Hi Guys,

I got my truck back the other day for injector replacement and it is probably recommended to do an oil change because it could be contaminated with some diesel fuel. I was going to change the oil when the dipstick tip fell off into the pan. I called the dealer and they said a week to get a new stick because its a straight from GM part. I said okay, go ahead and order it. Now the questions is I have a trip to take today (not towing, but about 600miles round trip). Any opinions on whether I should change the oil and just add in 10qts and hope its right, or should I run with the oil and change it correctly with the new stick when I get home?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Daniel.

10 qts of oil always seem to work out perfect on my LB7. I would think that you should be fine...it would have to be better than running contaminated oil.

10 qts of oil always seem to work out perfect on my LB7. I would think that you should be fine...it would have to be better than running contaminated oil.

That was my thinking on it. As long as I am pretty close to 10qt I figured it would be fine...

I always change it without looking. I have it measured it many a times on my first few changes so i could stop having to measure it and constantly check it when changing.

I change it when its hot and put in exactly 10 quarts. I havent checked the oil while changing in 30,000 miles:eek:

Were you able to retrieve the tip of the dipstick, or is it inside the engine?

Were you able to retrieve the tip of the dipstick, or is it inside the engine?

The tip of the dipstick is still in the pan. I gotta drop the pan when I have time. I spoke to the dealership (keeping in mind they could have offered to get it out for me) and they told me to just fish it out whenever I get a chance to drop the pan. They said that it will just sit in the bottom indefinitely and I would pretty much have to roll the truck over for it to cause any engine issues (and I assume if I rolled the truck over that would be least of my concerns).

Daniel.

1. If injectors were changed at dealer they should have changed the oil and filter.

2. Change the oil if they did not.

3. Get it in writing that "it will sit in pan and cause no damage" during your 600 mile trip.

1. If injectors were changed at dealer they should have changed the oil and filter.

2. Change the oil if they did not.

3. Get it in writing that "it will sit in pan and cause no damage" during your 600 mile trip.

1. I know they should have, but they didn't want to budge and I wasn't going to bitch too much after they "saved" me $4k.

2. I just changed the oil about 30 minutes ago. Never seen dirty oil so clean, lol (only 1k miles on the oil).

3. A little too late to "get it in writing". The tip fell off in my possession, not theirs.

Daniel.

1. I know they should have, but they didn't want to budge and I wasn't going to bitch too much after they "saved" me $4k.

2. I just changed the oil about 30 minutes ago. Never seen dirty oil so clean, lol (only 1k miles on the oil).

3. A little too late to "get it in writing". The tip fell off in my possession, not theirs.

Daniel.

Dan,

i've never looked, but you might be able to pull the dipstick housing off and retrieve the dipstick??? Sounds doubtful from what the dealership but id look under the hood.

I've never seen the underside of a durmax with the pan off, but most of them just bottom out on the pan.

Dan,

i've never looked, but you might be able to pull the dipstick housing off and retrieve the dipstick??? Sounds doubtful from what the dealership but id look under the hood.

I've never seen the underside of a durmax with the pan off, but most of them just bottom out on the pan.

When I drop the lower pan do I need a gasket or just some gasket in a tube stuff? Want to know before I drop it and then I'm stuck.

Thanks.

I had the same problem with mine and the dealer said it would "probably" be in the upper pan. (I am just repeating what they said.) To get to the upper pan, I understand it is a big, big deal. About $1000 if the dealer does it. I left mine in. This was about a year ago. I did complain to Chevrolet hot line or whatever that is and they were sympathetic and gave me some coupons for dealer service work. It was $100 or $200, don't remember now. End of story.

When I drop the lower pan do I need a gasket or just some gasket in a tube stuff? Want to know before I drop it and then I'm stuck.

Thanks.

I'd get the gasket. Advanced sells it for $15 bucks, worth the insurance to not mess around with gasket maker, not a job you want to do twice.

So reading this again....All you lost is the dipstick END? what are the chances you could fish it out with a magnet through the drain plug? maybe im dreaming...:think:

I'd get the gasket. Advanced sells it for $15 bucks, worth the insurance to not mess around with gasket maker, not a job you want to do twice.

So reading this again....All you lost is the dipstick END? what are the chances you could fish it out with a magnet through the drain plug? maybe im dreaming...:think:

I could always try to fish it out but probably not with a magnet. The tip appeared to be an aluminum compound of some kind, not steel.

I thind I would try to rake it out through the oil plug hole, with a length of wire bent in a loop. It worth 20 minutes of seeing if you can hear the wire push it around. I'd change the oil, drive it the 600 mi. then when you get the time, dump the oil, and go fishing with the wire. Good Luck,

I could always try to fish it out but probably not with a magnet. The tip appeared to be an aluminum compound of some kind, not steel.
I had the dipstick end fall off on my LLY. It was under warranty at the time, so I had the dealer get it out. They removed the pan and got it out and it didn't take them more than about 3 hours total, as I recall.

That was about 100k miles ago. I was checking the oil not too long ago and noticed a slight divot in the top of that piece at the bottom if the stick. Now the piece is loose and I'll have to replace the stick again. It must be touching something down in the engine somewhere and it's getting hot and burning through it. Nice. :rolleyes:

1. I know they should have, but they didn't want to budge and I wasn't going to bitch too much after they "saved" me $4k.

That sucks. Hell the service manager personally went out and bought 10 quarts of Rotella synthetic and a AC Delco oil filter when they did my injectors. He told me "it's getting done for free, why should you have to pay for GM's mistake" I'd have to say thats the coolest thing I've ever heard. I just wish every other dealer treated their customers this way.

I thind I would try to rake it out through the oil plug hole, with a length of wire bent in a loop. It worth 20 minutes of seeing if you can hear the wire push it around. I'd change the oil, drive it the 600 mi. then when you get the time, dump the oil, and go fishing with the wire. Good Luck,

I would be very careful sticking anything like a hard wire such as a looped coathanger in your oil plug hole, thats the last thing you want stuck inthere!

There is a good photo of the pickup screen in my garage. I am a real stickler for doing everything needed to my truck. IMHO it is not worth the effort of cost to get it out. Later! Frank

Leave it alone.

Chances are it will be fine for now but I'd stick a magnet on the bottom of the pan just in case.

Chances are it will be fine for now but I'd stick a magnet on the bottom of the pan just in case.


Magnet will not do any good, it is non magnetic.

Leave it, or fish it through the drain hole, use good quality .032 Stainless safety tie wire like the Aircraft industry uses, that way if it gets in there, you can ALWAYS pull it out!

10qts And Go No Problem