Broken dipstick :(

[touch]

Trying to get my old oil filter off today i slipped and managed to snap the plastic socket thingy that the dipstick presses into.
The metal channel/tube bit that goes down into the sump is fine and the stick itself is not damaged and luckily it snapped cleanly and didnt drop any little bits of plastic down the hole so it shouldnt be an expensive fix. However, the forecast is pretty bad for tomorrow and i would like to drive to work.

Can i drive it without a dipstick in?
Is there any oil pressure against the dipstick when the engine is running?
Could i drive it if i made some kind of bung for the hole?


My car has been off the road for a while as it needed quite a few things done. Oil + filter change was the last thing on the list and i was looking forward to driving it again tomorrow. Any 'dipstick' related innuendo is welcome to cheer me up

 

[rodenal]

Fairly sure it'll be fine without it, if there was any great pressure on the tube they wouldn't last long and the gauge would fly out

If you want to be sure by all means cap it with something like foil and a metal cable tie till its sorted

 

[DaveyD]

It should be fine without it, there will be some crankcase pressure so it'll blow out/suck in a little so sooner you fix it the better - especially with all the rain/water around.

 

[Kenai]

It'll be fine but you could always whack some duct tape over it if you're worried.

 

[Lashout_UK]

You need to put something in the hole otherwise it'll blow oil everywhere (and you'll get through a fair amount if you drive any notable distance).

Removing the remainder of the stick and putting in an appropriately sized screwdriver should do the trick...

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/revie...-optima-17-crdi-2-tech/aug---confession-time/

 

[bledd]

I know with Honda engines you'll make one hell of an oily mess if you drive it without the dipstick in

 

[Matt82]

If the pcv system connects back to the intake after the maf you'll having a huge unmetered air leak