broke my new oil dipstick?

2010 FORD F-150
156,000 MILES • 4.6L • V8 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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PCAVINEE
When I was installing my new exhaust manifold, I accidentally broke my new oil dipstick tube. Rather than removing this again which wasn't easy, can I cap or plug the remaining tube? My dash tells me when I need an oil change, and I will actually be using it as a second vehicle.
Jul 18, 2025 at 5:33 AM
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STEVE W.
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 15,171 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
The dash simply looks at the mileage and triggers a light, it doesn't show you the oil level or if you have an issue with oil contamination. Replace the tube. Yes, it's a pain but especially if the vehicle isn't used daily you would want to check the oil level before operation. Much cheaper to replace the tube and check the oil level than replacing the engine because you didn't catch a problem early.
Jul 18, 2025 at 8:04 AM
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