golf97

While checking the oil tonight part of the dipstick broke off... I would say the bottom two inches or so. How do I get it out? Do I need to take it in for this? Is it safe to drive like this or will the stick fall into something? Its an 87, but I'm sure that doesn't make a difference.

Darwantae951

The dipstick is held on by a single bolt on the underside of the intake manifold. The bolt can be a pain, but overall it isn't too difficult to remove.

JET951

Take the M6 bolt off the dipstick tube and remove the dipstick tube. If its in that then you can just pull it out.

If it is in the oil pan you may be lucky by draining the oil and using a magnet and get it out through the oil drain hole.
Regards
Sean

golf97

Unfortunately it was not in the dipstick tube, and it didn't come out with the oil. I'm assuming there is no way to run the car without serious risk to the motor, correct? I was also not able to get it out with a magnet through the point of entry of the dipstick tube or the oil drain bolt. Any other ideas?

odb812

Maybe try putting the magnet in through one of the holes and blow some compressed air through the other.

golf97

Hmm... no air compressor.

Dougs951S

If it didnt come out with the oil or the dipstick tube, it is lost in the pan somewhere. I would get a magnet on the end of a long flexible extension (they sell these, I dont mean just stick a magnet on a flex extension.) and go fishing for it. If all else fails, dropping the pan isnt that hard and doesn't take more than a few hours with hand tools. Use a new pan gasket if you do drop it.

User 52121

I would love to see a step-by-step with pictures of dropping the pan in "a few hours" on a car that doesn't have the 3pc crossmember and crossover pipe.

Dougs951S

1. remove intake manifold
2. Remove front sway bar
3. remove tie rod ends
4. undo rack from steering shaft
5. undo control arms from chassis
6. support engine with cross bar
7. undo motor mounts
8. remove crossover pipe
9. pull crossmember with rack attached
10. bend turbo heatshield back to expose pan bolts
11. oil pan has roughly 20 bolts in it
12. install is the reverse of removal

I would say if you know what you're doing, have the right tools on hand, and nothing goes wrong you could do the job in 5-6 hours.

reno808

Why would that bolt be IN the oil pan?

golf97

Its not a bolt, its the tip of the oil dipstick.

User 52121

This is a pretty daunting/major task for what sounds like a newbie though.

Having not tried this myself though - don't you also have to pull the turbo crossover pipe to get the pan out?

golf97

Would it be possible to drive it to the mechanic without failure? I'm not having any luck here.

refresh951

Did you try a flexible magnet through the drain plug hole? Might try a bore scope first. You can get both at Harbor Freight for pretty cheap. I would not start it until you get it removed.

Oddjob

The piece will likely have dropped down under the oil pan baffle and will be sitting in the bottom of the sump. Very hard to reach to get out of there (maybe thru the large turbo drain line banjo on the driver side), and also very unlikely that it will cause any problem in that location. Would probably need to roll the car over on its roof, for it to move to a location where it would get caught up in any moving part.

And I also vote that its not possible to remove and reinstall an oil pan on a 951 in normal work day.