Hi all,

This may sound like a stupid question but I can't get the dipstick out to check the oil level. No matter how much force I use it appears to be stuck in the sheath.

Am I doing something wrong?

Cheers.

Try rotating as you pull

Have tried rotating it, yanking it, pulling it but with no joy. Seems to be stuck fast.

I even stood on a stepladder and had one foot on the top of the car wing to give more leverage but the thing will not budge.

I have a slight oil stain on the garage floor and am concerned I am losing oil but cannot check the level because of the damn dipstick being stuck.

As MAW says try rotating but there are a couple of O-rings sealing the yellow plastic plug/handle into the black metal tube and the plug may be rotating inside the O-rings if they are stuck to the tube. If rotating/ wiggling and pulling at the same time doesn't free it, try squirting some WD40 into the area where the plug enters the tube, more wiggling and pulling and it should come out. Tried doing it hot and cold?

Wonder how many people check their oil level every week these days?

Thanks guys.

I have only tried removing it when the engines cold. The plastic hanld rises a few mm then won't come any further but I will try squirting some WD in and see if this frees it off.

Had the car for a year now and tried to remove the dipstick ages ago but gave up. Now I have the leak, this has kick my ar^e into gear again.

Tried some WD and some 3-in-1 oil down the neck of the sheath but the damn things still stuck. The plastic handle turns easily and is moving up and down by about 5mm but it won't move any further. Tried taking the engine cap off just to make sure it wasn't airlocked but still no joy.

Totally p*ssed off with it so will try again tomorrow.

Welcome to the forums Martsco, it sounds like a call at the dealership is looming! Where are you in Scotland? 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Try a kettle and boiling water - pour carefully to avoid flooding any of the sensitive electronics on the worlds best offroading 4x4 and see if sudden temperature change / expansion on the neck releases it

What about hair dryer?

I dont think he's bothered how he looks at the minute he just wants to check the oil

Don't know which engine you have but part way down the dipstick (flexible cable on my TdV8) there is a crimped on guide. Just wonder whether the dipstick tube has been dented above that (about 8" from the top from memory) and this is preventing the dipstick coming out. Has any work been done in the engine bay area? Just checked mine and there is only one O ring seal. If you can get 5mm movement I can't see it being the O ring.

What model year do you have?

i don't think MY10 has a dip stick MY10 3.0 TDV6 HSE, Zermatt Silver, 20" Diamond Turned Alloys, Factory Privacy Glass, Premium Leather, Contrast Stiching, Side Steps, Etc

Gone 2006 '56' 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Zermatt Silver, 20", Side Steps, Brembos, Dynamic Pack, Etc

VW Transporter, 19" Rims, T32 170 BHP, Lowered

ASH555 wrote:

What model year do you have?

i don't think MY10 has a dip stick

Im sure its in the engine compartment

If you can't get the dipstick out how are you going to top up the oil

Just getting my own back for all those fish jokes  2005 Vesuvius 1st edition ( now sadly gone ).