Dipstick stuck/dirt on stick

Went to check the oil on my 3rd gen Tacoma last night and noticed the dipstick was about half an inch from being fully inserted. It was extremely tough to pull out, I had to twist it while pulling out and it finally came out. The plastic tip and o-ring were filthy and I noticed there is grit/dirt on the tip every time I pull it out. I also can’t push it all the way back in, the o-ring gets stuck on the tube.

Could dirt have got into the engine? Where should I go from here to flush it all out? If I slide the dipstick back and forth I can hear some fine sediment inside. Worried about driving it and trying not to panic!

 

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to speak with whoever changed your oil. It's o ringed due to the crankcase having a slight vacuum from the pcv system. With the stick out, it's sucking outside air in there.

 

Firstly, change the oil. Secondly, who changed your oil?

 

I did. Every 10k, it’s at 36k. It’s been perfectly fine, I check the the oil level every 1k miles or so while pumping gas.

 

It was me. What do I do now?

 

That motor is shot

 

Eat shit.

 

That escalated quickly.

Get a new dipstick from the local dealer. Drain your oil. Check for anything that shouldn’t be there. Fill back up.

 

It might not be a bad idea to change the oil and filter, then drive it a bit, and change the oil again. Then, keep a close eye on it.

 

These responses....your filter took care of whatever may have gotten sucked in. Change the oil. Change the filter. Go to the parts store and get a new o-ring. Lube it with fresh oil. Enjoy truck.

 

I'd clean the dipstick tube with a thin brush, clean the dipstick and inspect the oring, pour a little oil down the tube to flush it, change the oil and pcv filter. I wouldn't worry about it after that.

Edit

How many miles you have on the oil btw?

 

It is douche bags like you, making asshole comments like this, that ruins this forum.

 

In the days of 30¢/quart of oil I used to "flush" my crankcase with a couple quarts while the plug was out. Probably didn't actually accomplish much, but I enjoyed working on my cars and shooting the bull with like minded folks. If my truck exhibited the same as yours, I'd buy a couple quarts of the cheapest oil on the shelf at Pep Boys and flush the engine with it. Then, clean or replace the dipstick you have and run it. I'd probably switch to 5000 mile interval changes for a couple times. And, I consider that all just extra precaution while continuing to enjoy my truck.

It is still a puzzle how this could have happened when you were the one changing the oil.
Enjoy your truck

 

The dirt was probably just around the dipstick and fell into the tube while you were checking the level. I'd just clean the dipstick, maybe change the o-ring just in case and change the oil.

 

After returning home from a mudfest in Fl I noticed quite a bit of sand came out when I did an oil change, I also freaked out a bit. I flushed the motor with fresh cheap oil then refilled with good oil. A little sand came out in the next 2 or 3 oil changes then it stopped. I ran that truck without any issues for another 100k miles before selling it. My advice is not to panic if you can afford it change your oil at shorter intervals and watch to see if anything comes out... Good Luck.

 

Your o-ring looks like it was still fully sealed. Maybe a miniscule bit of trash got in. Change oil, dump some oil down the tube, change filter. You're alright. You don't need a new dipstick. Mine is hard to actuate as well.

 

On my old (1990) jeep Wrangler L6 I forgot to put back the oil cap and got dirt in the oil/engine.
I bought 20 qt of the cheapest oil and 2 filters did this:
1- drain the contaminated oil and filter.
2- fill it in with cheap oil and filter
3- drive for 1 day
-
4- repeat 1-2-3
-
5- repeat 1-2-3
Now you are on the 3rd oil change. Drive it for 1-2 weeks and replace it with good oil and filter.

 

It’s called a joke. Relax hoss


And I tend to think that a lack of common sense and starting threads is what ruins this forum. But to each his own

 

It’s not rocket science. If you’re worried about it simply change the oil... there is a reason for an oil filter and a small opening like that over a short period of time isn’t going to induce a lot of contaminates.

 

Larry:

This forum is primarily divided into two groups of people when it comes to hard ribbing:

1. Those who have a sense of humor and can take the ribbing and can handle it back in return.
2. Those who are so tightly wound that they find that humor threatening and constantly claim its ruining the place. Constantly looking for little slights and insults so they can square up and pop off.

For the OP, perhaps the "Eat Shit" comment was part of the banter - perhaps not. For everyone else, why bother even responding?

Oftentimes, a simple post history search of a member reveals who eventually returns to center and who is the "Francis" of the forum.