Hi all, occasional lurker here.

My ridiculous problem is...

One very cold January morning the yellow plastic handle on the oil dipstick on my wife's CRD snapped clear off.

Tried gripping the remains with a pair of needle nose pliers, but only succeeded in forcing it down the tube about 1/2".

Anyone else had this crazy problem?

Think you can see the bottom of the dipstick through the oil drain plug? Other ideas to get it out?

I picked up a new gasket figuring I might end up dropping the pan, but wow, there are a lot of bolts on that sucker. Would love to avoid that task if possible.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

The simplest solution, and one I've had to use a couple times, is to use a tubing cutter to cut about 1" off of the top of the dipstick.

Then you just grab what's left with some Hemostats and pull it out, you can replace the tube at the top with some JB Weld if you wish, or just put the new dipstick in the 1" lower tubing.

You can also try some Hemostats by themselves first, available at any drug store for cheap.

You could also tie some dental floss/fishing line to a small metal item then push it down past the dipstick in the tube and wrap it around a few times and try to pull it out that way.

Cutting the tubing is simplest and the most guaranteed way to work without dropping the oil pan.

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Silver 2006 KJ 2.8L CRD Limited:
GDE ECO Tune / Fumoto Valve / E-Tecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs / 2nd Gen Fuel Head / Mishimoto RED Hoses / Rockers/Lifters @ 114k / Hayden FC + 11 Blade Nylon / Sears P1 Battery / Transgo 45RFE-HD2 Reprogramming Kit / Timken Front Bearings

You should be able to unbolt the dipstick tube from the block/intake and just wiggle it up and out. remove dipstick and the replace the tube. You might have to remove a few parts to do this, but should not be too time consuming. I have a few new dipsticks if you want one. hope it works out, GDE

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Providers of wholly developed aftermarket solutions for the KJ CRD.
(248) 977 - 9531

Great advice, thanks Hexus and GDE.

Will get under the hood, underneath, through the wheel well etc once it warms up a few degrees.

Curious about removing the dipstick from the block. Had asked a Chrysler parts person if that was possible and if so whether there was a gasket. Negative response, but will investigate myself now. Absent that, the tubing cutter solution would be a very quick fix!

If I recall, it is just a bolt or two and a rubber o-ring at block.

_________________
Providers of wholly developed aftermarket solutions for the KJ CRD.
(248) 977 - 9531

The bolt is connected to the intake near the flow control valve, I think.....

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Phil
2005 131k 3.7 Gasser (Lifted-CRD Springs, 4.10 Gears, F+R DTT, Teraflex 2wd Low, Skidrow/Mopar Skids, Rock Lizard Super Skinks, Goodyear Wrangler Authority 31x10.5-15)
2012 Triumph Tiger (TKC 80 Front Tire Heidnau K60 Rear, Crash Bars, Skid Plate, Bark Busters, Pelican Case Top Box)