Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

So I have figure out what happened to my 350 on my 71 C20. The dipstick wasn't the correct one for the engine, it was too long. I am not sure what it is out of. As I was driving I noticed a power loss for a second then a loud bang, and the engine gave out. I coasted to the shoulder and the engine wouldn't even turn over...it acted as if it was siezed. Upon inspection, there was no external damage, and I tried to check to see if there was oil in it. When I pulled the dipstick out, I noticed that it had been broken off inside the engine.

What damage might I have caused? Crank?...everything???
Has anyone ever heard of this happening?

Thanks for your help with this.

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

Time to pull the pan and check for damage. A loud bang, loss of power and failure to turn over can't be a good thing.

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

i doubt a broke dipstick caused any problem like that//i've pulled pans on quite a few good running motors to find broken off dipsticks that were in there for long periods of time causing no damage

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

The thing is if the dipstick was too long for the pan (as he stated in the first post) he would have been running it low on oil all the time and the result may have been destruction of the engine... The broken dipstick may have been caused by internal parts flying around inside the pan.

LockDoc

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

As stated above, pull the pan, bend over and take it in the shorts!

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

Yea, no kidding.
I will be replacing the engine, but just wanted to know what I might be finding, and if my current one is a total loss.

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

It's never a total loss. I'm sure someone is looking for a boat anchor.

Take pictures of the carnage, we love pics.

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

:agree:

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

Ive heard of it happening... Good luck, hope its not too bad!

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

My condolences. As stated above, A loud bang coupled with no engine turnover is a very serious thing.

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

Maybe your heads are ok. I bet there's nothing good going on with the bottom end.

Re: Help...broken oil dipstick caused engine failure
 

That sucks to hear about your engine, but the first thing that came to my mind when I read dipstick was this ...


I hope you get it fixed !