Okay...so I've got a long trip to take tomorrow, so I changed the oil in the wife's '94 Grand Prix with the 3100 V6. Got it all changed, pulled out the dipstick and wiped the oil off...put it back, then pulled it again to check the level. Right on the full mark...great! Went to put the dipstick back in, and just as it gets to where it's fully inserted in the dipstick tube, the handle breaks off. FML. I can see the bottom portion of the handle down in the dipstick tube....but so far, haven't been able to pull it out. I don't think it will drop down any further, but if it does, does anyone know if it's going to contact anything other than the bottom of the oil pan? Any ideas on how to remove it? I thought about taking a self tapping screw and slowly trying to drive it into the plastic left on the end of the dipstick, then pull it out...but I don't want to get any shavings down the tube. It's too late for me to do anything more about it tonight, but I thought about trying to use vacuum to pull it out. I've got to leave in the morning...no way to take it to someone and have them pull it out. Any ideas, or comments on whether or not I've got anything to worry about until I finally DO figure out how to get it out are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

quote Originally posted by litespd: Thanks!

Usually the tubes only have one bolt that attaches them. Remove the bolt. pull the tube out, then you will be able to remove the stick.

Short of pulling the tube, I'd suggest a pair of long nose hemostats The locking kind that you can clamp on tight. Use em to get down in the tube and pull the stick out that way, then replace with new stick

Good luck Mike

I had a small pair of needlenose pliers, Brian, and they'd reach the remainder of the handle, but it broke off squarely, so there's nothing to grab ahold of.

heat a small nail until red hot and then poke it into the end of the plastic. Let it cool and try pulling it out.

I had the exact same thing happen to me.

I drilled a 1/8" pilot hole and screwed a sheet metal screw in and pulled it out. Keep the drill speed fast and the pressure low.

BTW, the handle is known to get brittle with age. I think they changed the plastic on the new dipsticks.

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 03-11-2011).]