Once I went to a "dollar store" and purchased an 18 inch grip for (you guessed it) a dollar. I have found this device indispensible. Hope this helps. Peter --- Gus Schlachter <gus@xxxx> wrote: > Errr, I am being dense here? It seems to me that a > piece of dipstick can be possibly be > removed through the drain plug. > > It might still be neccessary to pull the pan, but > I'd at least try to get the fragment > out through the drain plug first. Of course, I > would spend 5 hours trying to avoid a > 2-hour oil pan R&R, but that's just me. :-) > > Most auto parts stores have the "magnet on a stick" > that could reach in there are and > get the dipstick piece. You can also try using a > powerful magnet on the outside of the > pan to drag the fragment to the drain hole. (Try > getting the magnets out of a dead hard > drive...they are CRAZY powerful.) > > > Gus Schlachter > VIN# 4695 > Austin, TX > > > > > I have talked to some people and there should be > no danger in > > > starting the engine. But of course you don't > want a piece of metal > > > flying around in there. > > > So I'll have to empty the "oil-sump" (dunno the > word in english, > > > having the mother-tounge of the swedish-chef, > hope you know that I'm > > > talking about), trickle the oil and use a magnet > to see if I can find > > > it. Apparently the plug doesn't come with a > magnet as standard in > > > this engine for those who wondered. > > > Of course I'll also have to change the oil pan > gasket while I'm down > > > there. > > > > To address comments privately to the moderating > team, please address: > moderators@xxxx > > To search the archives or view files, log in at > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com