensor and most likely that plastic has jammed the oil pick up. OR perhaps now it has visited the pump and it is gone,
So in my case it does appear that the broken dipstick has impeded oil flow. Hopefully no permanent damage but definitely a concern. Very bad design Hyundai, I give them an F on that one. I hope in my case that customer service will pay to drop that pan because it is cold out there right now. Just for laughs I will spin off the oil filter and take a look, maybe I will find some part of the dipstick in there.
I have a 2015 AWD 3.8 I bought new. I do all my own repairs and oil changes ALWAYS FULL SYNTHETIC Mobil 1, nothing wrong at all until that dipstick broke off. All things considered it has been a great car.

 

[carguy75]

I recently experienced the broken dipstick problem but I am sorry to report that I have experienced an oil light issue since. I say oil light rather than oil pressure because of the VERY intermittent nature of the idiot light.
The issue started about a week after the oil change in early January. Oil light would come on at idle after engine warmed and even a slight amount of throttle would stop it. 600 rpm = no light. Then for a week or two straight nothing. Then mysteriously it would return. One time as I was exiting a highway at cruise around 1400 rpm the light came on. I thought all this was due to the leaking sending unit issue but it is just so random it didn't make sense. Often it might occur at every stop light on my way to work but not at all on the way home. No reason to believe bearings bad or excessive engine wear and I knew oil level was ok. Yesterday I discovered the tip missing on the dipstick. OH JOY! Now those bizarre on again/ off again symptoms make sense. Probably not the sensor and most likely that plastic has jammed the oil pick up. OR perhaps now it has visited the pump and it is gone,
So in my case it does appear that the broken dipstick has impeded oil flow. Hopefully no permanent damage but definitely a concern. Very bad design Hyundai, I give them an F on that one. I hope in my case that customer service will pay to drop that pan because it is cold out there right now. Just for laughs I will spin off the oil filter and take a look, maybe I will find some part of the dipstick in there.
I have a 2015 AWD 3.8 I bought new. I do all my own repairs and oil changes ALWAYS FULL SYNTHETIC Mobil 1, nothing wrong at all until that dipstick broke off. All things considered it has been a great car.

Could be possble the flat plastic tip is stuck on the oil pickup screen in the oil pan, maybe even wedged in the area where the screen joins the pickup tube. Best thing to do is just pull the oil pan and remove it to be sure. Either you or the dealership.

 

[cougarxr_1967]

Could be possble the flat plastic tip is stuck on the oil pickup screen in the oil pan, maybe even wedged in the area where the screen joins the pickup tube. Best thing to do is just pull the oil pan and remove it to be sure. Either you or the dealership.

Yes, thanks Carguy I realize dropping the pan is the most logical course of action. It apparently isn't always stuck in that position as there are extended periods where no oil light comes on. For the last week and a half now - no light. That has happened before though and then it came back. Definitely seems to be moving or at least it was.
This intermittent situation also gives me the idea that if I see that light again before the pan is dropped I am going to shut the engine off and re-start it after a minute of letting it settle back down in the pan. Might get lucky and have it clear the pick up again.

 

[kocyk123]

If your car is still under the powertrain warranty, take it to the dealership, have them do it, pay for it and email the receipt to hyundaicustomercare. That is what I did and I got full refund + I didn't have to get my hands dirty.

 

[carguy75]

Yes, thanks Carguy I realize dropping the pan is the most logical course of action. It apparently isn't always stuck in that position as there are extended periods where no oil light comes on. For the last week and a half now - no light. That has happened before though and then it came back. Definitely seems to be moving or at least it was.
This intermittent situation also gives me the idea that if I see that light again before the pan is dropped I am going to shut the engine off and re-start it after a minute of letting it settle back down in the pan. Might get lucky and have it clear the pick up again.

Man, that floating dip stick tip would drive my nuts if it does just randomly stick to the oil pickup while driving and set off the oil light.

Either way I would just pull the oil pan and remove it.

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[Ebkbk24]

Yes, thanks Carguy I realize dropping the pan is the most logical course of action. It apparently isn't always stuck in that position as there are extended periods where no oil light comes on. For the last week and a half now - no light. That has happened before though and then it came back. Definitely seems to be moving or at least it was.
This intermittent situation also gives me the idea that if I see that light again before the pan is dropped I am going to shut the engine off and re-start it after a minute of letting it settle back down in the pan. Might get lucky and have it clear the pick up again.

What happened with your dipstick / oil light? I have this exact issue right now.

 

[cougarxr_1967]

What happened with your dipstick / oil light? I have this exact issue right now.

Believe it or not I had no issue all Spring and Summer including one change. Changed the oil again at the end of September and the problem began again, made an appointment which is for TOMORROW 11/4 due to a mechanics strike that was just resolved. Of course, as soon as I made the appointment the issue stopped again and has not reappeared for the past month. Contemplating cancelling the appointment or rescheduling. Car has 89,000 miles now.

 

[Ebkbk24]

Believe it or not I had no issue all Spring and Summer including one change. Changed the oil again at the end of September and the problem began again, made an appointment which is for TOMORROW 11/4 due to a mechanics strike that was just resolved. Of course, as soon as I made the appointment the issue stopped again and has not reappeared for the past month. Contemplating cancelling the appointment or rescheduling. Car has 89,000 miles now.

I’m seeing a lot of people reporting this issue without the dipstick being broken. Cold weather triggering the light. They’re saying it could be the sensor.

 

[cougarxr_1967]

Yes, I have considered the oil pressure sensor. Generally, it would be worth the effort to just change it but when they go bad rarely is that an intermittent problem. On the 3.8, it is a bit of a struggle too, Upper and lower intake have to come off and then from what I see well documented on other Hyundai sites you need to modify a 24MM box wrench to wrestle it out. Best price I have seen for a new sensor is $110 from Rock Auto. None of that would scare me off BUT, I don't think it is the sensor.
In regard to the cold weather theory, evidence doesnt support it in my case. It was quite warm at the end of September/ early October here when it was acting up after the oil change. It was quite cold when it mysteriously stopped happening in February.
My best guess is that at the time of an oil change there is enough movement that the broken piece probably finds it way into the pick up tube area. Then, eventually it falls back down into the pan.
I went so far as to re-drain the oil and hook up my shop vac thru a bunch of duct tape and and perfect size tube. All I got was another 5-6 ounces of oil out very slowly. But that was while the oil light problem was occurring. I wonder if I did the same thing now while the issue is gone (broken piece in pan) if I couldn't pull that plastic out with the vac.
I will probably just take it in. I am going on faith that Hyundai will honor that warranty. No one will confirm that for me.

 

[Roger M]

Why would anyone intentionally design a plastic piece of anything that comes in contact with hot engine oil?! Planned obsolescence??? This is ridiculous.

 

[EdP]

Why would anyone intentionally design a plastic piece of anything that comes in contact with hot engine oil?! Planned obsolescence??? This is ridiculous.

Good question. My guess is there is a sound reason as many car makers use them.

Oil temperature can reach 250 degrees. There are plastics that easily can go to 500 degrees such as Polyetherketone and PBI (Polybenzimidazole} has no known melting point. So, some plastic certainly can do the job but I don't know the reason they are chosen.

What do you think? Easier to read? Cost?

 

[joegr]

Why would anyone intentionally design a plastic piece of anything that comes in contact with hot engine oil?! Planned obsolescence??? This is ridiculous.

In that case, don't get to looking into what your timing chain guides are made out of...

 

[Charlie1982]

The root of the problem is probably because you all quit listening to CarTalk (Click & Clack) on the radio. Don’t you remember them saying, right before they went to a commercial break, “so don’t touch that dial, because if you do, the end of your dipstick may fall off!”?

 

[Obi-Wan Kenobi Woody Whyt]

How are you guys? I just I am new to this forum and found this discussion. Mine was broken off last year and the dealership notified me about it and I said you guys did it. You guys change it and they did. Again so stupid that it’s plastic.

 

[carguy75]

In that case, don't get to looking into what your timing chain guides are made out of...

True.

BMW,Audi, and GM have had many issues related to the grade of plastics used in their timing chain guides that seem to break just after about 100k miles.

They would have been better off just using timing belts in those engines since the broken timing chain guides required an complete timing system overhaul around 100k miles anyway. Timing belts are generally easier to change than a timing chain.

It also seems that Hyundai went with a less durable grade of plastic for the dipstick tip.