Dipstick on S3

[Ollie2014]

Hi has anyone removed the dipstick for the engine oil and the dipstick has had orange plastic stuck to it ?
Just removed mine to check oil and it looks like part of the dipstick has disintegrated, is it a common fault and does it have any consequences ?

 

[prt57]

Don’t put it back in again. I highlighted this problem last year. You will end up with the plastic pieces in the sump.
Order a new one for not much more than £10. However, it will be yellow not orange.
They disintegrate on mileage not age. we have a 10 year old TT on 55K and I spotted it as the plastic was all cracked and ready to fall apart. We also have a 10 year old S3 with much less miles and no problem.
So get it swopped straight away.

 

[ch1z64]

Very common fault especially as person above said the Orange ones are sh*t , have a look and see if O ring is there if not it has disintergrated

 

[Ollie2014]

Thanks for your replies I have ordered a new dipstick with the yellow plastic. The o ring is still there but where it seats has gone . I have got quite a few pieces of the plastic so maybe it's not gone into sump.If it has gone in sump would it be worth a oil change ? Only been done recently at Audi .

 

[ch1z64]

Thanks for your replies I have ordered a new dipstick with the yellow plastic. The o ring is still there but where it seats has gone . I have got quite a few pieces of the plastic so maybe it's not gone into sump.Uf it has gone in dump would it be worth a oil change ? Only been done recently at Audi .

I guess it depends really how big the bits would be or if your service is due but if you could do it yourself there would be no harm in doing it just to put your mind at rest

 

[Ollie2014]

Thanks again I think I'll do it again to be on the safe side .

 

[audismart]

If you allow air in the engine you essentially get a vacuum leak and can play havoc with all sorts including brakes.

 

[Ollie2014]

I'm not using the car until I get new dipstick so it should be ok . I have cleaned the dipstick of debris and the o ring is still there it felt like a good tight seal when I pushed it back in .

 

[ch1z64]

felt like a good tight seal when I pushed it back in .
Thats what i thought but she said differently

 

[Ollie2014]

Nice one

 

[prt57]

The oil change probably will not get the bits out.
Depending on the mileage of your car you may benefit from an oil pick up strainer replacement anyway.
The sump has to come off to do this job and the plastic bits can be removed at the same time.
Depending where you are in the U.K. any VAG specialist can do this for you. I know this so something RTech offer.

 

[Ollie2014]

Thanks will have it looked at what a pain though just for a dipstick. You'd think if it is a common fault then Audi would advise you to change it at one of the many services it had had .

 

[prt57]

I am afraid this is typical main dealer where you deal with someone who works a computer who may hardly know what a dip stick looks like. You never get to speak to the technician so no chance of getting simple info like this.
I have had 2 bad experiences in the last 12 month with service. I’ll probably never take my S3 back to Audi unless absolutely necessary.
They just could not care less

 

[samuelh_888]

The Audi Dealership - where the dipstick works behind the computer...

 

[ch1z64]

The Audi Dealership - where the dipstick works behind the computer...

Naughty Naughty lol.

 

[Joshua Ward]

I'm off to Cheltenham tomorrow would the audi dealer there be able to supply said dipstick and the plastic surround for the stick ??
Thanks

 

[Joshua Ward]

Or do I just need to stick itself

 

[prt57]

The Audi dealer could supply one but not on a Sunday. Also, chances are it would need to be preordered.
Easier option is to order from AKS tuning and they will post it to you.

 

[Joshua Ward]

The Audi dealer could supply one but not on a Sunday. Also, chances are it would need to be preordered.
Easier option is to order from AKS tuning and they will post it to you.

Okay thanks!!

 

[Daveyonthemove]

I used AKS for mine and it arrived very quickly. When it came I thought it was too short, but it was exactly the same size when compared.

 

[Joshua Ward]

Right.... Just put the new dipstick in and the orange original I took out has the plastic ball near the top missing, what's my next step to get that out of the sump ?

Thanks

 

[prt57]

Right.... Just put the new dipstick in and the orange original I took out has the plastic ball near the top missing, what's my next step to get that out of the sump ?

Thanks

You are lucky it is only the ball. Many people loose the top end too including the O ring. On our TT, my son lost the ball part some years ago but only told me a few weeks ago. While it was at AKS having a cam belt done, I had them take off the sump for a new pick up pipe and a clean out. No evidence of the orange ball and so there was a thought that it had been flushed out with an oil change.
So your only option if you want peace of mind is to have a sump off and clean out. Whoever does the job must make sure they use the right amount of sealant as if there is too much it can squidge out into the sump area and break off then get sucked into the pick up pipe just like the little orange ball! The price for the job to be done at AKS was not too bad as it included new oil and a filter so essentially an oil change service.

 

[Joshua Ward]

You are lucky it is only the ball. Many people loose the top end too including the O ring. On our TT, my son lost the ball part some years ago but only told me a few weeks ago. While it was at AKS having a cam belt done, I had them take off the sump for a new pick up pipe and a clean out. No evidence of the orange ball and so there was a thought that it had been flushed out with an oil change.
So your only option if you want peace of mind is to have a sump off and clean out. Whoever does the job must make sure they use the right amount of sealant as if there is too much it can squidge out into the sump area and break off then get sucked into the pick up pipe just like the little orange ball! The price for the job to be done at AKS was not too bad as it included new oil and a filter so essentially an oil change service.

Just rang r tech and they said 230 for the pick up change and I made them aware of the dip stick issue might get that done at some point this week, will give me a chance to have a chat with them as well about a stage 1 map

Thanks for the help !

 

[prt57]

Just rang r tech and they said 230 for the pick up change and I made them aware of the dip stick issue might get that done at some point this week, will give me a chance to have a chat with them as well about a stage 1 map

Thanks for the help !

They often do combined jobs for a cheaper price than the individuals. Worth asking about doing remap and pickup clean at the same time.