Can't check engine oil?

How in the world I didn't notice this when I purchased. Clearly Covid made me stupid...more stupid.

So I traveled down to DC and went to check the engine oil and the end of the dipstick tube seems all boogered up. Appears that the dipstick should go down another 1/2" or so in order to sit flush and get an accurate oil level reading but it stops here. I don't have a better picture with me at the moment.

 

Odd. I wonder what the white build up is about. I’ll check mine, but I don’t think it looks like that.

 

I'm embarrassed I'm just noticing. Thank you for checking.

 

whats keeping it from going all the way down? Can you get the dipstick out? Is that white stuff on the inside of the dipstick tube?

 

It just stops right where it is, like the yellow part of the dipstick gets too large for the opening just above the little o-ring. No idea on the white stuff. Looks like coolant had sprayed on there and not been cleaned off at one time? I guess? Dipstick was difficult to remove the first time but okay after that.

 

How many miles on the truck?

 

It's a 2021 with 26,000 miles

 

try wiping it down with CLR or something?

 

26k= in warranty. Dealer!

 

I am headed to the dealer to have them fix any issues before I start cutting anything. I did just buy it, used, which is what makes it embarrassing that I didn't notice. I looked over the list of services they allegedly performed as part of the used car prep so would be interesting to know how they actually checked the oil level...

 

From your picture it looks like corrosion on the tube

 

just clean the dipstick off, dont fk with the fill tube itself.

 

If the dealer doesn’t take care, you buy a new tube for around $25.00 plus you will need o-ring. Only one bolt to remove. You can see it done on YouTube also.

 

Roger. Thanks all.

 

Well he said he went down to Washington DC, and they’re fond of the crack rock down there. I fear his truck might have an addiction problem.

 

Yeah, down here for work due to the state of the union shenanigans going on last night. Still not the most normal thing to see at intersections in an American city:

 

Seems all corroded, tried to scrape out the inside to see if the dipstick would go down any further. Didn't change anything. Oil is just touching the end of the dipstick, would be right at the full mark if the dipstick was able to go in to the depth that it appears that it should.

 

Well...........no one has chimed in with a picture of their dip. So here we go. Mine works perfect and always has. This is confirmation of what it should look like.

 

Thank you. Yeah, mine doesn't come close to seating properly

 

I think you be better off just replacing the tube and dip stick

 

How bout making certain the dipstick is the proper one before you cut anything?????

 

I'd be a little concerned about that corrosion and how it got there. It's inside the tube too, above where the o-ring would sit. Almost looks like the engine was submerged, and they cleaned everything else but didn't notice the dipstick tube.

 

Could the white stuff be mold?

 

Yep. That splotchy white is what flood damage looks like.

 

I have white spots under my hood from severe snow and salt. Have you washed the engine real good while making sure no water can get down the tube?

 

I think mold needs constant moisture presence and inside engine should be hot and dry after each use. Unless engine was wet for a long time which I doubt. idk

 

I second this. Did it have a clean carfax or autocheck? And where was it originally from?

 

Maybe he has a prototype diesel and they spilled DEF fluid on it.

 

Stick one finger in your mouth and moisten a little then dab it on the white stuff and taste. Looks like salt/brine and would suggest cleaning under hood, clean off the dip stick inlet/O-ring and put a a dab of grease on the O-ring/plastic after cleaning.

 

I bet its salt and the dip stick looks like was not sitting for a while and some of the brine creeped in there. I d put some blaster or other loosening oil spray on and clean the pipe with a cloth trying to get most of that corrosion out. Spray the dipstick plastic part that goes into the pipe too. Looks to me its swollen from that brine, maybe you need to pull it and sand it down a bit. Best solution is to replace that whole thing and be done with it.