Have I brought the correct Dipstick Tube Guide???

[mark_S3]

Right people....

This is the only picture to hand but this is the story.



At the weekend I replaced the Oil Filter, Oil, took the sump off and cleaned pick up pipe, then sump back on. At the time the old Dipstick Tube was slightly cracked and taped up, so i replaced it with a Non-OEM (eBay) Tube as in the above picture. Now it sits onto the metal tube mid way on the engine block, but my problem is:

The actual Dip Stick does not sit into the holder at the top correctly. As you can see in the picture it has fins on the inside but my orginal dipstick does not push into the holder all the way. It must only go in around 5-6mm, and at the present I have no indication of the Oil Level. I have filled the engine with approximately 4.5l of 5w40 Castrol Edge.

From what I've read the APY S3 takes 4.6l but dont not want to place anymore in till i get a correct level, but thinking the dipstick wont tell me due to its not sitting in correctly.

When I mean the dipstick doesnt go all the way, I mean the actual metal rod goes all way down but the orange handle at the top has a round plastic cylinder which holds the rod. Its the actual cylinder that only goes in 5-6mm but looking at the Tube guide at the top it looks like it should sit in more than 10mm+. I have no oil reading at all.

I think i might just pop into my nearest TPS/Audi Dealer and buy a Proper one. Just wanting to know if anyone has had this problem before. Cheers

 

[beachbuggy]

Right people....

This is the only picture to hand but this is the story.



At the weekend I replaced the Oil Filter, Oil, took the sump off and cleaned pick up pipe, then sump back on. At the time the old Dipstick Tube was slightly cracked and taped up, so i replaced it with a Non-OEM (eBay) Tube as in the above picture. Now it sits onto the metal tube mid way on the engine block, but my problem is:

The actual Dip Stick does not sit into the holder at the top correctly. As you can see in the picture it has fins on the inside but my orginal dipstick does not push into the holder all the way. It must only go in around 5-6mm, and at the present I have no indication of the Oil Level. I have filled the engine with approximately 4.5l of 5w40 Castrol Edge.

From what I've read the APY S3 takes 4.6l but dont not want to place anymore in till i get a correct level, but thinking the dipstick wont tell me due to its not sitting in correctly.

When I mean the dipstick doesnt go all the way, I mean the actual metal rod goes all way down but the orange handle at the top has a round plastic cylinder which holds the rod. Its the actual cylinder that only goes in 5-6mm but looking at the Tube guide at the top it looks like it should sit in more than 10mm+. I have no oil reading at all.

I think i might just pop into my nearest TPS/Audi Dealer and buy a Proper one. Just wanting to know if anyone has had this problem before. Cheers

Funny you should mention this, I had someone buy a hybrid from me for an a4 a little while back, he was pretty sure after fitting it the compressor seal was leaking badly, anyway about a week later after I told him eliminate the Pcv etc he emailed me to say he had the wrong dipstick tube fitted and the he had just over filled the engine as the dipstick wasn't in far enough as a result and over filled the oil.

You only need 4.6 litres, sorry don't know the correct part but TPS should help

 

[mark_S3]

Cheers Beachbuggy.

The Tube I got off eBay was from a carspares shop, which it stated was for a 11/1998 to 08/2000 APY Audi S3

I brought a 4l bottle of Castrol Edge Fully Syth 5w40, then a 1l top up bottle of the same stuff as i read the APY S3 takes 4.6l. I filled it with the 4l bottle then put 500ml out of the 1l top up bottle. I know its got that in the engine and is safe to drive.

Just dont like not being able to read the Oil Level

Looks like a trip to TPS/Audi Dealer then.....

 

[epox]

i got one from ebay-, but same same as you i did not like the fit, ended up going to audi and got real part im sure it was less than a fiver.
mark

 

[s3dave]

Throw it away they are peanuts from Audi....:icon_thumright:

 

[crispynz1]

Is this the one you bought? Hope not, as this is what I just recently ordered.

AUDI A3/S3/TT/QUATTRO DIPSTICK GUIDE TUBE 06A103663B | eBay

 

[Bez480123]

I got a genuine tube and dipstick from audi for under a tenner including the dreaded! Not badly priced at all!!

 

[mark_S3]

Is this the one you bought? Hope not, as this is what I just recently ordered.

AUDI A3/S3/TT/QUATTRO DIPSTICK GUIDE TUBE 06A103663B | eBay

Yes thats the one I bought........ It fits perfert onto the exsisting but for some reason the actual Dipstick once fully inserted, the top where the handle is. There is a plastic cylinder where it joins onto the metal rod, will not push into the top of the Tube Guide. And Im sure it should do.

From specification the APY S3 takes 4.6l, and i have put in 4l, and didnt notice anything on dipstick, then topped up another 500ml and still same again. No markings on the dipstick so its got plenty in to be recording a level. So its definately the Tube Guide, is at fault.

 

[mark_S3]

I have bought a few things of eBay recently.... One of them is the above and a few things for my Bike, and now learnt not to do it again..... Lesson Learn't.... Buy the proper stuff!

I actually bought the service kit, and sump sealant from TPS!

 

[mark_S3]

Right people,

Found out the cause of the dipstick holder issue.

Its wasnt the dipstick holder at fault but the actual 'dipstick'. After a visit to TPS they identified the holder was the correct one and that VAG superceeded the the dipstick for a new style to accommodate the new holder.
Ive wrote down all the part numbers but left the paper at home but I'll let the pictures do the explaining of the new dipstick. I'll post up part numbers tomorrow.

Old Dipstick in new holder:


Old v's New:


Old v's New Length:


And finally new one, snug and flush with the new holder:


New dipstick was £7.90 from TPS. Tried to hangle more discount but still cheap and a genuine part.

Now I can finally read the oil level and has only a couple of mm's below the MAX level. Happy days......

 

[<tuffty/>]

The 'old' dipstick is just the 'new' dipstick with the top of a tube broken/cut off and left on... all transverse 20v dipsticks look like the 'new' one you have pictured... someones yanking your chain...

Does that bit on the top of the dipstick pull off?

<tuffty/>

 

[mark_S3]

The 'old' dipstick is just the 'new' dipstick with the top of a tube broken/cut off and left on... all transverse 20v dipsticks look like the 'new' one you have pictured... someones yanking your chain...

Does that bit on the top of the dipstick pull off?

<tuffty/>

Now that you mention it........ It does look like someone has cut the top of the holder off and 'glued' it down to the dipstick, as you can see in the picture. The old dipstick and holder just looked OEM but was bodged up as they are prone to crack.
It was like this when I brought the car last year and what appeared like the top of the holder was all taped together. Thats why I got a new holder, to replace the old bodged up holder. Then came across the problem identified above.

Nevermind... Least its looking all new and fresh, and at cost of around £10.

But when I went to TPS on saturday morning I clearly shown them the old dipstick and new holder and then they explained that VAG superceeded and changed the dipstick, so they gave me the new one. The part numbers where identical apart from the last letter.

 

[<tuffty/>]

VAG supersede stuff all the time for all sorts of random reasons lol... but yeah I'd put money on it being bodged previously ...

Ironically a picture of the dipstick as well as the tube in the first post prob could have got you here quicker lol

<tuffty/>

 

[mark_S3]

Anyway Tuffty, thank you for you information. Could of saved a few quid but least it new, and I'm happy

 

[vfr800]

Your old dipstick definitely has the top of an old dipstick tube collar stuck on it. It should just pull down/off.

Happened to mine but I knew what it should look like.

 

[mark_S3]

VAG supersede stuff all the time for all sorts of random reasons lol... but yeah I'd put money on it being bodged previously ...

Ironically a picture of the dipstick as well as the tube in the first post prob could have got you here quicker lol

<tuffty/>

I was meant to post a picture of the dipstick before.... Total forgot as been busy, put the issue down to the holder, then went to TPS on saturday and was explained the above.

Cheers again pal.....

 

[<tuffty/>]

no worries....

<tuffty/>

 

[mark_S3]

Your old dipstick definitely has the top of an old dipstick tube collar stuck on it. It should just pull down/off.

Happened to mine but I knew what it should look like.

It wont pull down as you can see towards the bottom there is a crack whick was glued together so the whole unit is fixed. I bet with some careful breaking it will come apart. It justed looked genuine but mended. Thats why i didnt look or think twice until Tuffty mentioned it above.

I wasnt 100% sure what the original holder looked like as it was bodged up with tape and I just broke up into pieces when replacing for new

 

[vfr800]

The bodges that some people do to save a few quid astounds me sometimes.

Ah well all fixed with original VAG parts now. Job'sa'goodun!

 

[<tuffty/>]

People are inherently scared of going to a dealer for parts like this as they fear the 'Audi Tax' normally associated with VAG parts or that parts like this aren't available but VAG (being the wierd lot they are) having a very odd pricing structure... dipstick and tube can be had for less than a tenner but the plastic PCV tube that connects between the rubber T and the cam cover PCV hose is like 35 quid!!...

VAG seem to have access to almost every part of the car (unlike some manufacturers) so even stuff like Recaro seat upholstery can be bought if required... they are pretty good like that... always worth giving a dealer a call first... you might be pleasantly surprised... unless buying K04 water and oil pipes as that comes in at over 400 quid!

<tuffty/>